Poll: Better batsmen-Alastair Cook vs AB de Villiers in tests?

[Dendarii]

There's only space for five white players.

It's an average of five white players taken across the season, not a restriction for every match. In some of the ODIs against New Zealand they played six - De Kock, Du Plessis, De Villiers, Miller, Morris, and Pretorius.

So it's not impossible for De Villiers to come into the test team as the sixth white player, even if they'd have to account for it in other matches. Although there would still be the option of maintaining the quota by him replacing Duminy and Parnell being the third seamer.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Bavuma isn't an opening bat, so that's stupid.

Surely it's not as stupid as one of the best batsmen in the world not making the team?

 

[Daemon]

de Villiers is better but Cook has had a better career and contributed more to his country.

England would've been quite weak without him post Strauss, very few teams if any do well without having at least one quality opener.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Couldn't De Villiers just dress as a (black) minstrel in an attempt to fool the quota system?

 

[Furball]

Surely it's not as stupid as one of the best batsmen in the world not making the team?

Yeah but quotas

 

[OverratedSanity]

My point is even considering quotas, you'd drop Cook and tell Bavuma to open, right? Bavuma opening isn't ideal but it's better than not having AB in the team.

 

[Compton]

My point is even considering quotas, you'd drop Cook and tell Bavuma to open, right? Bavuma opening isn't ideal but it's better than not having AB in the team.

But they need to work off of the pretence that the quota isn't impacting selection.

Outside of that, how would you justify dropping an opener averaging 41 with 3 100s in 9 matches to accommodate moving a middle order bat averaging 30 with a single 100 in 17 matches up the order?

 

[Gob]

But they need to work off of the pretence that the quota isn't impacting selection.

Outside of that, how would you justify dropping an opener averaging 41 with 3 100s in 9 matches to accommodate moving a middle order bat averaging 30 with a single 100 in 17 matches up the order?

AB DeVilliers man

 

[Tec15]

De Villiers by a country mile. Cook's poor record against good pace attacks merely magnifies the gulf.

 

[Bijed]

But they need to work off of the pretence that the quota isn't impacting selection.

Outside of that, how would you justify dropping an opener averaging 41 with 3 100s in 9 matches to accommodate moving a middle order bat averaging 30 with a single 100 in 17 matches up the order?

Think Cook's averaging 36 after this match, which makes it a bit less strange a thing to do on paper. Also, Bavuma opened for 1 match in India and did sort-of-quite-well considering SA's batting in that series in general. Don't he should be moved up the order to replace Cook, though. Is it outside the realms of possibility that Cook is dropped if he continues to struggle and de Villiers himself opens?

Edit: Of course, quotas allowing, de Villiers in for Bavuma

 

[harsh.ag]

But they need to work off of the pretence that the quota isn't impacting selection.

Outside of that, how would you justify dropping an opener averaging 41 with 3 100s in 9 matches to accommodate moving a middle order bat averaging 30 with a single 100 in 17 matches up the order?

Yeah exactly. Bavuma should obviously make way.

 

[Spark]

ABdV by a margin and I'm something of a critic by CW standards.

 

[morgieb]

Think Cook's averaging 36 after this match, which makes it a bit less strange a thing to do on paper. Also, Bavuma opened for 1 match in India and did sort-of-quite-well considering SA's batting in that series in general. Don't he should be moved up the order to replace Cook, though. Is it outside the realms of possibility that Cook is dropped if he continues to struggle and de Villiers himself opens?

Edit: Of course, quotas allowing, de Villiers in for Bavuma

Well it was worth noting that de Villiers at the start of his career was an opener. Must be unwilling to do it these days though.

 

[Bijed]

Well it was worth noting that de Villiers at the start of his career was an opener. Must be unwilling to do it these days though.

True, had forgotten that. Did it for 20 tests apparently, averaged 36 with 3 centuries, so a long way below the rest of his career, but that'd be in part because he hadn't fully developed as a player, I'd imagine. As for his willingness, I guess an opening spot may look a lot more attractive to him if he thinks it's the only way he'll be able to play test cricket again (assuming he does want to).

 

[TT Boy]

Most likely reasons AB isn’t playing test cricket is that he isn’t happy with the board, he has a young family and he is only continuing to play for South Africa in limited overs cricket as he wants to win a recognized trophy, and sadly the Chris Martin Jacques Rudolph Trophy isn’t that. If AB wanted to play on Wellington on Thursday, South Africa would drop Bavuma. Bavuma isn’t Rabada, and they were playing only 1 black African at times in some of the ODIs.

 

[SeamUp]

Most likely reasons AB isn’t playing test cricket is that he isn’t happy with the board, he has a young family and he is only continuing to play for South Africa in limited overs cricket as he wants to win a recognized trophy, and sadly the Chris Martin Jacques Rudolph Trophy isn’t that. If AB wanted to play on Wellington on Thursday, South Africa would drop Bavuma. Bavuma isn’t Rabada, and they were playing only 1 black African at times in some of the ODIs.

I'm not so sure. They are ahead of the average due to Ireland, Sri Lanka and T20s.

It probably doesn't help their LT issue either.

It would be interesting to see how long they back TB if he doesn't produce good enough results of a team pushing to be ranked number 1.

 

[indiaholic]

AB by a bit but Cook will likely play on for some time and edge ahead.

 

[Red]

The quota system is a ****ing joke.

Got a guy who averages 30 in tests and 37 in FC keeping AB DeVilliers out of the team because of skin color?

 

[subshakerz]

I reckon AB is better. Cook at no point was ever considered the best in the world like AB.

AB was the only batsman I know who looked comfortable batting against an in-form redhot Mitchell Johnson.

 

[Black_Warrior]

AB not playing test cricket has nothing to do with quotas. Furball talking **** as usual.

Test cricket is hard work and he has lot the appetite for it. Simple as that.

He enjoys the IPL which is easy money, and he wants to win the World Cup for a country that never won the World Cup.

There's no hidden story or conspiracy here.

A guy just picked a more lucrative LO career over a test career. Period.