Is Tahir the answer to south africa's spinner problems ?

[Uppercut]

Not really, no-one should be picked based on half a season, however good it was.

Tahir should play for SA based on what he does for his SAn franchise.

If he was eligible now, would you pick him or Harris?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Tahir may have SA residency, but its possible he doesn't have an SA passport yet, so he would have played as a Pakistani in the CC, precluding him from playing as a Kolpak.

He has said that he wants to play for SA when he qualifies as a SAn next year though.

You could well be right, but I thought he acquired SA citizenship from his wife but the fact that it isn't yet 4 years since he last played for Pakistan "A" was the reason for the delay in his qualification.

 

[Marius]

You could well be right, but I thought he acquired SA citizenship from his wife but the fact that it isn't yet 4 years since he last played for Pakistan "A" was the reason for the delay in his qualification.

Depends how long he's been living in SA for, he may just have Permanent Residency (basically Indefinite Leave to Remain), so although he may be eligible for SA according to the ICC's regulations, he may not be a SA citizen, with access to an SA passport.

 

[Richard]

If he was eligible now, would you pick him or Harris?

Honestly, right now I'd pick neither.

If I was absolutely forced to pick one of the two, which would be a ridiculous situation, I'd use the ridiculous reasoning that Harris is the incumbant and thus would play.

 

[NUFAN]

Honestly, right now I'd pick neither.

If I was absolutely forced to pick one of the two, which would be a ridiculous situation, I'd use the ridiculous reasoning that Harris is the incumbant and thus would play.

If they pick no spinner Australia will prepare a dustbowl for our gun spinners like Cameron White.

 

[Richard]

Seriously, if we see a pitch that offers anything to the spinners in the 6 Tests this winter I shall seriously contemplate killing some curators and\or those who give them their instructions.

One of the best seam-vs-seam battles in history is potentially in prospect. To see that spoilt to try and bring nothing spinners into the game would be plain madness.

 

[TT Boy]

Depends how long he's been living in SA for, he may just have Permanent Residency (basically Indefinite Leave to Remain), so although he may be eligible for SA according to the ICC's regulations, he may not be a SA citizen, with access to an SA passport.

Imran has a South African passport and plays as a 'local' player in SuperSport...

 

[NUFAN]

Yeah I agree Rich.

So should both sides go with the 4 quicks?

I would love this to happen, but can see SA picking a spinner as you've also got Kallis to bowl some right arm pace.

 

[duffer]

I thought Kallis bowled extremely well on the England tour. If Imran is truly a Test class spinner then I see now harm in having him on the Tour and using him if the conditions are right, with Kallis playing the role of 4th seamer.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah. I can see some justification for Australia picking an all-pace attack this summer if McGain is still unfit because of a lack of decent options, but if South Africa have an incumbent fingerspinner and a leggie who might be of some use, they'd be well served to bring them along.

Both sides have an able pacer to fill in extra overs as well as the three main guys, no real need for a 5th if there's a viable spinning option. Does depend on the quality available though.

 

[Richard]

I thought Kallis bowled extremely well on the England tour. If Imran is truly a Test class spinner then I see now harm in having him on the Tour and using him if the conditions are right, with Kallis playing the role of 4th seamer.

Imran Tahir won't play against Australia, he doesn't get his eligibility until all six Tests are complete.

I'd love to see SA go in with Steyn, Ntini, Morne Morkel and Kallis (packing the batting), with Australia facing-up with Clark, Brett Lee, Noffke and AN Other (be it Bollinger, Johnson, Tait or even Magoffin - though I think SA would certainly enjoy it if it was the latter).

 

[Uppercut]

Imran Tahir won't play against Australia, he doesn't get his eligibility until all six Tests are complete.

I'd love to see SA go in with Steyn, Ntini, Morne Morkel and Kallis (packing the batting), with Australia facing-up with Clark, Brett Lee, Noffke and AN Other (be it Bollinger, Johnson, Tait or even Magoffin - though I think SA would certainly enjoy it if it was the latter).

Kallis would not take kindly to such a selection at all. But if you want JP Duminy in, you can give AB the gloves and you still have room for someone like Andre Nel. Or, indeed, Paul Harris, who i wouldn't dismiss out of hand on 4th innings pitches.

 

[Richard]

Whatever day it is, unless it's a proper turner from day-one I don't see Harris troubling Aus. And as I say, either side would be utterly mad to prepare a turner.

As for Nel, I'm beginning to despair of him, he's not been bowling that well for at least 2 years and he's had more occasions than he should where he's been plain woeful. Yet there's certainly no-one else in the SAfrican seam capacity who strikes as being much better than him or Kallis, not now Pollock doesn't play any more.

And much of the Kallis-doesn't-like-to-bowl stuff seems to be centred around long-term rumour rather than anything actually verifiable, much like the Kallis-is-selfish crap. I don't tend to take it with great seriousness, any more than I take the Kallis-is-selfish crap.

 

[Uppercut]

And much of the Kallis-doesn't-like-to-bowl stuff seems to be centred around long-term rumour rather than anything actually verifiable, much like the Kallis-is-selfish crap. I don't tend to take it with great seriousness, any more than I take the Kallis-is-selfish crap.

Shaun Pollock said on commentary over the summer that Kallis feels his bowling affects his batting and doesn't like to do it excessively.

 

[Richard]

Well he bowled well in England without batting well, and I can't shake the feeling that the latter came first (as he's clearly never going to prioritise his bowling and rightly so) so I'm not sure whether he's right or not.

TBH, while practicing your bowling might affect your ability to practice batting (apart from the basic energy-level truths, there's only so much time in a day you can practice in), bowling in a game, provided obviously you're not being run into the ground, won't affect your ability to bat, provided you have a decent break. Which Kallis, being a number-four, is hoped to have.

If you've legit reason to think Kallis is right that too much bowling affects his batting, sure, pick five bowlers. But if you believe he's fussing about nothing, tell him that. It's the job of the selector to get the best out of a player, and if that includes trying to bend him out of his own mental blocks, that's what you must do.

 

[Goughy]

From earlier today in the Kenya vs SA thread on this very topic

He believes the more he bowls the more it effects his batting.

This is why he is seen to bowl more against the supposed 'minnows' than the big teams. Against tough opposition he prefers to concentrate on his batting as he (probably correctly) thinks bowling takes away from his batting and adds an unneeded element of tiredness, fatigue and mental strain.

 

[grapedo]

Not really, no-one should be picked based on half a season, however good it was.

Tahir should play for SA based on what he does for his SAn franchise.

I agree about the south african franchise part howevber Shane Warne was picked based on 6 first class games and I don't think australia regret that decision.]

 

[grapedo]

Whatever day it is, unless it's a proper turner from day-one I don't see Harris troubling Aus. And as I say, either side would be utterly mad to prepare a turner.

As for Nel, I'm beginning to despair of him, he's not been bowling that well for at least 2 years and he's had more occasions than he should where he's been plain woeful. Yet there's certainly no-one else in the SAfrican seam capacity who strikes as being much better than him or Kallis, not now Pollock doesn't play any more.

And much of the Kallis-doesn't-like-to-bowl stuff seems to be centred around long-term rumour rather than anything actually verifiable, much like the Kallis-is-selfish crap. I don't tend to take it with great seriousness, any more than I take the Kallis-is-selfish crap.

But only a few days ago Nel was a very consistent bowler who has always troubled the aussies so which one is it rich you stoner

 

[Craig]

Richard might be a lot of things, but I can assure you he doesn't smoke anything.

 

[grapedo]

Richard might be a lot of things, but I can assure you he doesn't smoke anything.

lol okay because i have jarred him up in about 4 posts so far today.