***Official*** Australia in South Africa + South Africa in Australia 2016/17

[StephenZA]

The last time a we played a wrist spinner down under, he got murdered. Do you really want to take that chance?

With Shamsi, yeah.. think he has the temperament. And at least he has been part of the SA LO squad for awhile. But think that we will probably go 4 paces for at least 2 of the tests...

 

[marc71178]

IMO Philander, Morris and Parnell are good enough to bat at 7 in tests.

IMO Philander at 8 makes it a fairly weak tail so if he's at 7 it's a very weak tail.

 

[StephenZA]

IMO Philander at 8 makes it a fairly weak tail so if he's at 7 it's a very weak tail.

Philander is an adequate 7, very good 8.... but that is why SA tend to play 7 batsmen (including QDK) and 4 bowlers

 

[91Jmay]

None of those players are good enough to bat 7 in tests. Nowhere near good enough in fact

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah agreed, both Philander and Parnell are getting nosebleeds at 7. Aussie conditions punish teams who stack their pace attack but can't put on 500 when the going is good and SA really need the extra batting anyway.

Steyn, Rabada and Morkel are probably nailed on for Perth. Gut says Philander is struggling to take that 4th spot and one feels that, in comparison, Parnell is on the up with both bat and ball but probably depends on the warm-up in Rads.

 

[Bahseph]

There's no way the SA team is going to line up on an Australian tour with Philander at 7. I think the punt will be taken on Duminy to bowl a few overs now and then. And Elgar if things get desperate ?

 

[91Jmay]

Morris can't bat 7 either. He is an 8 and no higher.

 

[Burgey]

If Ravi Ashwin can be considered a genuine all rounder, Vern can bat seven any old time.

 

[kingkallis]

If Ravi Ashwin can be considered a genuine all rounder, Vern can bat seven any old time.

Ashwin backs up that claim with stunning numbers though. He is been super consistent as well.

 

[Burgey]

Ashwin backs up that claim with stunning numbers though. He is been super consistent as well.

Come on mate, this has been discussed in other threads. His record has more holes in it than Swiss cheese. There's some good discussion about it in the Ashwin 800 wickets and Ashwin Streak threads.

 

[Dan]

Nah Ashwin is a perfectly fine Test match #7 tbf. Not in an ATG context, obviously, but given the 6/7 combinations in each of the other Top 8 teams, Ashwin is a passable #7 these days.

Marsh & Nevill
Stokes & Bairstow
Watling & Santner
Sarfraz & Nawaz (3)
Duminy & de Kock or de Kock & Philander/Parnell/Morris
Chandimal & de Silva
Chase & Dowrich

 

[CricAddict]

Ashwin is a number 7 if followed by decent 8 and 9 (Saha and Jadeja). But, if it is Steyn, Morkel, Rabada and Tahir/Shamsi/someone from 8-11, Ashwin can't be at 7. Same with Philander.

 

[Daemon]

Ashwin is a number 7 if followed by decent 8 and 9 (Saha and Jadeja). But, if it is Steyn, Morkel, Rabada and Tahir/Shamsi/someone from 8-11, Ashwin can't be at 7. Same with Philander.

Yeah, I like this way of looking at the issue. Philander walking in at 5 down with the tail starting immediately after just doesn't inspire any sort of confidence.

 

[Bahseph]

Yeah, I like this way of looking at the issue. Philander walking in at 5 down with the tail starting immediately after just doesn't inspire any sort of confidence.

SA's tail at the moment isn't the strongest going around and It hasn't been for a few years. Which is jarring considering Pollock used to regularly bat at 9 a decade ago.

Rabada does have some potential with the bat. He could develop into a decent tailender , definitely better than Steyn, Morkel , Abbott, Piedt etc.

 

[marc71178]

Ashwin backs up that claim with stunning numbers though. He is been super consistent as well.

Has he bollocks. He's dined out on the West Indies bowlers and been far less convincing when facing the better attacks. He's no more a proper all rounder then someone like Woakes (a far better batsman then Philander who would IMO look out of place at 7).

 

[Bahseph]

Ashwin looks a little like VVS at times and has great timing. But doesn't move his feet much and never gets fully forward.

He could be a good number 7 but he still has to prove himself. I'm not a stats guy but I assume his non-windies average is significantly lower than his overall average.

Not a slight on the guy cos you still have to score runs no matter who the opposition is , but to be a genuine all rounder I'd like to see him score runs in different conditions more regularly.

 

[Top_Cat]

Think he'd be more interested in being a genuine threat away with the ball than a genuine all-rounder, tbh.

 

[91Jmay]

I think he is a bowling all rounder, because his bowling is so strong. Would be a fantastic number 8, 7 feels slightly to high but you can get away with him in most conditions.

 

[Marius]

Dwaine Pretorius could be a guy who could fill that no 7 all-rounder spot in the long-run.

Phehlukwayo too possibly, depending on how his batting comes on.

 

[CapeTown Guy]

Has he bollocks. He's dined out on the West Indies bowlers and been far less convincing when facing the better attacks. He's no more a proper all rounder then someone like Woakes (a far better batsman then Philander who would IMO look out of place at 7).

I think Philander is a fine Nr 8 without being remotely good enough to be a 7

I reckon there will be at least one Test where its QdK/JP at 6/7 (either way round, doesn't really matter), with the 4 seamers to follow, as far as selection goes.