South Africa team selection

[SeamUp]

If Conrad continues with his selection policies I think it’s going to be Stubbs at 3 and Bedders at 5. de Zorzi seems to have been pegged as a guy who plays spin better than seam but if Stubbs fronts up at 3 I really would rather Bedingham be walking out at 5 against English and Aus pace.

I think we have to back Stubbs at 3 with his success there so far in his test career. Leading run scorer in India, but you still feel he needs to back that up at home this summer to really announce himself as a test player.

 

[SeamUp]

De Zorzi duck 2nd innings.

SA A just need 74 to win at the start of the inns.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

11-for for Van Vuuren , there will be County teams eyeing him up after this performance

 

[Nas207]

11-for for Van Vuuren , there will be County teams eyeing him up after this performance

How close is he to an international debut?

 

[Heboric]

Good win that

 

[Bahseph]

How close is he to an international debut?

4th in line with the left arm seamers? Marco, Nandre, Kwena and then him?

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

How close is he to an international debut?

A year from now he could be cover for Jansen, as he can also bat.

 

[Bahseph]

So we play Aus in Durban and PE first up. Chances we play Muthusamy over Mulder for those two? Or go with Harmer and Kesh instead of a third seamer?

 

[SeamUp]

So we play Aus in Durban and PE first up. Chances we play Muthusamy over Mulder for those two? Or go with Harmer and Kesh instead of a third seamer?

That is such a tough decision and as ever still backing Kesh as SLA with Harmer. So either Mulder or another batsman in the top 7?

Sen's success largely been in the sub. Not sure his batting or bowling makes as big a difference at home. Even at those venues ?

 

[GRAB]

4th in line with the left arm seamers? Marco, Nandre, Kwena and then him?

Then Duan Jansen's rise since moving to Titans makes things even trickier...

He's probably third in line for seam all-rounders in tests behind Mulder and CBosch as well... De Swardt, Potgieter offer more with the bat, but are a yard slower so effective only on some decks. Forrester is probably also under consideration. On pure performance Swanepoel should be there too, but his off field issues seem to have him sidelined...

 

[Bahseph]

That is such a tough decision and as ever still backing Kesh as SLA with Harmer. So either Mulder or another batsman in the top 7?

Sen's success largely been in the sub. Not sure his batting or bowling makes as big a difference at home. Even at those venues ?

Yeah my take is if we are ever going to play him it would have to be at these two venues. I think we all agree that Mulder has the much higher batting ceiling but man I’d feel hard done by if I’m Sen and I can’t get a look in after his exploits in Pakistan and India. If we are anywhere but those two venues in SA I think you would play Mulder.

 

[Bahseph]

Then Duan Jansen's rise since moving to Titans makes things even trickier...

He's probably third in line for seam all-rounders in tests behind Mulder and CBosch as well... De Swardt, Potgieter offer more with the bat, but are a yard slower so effective only on some decks. Forrester is probably also under consideration. On pure performance Swanepoel should be there too, but his off field issues seem to have him sidelined...

Mokoena also looming. If we accept that Nortje isn’t going to be in whites again then the hierarchy is probably:

1. KG
2. Jansen
3. Burger
4. Ngidi/Patterson
5. Bosch
6. Kwena
7. Yusuf

I grouped Ngidi and Patto cos I think they provide similar strengths. Mulder allows you to really mix it up though.

Edit: E Bosch, Sipamla etc still international quality seamers imo.

 

[SeamUp]

Boast
Luus
With actual 5-fors and winning their teams games at U23 years of age to.

 

[SeamUp]

Yeah my take is if we are ever going to play him it would have to be at these two venues. I think we all agree that Mulder has the much higher batting ceiling but man I’d feel hard done by if I’m Sen and I can’t get a look in after his exploits in Pakistan and India. If we are anywhere but those two venues in SA I think you would play Mulder.

Yeah, I know. So tough. I'm actually leaning to 7 batsman. Kesh & Harmer know how to bowl marathon spells but I expect Mulder & Sen to be in the squad to give the option.

 

[Bahseph]

Yeah, I know. So tough. I'm actually leaning to 7 batsman. Kesh & Harmer know how to bowl marathon spells but I expect Mulder & Sen to be in the squad to give the option.

Who would be the seventh batter? Ackerman or Hamza?

 

[Bahseph]

1. Rickelton
2. Markram
3. Stubbs
4. Bavuma
5. Bedders
6. Sen/Mulder/Ackerman/Hamza
7. Kyle V
8. Marco
9. Kesh
10. Harmer/Ngidi/Patto/Bosch
11. KG

I see something like this.

 

[Bahseph]

Hamza probably still next cab off the rank? I’ve said it before but time is ticking for him to show what he can do in Tests. He is obviously a step above FC cricket. He bosses that level. He has a higher ceiling than a Rassie and a Petersen but they both at some stage played Test winning knocks for us. He could be one of those guys who never does it. Maybe Ackerman is the guy who will step up.

 

[GRAB]

Boast
Luus
With actual 5-fors and winning their teams games at U23 years of age to.

Other players on the fringes...

Van Dyk - played one A game, and bossed it in the few div 1 games he played, but he signed to a div 2 franchise again, and time isn't on his side.
MPretorius - Looking like without a contract?
Peters - Quick, but even more fragile than Nortje?
Cele - still only 28, and performed well at A level, that skiddiness may provide something different?
Plaatjie - also quick, but a bit all over the place?\
Coetzee - hasn't really done much wrong, other than been injured at the wrong times

 

[GRAB]

Hamza probably still next cab off the rank? I’ve said it before but time is ticking for him to show what he can do in Tests. He is obviously a step above FC cricket. He bosses that level. He has a higher ceiling than a Rassie and a Petersen but they both at some stage played Test winning knocks for us. He could be one of those guys who never does it. Maybe Ackerman is the guy who will step up.

Unless I missed some games, these are the top run-getters @ A Level. It's fair to say though that there are periods with very little A tours etc. etc. so it's far from a level playing field statistically.

TOP 10 FC RUNS SCORED FOR SA/A VS NATL/A TEAMS:

1 ELGAR DEAN 17M 1542 @ 57.1 5/5
2 HAMZA ZUBAYR* 18M 1407 @ 56.3 6/4
3 KUHN HEINO 15M 1264 @ 79.0 5/5
4 ONTONG JUSTIN 26M 1223 @ 38.2 6/2
5 VAN ZYL STIAAN 21M 1102 @ 40.8 4/2
6 VAN JAARSVELD MARTIN 13M 1078 @ 67.4 6/4
7 PETERSEN ALVIRO 15M 1038 @ 45.1 2/4
8 PRINCE ASHWELL 22M 1024 @ 42.7 4/2
9 ACKERMAN MARQUES* 10M 959 @ 63.9 3/3
10 TSOLEKILE THAMI 29M 951 @ 30.7 2/3

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Unless I missed some games, these are the top run-getters @ A Level. It's fair to say though that there are periods with very little A tours etc. etc. so it's far from a level playing field statistically.

TOP 10 FC RUNS SCORED FOR SA/A VS NATL/A TEAMS:

1 ELGAR DEAN 17M 1542 @ 57.1 5/5
2 HAMZA ZUBAYR* 18M 1407 @ 56.3 6/4
3 KUHN HEINO 15M 1264 @ 79.0 5/5
4 ONTONG JUSTIN 26M 1223 @ 38.2 6/2
5 VAN ZYL STIAAN 21M 1102 @ 40.8 4/2
6 VAN JAARSVELD MARTIN 13M 1078 @ 67.4 6/4
7 PETERSEN ALVIRO 15M 1038 @ 45.1 2/4
8 PRINCE ASHWELL 22M 1024 @ 42.7 4/2
9 ACKERMAN MARQUES* 10M 959 @ 63.9 3/3
10 TSOLEKILE THAMI 29M 951 @ 30.7 2/3

Zubayr Hamza has been such a frustrating player at international level