What I agree with is to get rid of all 5 test batsmen and the team needs a captain - not duds. Th disaster to have players with average way below 49 is a disaster in all mats of the game and they need to be replaced.
There are a host of better batsmen in SA - the present Protera squad can be regarded as totally useless and a disaster for SA yet the coach claim they are the best batsmen we have at present. With that kind of approach we might as well go the way of third rate cricket teams.
There has never been any criticism of Maharaj until the most recent series against Oz, as a bowler he has been a star across all formats for as long as he's been playing. I've often said he's our best allrounder, only a fool would think he's average. The top 5 batsmen must go and I'd also drop Ngidi from the test squad.
Markram an underachiever is a class act and if he can sort his issues he'd be my opener and Captain. Also think Rickleton has better technique than Verreynne. He's especially good off the front foot.
I doubt any of the necessary changes will be made by the current powers that be, we can only hope. Our cricket is being led by those who don't know that they don't know and that is why it was quite simple to predict the embarrassment we've recently witnessed.
The embarrassment of SA cricket went back to 2019 when the WC was a fiasco and SA lost a home test series against SriLanka. We have never improved since then - it got even worse than it was ever before.
If I ever have to select the top eam for SA in all formats of th e game it would be as follows:-
1 Hermann
2 Rickelton
3 Van Tonder
4 Brevis
5 Markram
6 Verreynne
7 Pretoius M
8 Coetzee
9 Rabada
10 Nortje
11 Sipamla/Ngidi
The above will never happen - since it will undermine the quota system.
The embarrassment of SA cricket went back to 2019 when the WC was a fiasco and SA lost a home test series against SriLanka. We have never improved since then - it got even worse than it was ever before.
If I ever have to select the top eam for SA in all formats of th e game it would be as follows:-
1 Hermann
2 Rickelton
3 Van Tonder
4 Brevis
5 Markram
6 De Kock
7 Pretoius M
8 Coetzee
9 Rabada
10 Nortje
11 Sipamla/Ngidi
The above will never happen - since it will undermine the quota system.
For me, we don't need a pure frontline spinner as much as we need batting depth. If we stick with Maharaj then we need another allrounder capable of 100s.
For those that don't agree...witness our innings averages over the last three years. Give yourself a better chance to draw. This was the philosophy before the Proteas went on to become #1 under Smith and it paid dividends for years after that because they built a solid foundation. We seemed unable to win or lose a series for a good long time, and then the wins started rolling in.
I'm only suggesting Markram because I still have some faith in him but to call him one of our best batters when he's averaging (Tests 34 in 60 innings) and (ODIs 28 in 40 innings) is laughable at best...for context Boucher, our 3rd best keeper, finished with averages of
(Test 30) and (ODIs 28).
Sorry to burst your bubbles but Markram is a number 6, if that, at the international level. The only way he gets into a side I'd select is if he's relied on as a batting all-rounder.
Maybe I'm wrong and he turns it around, but to finish his career with respectable averages he basically has to play like a house on fire from here on out. I don't think you guys realise how difficult it is to raise your average once the denominator goes beyond 50.
And that average, no matter what they say, is an ever-present monkey on one's back. T hen you add to that a mind prone to brain farts, like Markram's...good luck to you.
Mike I like your team with one exception.....Marco Jansen is my must pick at 7.
Also, if Markram has sorted his problem then he has to bat higher up in the order and Sipamla gets my nod of approval ahead of Ngidi in test cricket
Denny
I made a correction to my proposed team and put De Kock in at 6. In an environment less poisoned than SA Cricket he surrendered and called it a day. I think if a proper team is selected he would walk into it. As to Markram he was under the same pressure as De Kock was - but he has not yet decided to walk out on SA Cricket lunatic asylum yet. Both De Kock and Markram was not interested in fighting because they had nothing to fight for - there were too many flops that would destroy any effort on their part.
As to no 7 I am not sure which of the two Jacob twins should be included - Marco or Duan? The latter played yesterday and his bowling figures were top class. I have not seen Duan batted yet - while Marco did show some batting ability already.
Denny
I made a correction to my proposed team and put De Kock in at 6. In an environment less poisoned than SA Cricket he surrendered and called it a day. I think if a proper team is selected he would walk into it. As to Markram he was under the same pressure as De Kock was - but he has not yet decided to walk out on SA Cricket lunatic asylum yet . Both De Kock and Markram was not interested in fighting because they had nothing to fight for - there were too many flops that would destroy any effort on their part.
As to no 7 I am not sure which of the two Jacob twins should be included - Marco or Duan? The latter played yesterday and his bowling figures were top class. I have not seen Duan batted yet - while Marco did show some batting ability already.
Denny
I made a correction to my proposed team and put De Kock in at 6. In an environment less poisoned than SA Cricket he surrendered and called it a day. I think if a proper team is selected he would walk into it. As to Markram he was under the same pressure as De Kock was - but he has not yet decided to walk out on SA Cricket lunatic asylum yet. Both De Kock and Markram was not interested in fighting because they had nothing to fight for - there were too many flops that would destroy any effort on their part.
As to no 7 I am not sure which of the two Jacob twins should be included - Marco or Duan? The latter played yesterday and his bowling figures were top class. I have not seen Duan batting yet - while Marco did show some batting ability already.