The Proteas can't

These pools are a joke - watered down is not doing the sport any favours

SA making heavy weather of this low run chase

Our only challenging pool game is out of the way - now we take on the minnows where expectations are that we cruise past but we know better Bangladesh won’t be a walk over

T20 World Cup pitch in New York ‘bordering on dangerous’Concerns are growing over the state of the T20 World Cup pitch in New York, with former England coach Andy Flower suggesting conditions at the ground were "bordering on dangerous" during India's win over Ireland. Bringing big matches to the pop up Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island has been a key part of the International Cricket Council's bid to break the lucrative American market, but the gambit is off to a rocky start. With 'drop in' pitches grown over 1,000 miles away in Florida and transported via truck just a month ago, teething problems are hardly a surprise. The enterprise has been overseen by Australian Damian Hough, an experienced curator in charge of the Adelaide Oval, but he and his team have fresh issues to iron out ahead of a huge marquee fixture between India and Pakistan on Sunday. After a low scoring opening game between South Africa and Sri Lanka served up scores of 77 all out and 80 for four – hardly the kind of explosive hitting promoters would hope for – things got even trickier on Wednesday. Runs were hard to come by again as Ireland were bowled out for 96 with huge variations in bounce causing havoc for their batters. India chased their target with plenty of time to spare but only after captain Rohit Sharma retired hurt having taken blow on the upper arm from a Josh Little delivery that leapt sharply. Rishabh Pant, Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker were among others to sustain body blows on a difficult track. Flower, a seasoned coach with experience all over the world, sounded a note of caution about the setup. "I've got to say that is not a good surface to play international cricket on. It is bordering on dangerous," he told ESPN Cricinfo. "We saw the ball bouncing from a length both ways, keeping low occasionally but in the main bouncing unusually high and striking people on the the thumb, the gloves, the helmet. It proved very, very difficult batting conditions for any side." Former India international Sanjay Manjrekar agreed with Flower and suggested that the issue may not be fixable. "They have a problem on their hands. Inherently I think there is something wrong with the base of the surface," he said. "It seems the cart has been put before the horse. With all the excitement of getting cricket in New York, the most important thing, which is the pitch, isn't living up to the hype." Former England captain Michael Vaughan, watching along on television, added on X: "Shocking pitch. Trying to sell the game in the states is great..love it..but for players to have to play on this sub standard surface in New York is unacceptable."

^^^^^^Well folks just as I called it......variable bounce is dangerous and unacceptable.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jun/08/david-miller-inspires-south-africa-to-t20-world-cup-win-over-netherlands

David Miller inspires South Africa to T20 World Cup win over Netherlands

• Netherlands 103-9, South Africa 106-6: SA won by four wickets
• Miller hits unbeaten 59 from 51 balls to give side victory

Andy Bull at the Nassau County International Cricket StadiumSat 8 Jun 2024 19.23 BST

Well now I'm confused......our resident World Authority bangs on about Ritzy Hendricks being World Class......here

President of Meton

Hall Of Fame

12292 posts

Apr 30, 2024, 13:11

The Proteas were very succesful, both home and away, when they went with spin heavy attacks.

For T20s   Spin > Pace

"Reeza Hendricks instead of Brevis??? " Well, Reeza is World Class, so I don't mind the selection at all .