The suggested team for the second test against SriLanka

I was wrong about the team for the first test because I could not see the failures in the  2019 tests would succeed this time around and in the case of both Elgar and Du Plessis turned out to have improved.   I hope it lasts - but is not entirely optimistic about it.

The suggested team is as follows:-

Markham 

Elgar

Van Tonder

Du Plessis

De Kock

Bavuma

Mulder

Maharaj

Nortje

Ngidi

Sipamla

Sone notes are necessary -

*   Despite the fact that Elgar did well in betting - he remained the worst fielder in the team.   

*   Van der Dussen struggle to bat against spinners and since the  SriLanka bowling depends on slower and spin bowling he showed that he is not good in dealing with such attacks.  That is the main reason for my suggestion about Van Toner,   

*   Muller was from a bowling perspective the bowler giving away least runs from an economic perspective,  Is he the future Jacques Kallis in the team?   He is very economical from giving away runs and was the most economical bowler in the side in the first test.     

*   Ngidi was sparingly used in bowling and at the end of each bowling session be bowled he became expensive, 

*   While Rabada is not available I would keep using Sipamla as a bowler - but there is a drawback since he is very expensive against top batsman.  It must be mentioned that they used Mulder to take over from Nortje this morning and used him for 8 overs without interruption until the two top remaining batsmen of SriLanka was removed and then replaced Mulder with him. 

In the longer term I would add M Pretorius to the team and move Mulder to number 7 batsman as an all-rounder and look at changes ibn the batting order to get to a better all round squad,

One must bear in mind that injuries caused havoc in the SriLankan team and it may not be so easy  to beat them at Wanderers,

Just as a question to the experts on site - does being in the SA squad and coming on the field as a replacement fieldsman disqualify Van Tonder for playing for other countries?   

Dave 

You do not get it yet,   Sipamla took wickets of BOWLERS in both innings - not of recognized and experienced batsmen. while Mulder took out experienced batsmen in both innings,   Sipamla went for 4,75 runs in every over he bowled in the second innings despite the fact that he took two wickets,  

On the other hand  -  Mulder bowled 12 overs in total in the second innings - three of them yesterday - and gave away only  39 runs - ie  3,25 rpo as against 4,23 of Ngidi and the 4,75 of Sipamla and over  5 of  Nortje,   

You must obviously realize that strategy is discussed with the coach and a line of action determined -  so obviously De Kock on his own did not take the decision when and how to use Sipamla.    Even on provincial level Sipamla struggle  against top batsmen and are used towards the end of the innings where most of his wickets are taken,    That is why when they originally announced the squad Hendriks was included and his provincial teammate Sipamla was only added later to the squad,   If Sipamla  wants to secure his place in the team he would have to improve  his bowling against higher batting order players.      

Rabada is not in the squad as announced  -  but he was training today on the field,    However,  nobody  can be sure what the case with him is,    

So you agree with me that that Mulder should move up to no 6 in batting and used as an all-rounder and only as the fifth bowler. 

What about my question about Van Tonder playing for other countries?   

Dave

I do not carry on about Sipamla for no reason at all.   I gave the real info about his non-inclusion in the squad and indicated that factually he has a problem both on international and provincial level bowling to top order batsmen.    

I never said Sipamla is poor -  I just pointed out a limitation in hi effectiveness which caused his absence when the original squad was announced.    A lot of batsmen get runs if the slips are not up to standard - hence my comments of having Elgar in the slops.  Wherever the batsmen manage too make runs is not material in this case, the factual history on both national amnd provincial level is,   

I have no prejudice against Sipamla  and would like to see him in the team if he manages to improve his bowling against top order batmen.     

Elgar is a bad fielder - he missed more catches and let more balls go past him than any other fielder in the squad.

The fact is that I have a problem with players who are getting older and flopped badly ever since 2019 in all forms of cricket.   I am not sure their good fortune will last though - the SriLankan batting and bowling attacks were hampered by injuries to three of their players. 

By the way the bowling speed  of players during this series ranged as follows:-

Ngidi                   136 to 140

Sipamla               132 to  136

Mulder                 128 to  132

Fast bowlers haver a much higher than 140 so Ngidi us a Fast Mediumpacer and the other twi are Mediumpacers,     The above figures were mentioned in commentary during the first test.   I think the batsmen finds it harder to read Mulder than the other 2

I cannot help it if you cannot understand English.   I gave a full explanation why Sipamla was not in the original squad and why Pretorius was added to the squad  before and ahead of him.  By the way I referred to M Pretorius - not the elderly W Pretorius.

I am not a racist - never was.              

Dave

No need to argue about Sipamla.  He may have a long career on test level -  you and I would not know that at this stage - since he yet as to prove that he is effective against top batsmen, 

In shorter versions of the game it is unlikely that he would make the grade as he failed tp really make an impression  in 10  games he played in thus far,  

The fact is that he may be able to bowl faster - and may get to the pace of Ngidi  as  a Fast Mediumpacer, but anything above 140 is wishful thinking,,

    .    

Wishful thinking my friend - real wishful thinking,      

No Dave

I am not stupid.   Fact is Sipamla on provincial level is not taking top order wickets - a problem he also had in the first test he played in.

Why do you think Sipamla was NOT in the test squad originally published?   When Hendriks were out - M Pretorius was called up and only afterwards were Sipamla added to the squad.   That is why Haysman was surprised by his inclusion in the team.    He regularly failed against top provincial batsmen and is good at bowling when they were out.       

After his initial poor performance in the team in the first SriLanka innings - Boucher and De Kock had a serious talk with him - but he still was kept out of bowling until all the experienced SL batsmen were out and then brought in.   In the second innings he was kept out of the bowling until all the top batsmen were out and only then gave the ball to start bowling,  

Those are facts - there were no hesitation to let Mulder bowl - there were serious reservations about Sipamla.

However, I hope Sipamla succeeds  and the best thing would be for Rabada to return and replace Sipamla with potentially Pretorius replacing Maharaj if they decide to go without a spinner,   I think the real experts really do not see Sipamla as an option against the Australians.  

By he way Nortje also had a serious talk to after the mess he made initially. - but De Kock only mentioned the talk to Sipamla.               

Dave

His teammate Hendriks performed better in the 3 day version than he did,   And you know  that Handriks i s  Superkak sleg.   But keep on dreaming,

I wish Sipamla all the best for his cricketing career and hope he succeeds on international level and serve the team well, but  at this  stage there is a problem and I hope it is corrected,   

You refuse to recognize there is a problem which  obviously affected his performances and reduced his changes of selection to the national team.    He got in through the backdoor and did quite well .   He was poor initially and was talked too by Boucher and De Kock and came back in took the wickets of the last four batsmen - affectively all the bowlers,

However, they kept him from bowling at the top SL batsmen and then let hom bowl at the three remaining batsmen,.

The man has potential - but needs the right coaching and advice,   To ignore his present problem would be the worst thing anybody could ever do to him from a career perspective,  

Boucher did not select Sipamla - if the coach was involved  and Hendricks was to be replaced - why did they brought in Pretorius first.   Why was Sipamla  added to the squad afterwards,

No Dave I am afraid Boucher and Smith was forced into including him in the playing team and once he failed there obv iously was a serious talk to him that caused an improvement - but they nevertheless did not allow him to bowl when the SL batsmen was batting and only let him bowl against bowlers,.  

Why was Rabada subsequently added to the squad and  is now likely to play in the second test,   He will not replace  Mulder - he will replace Sipamla.    With the upcoming Australian tour coming there can be no chance that a player like Sipamla would succeed, 

How do you know that Dave?   The sequence before Sipamla was selected  tells a totally dfferent story.   

Here is the sequence: -

1   The squad is announced and after the announcement 2 players tested positive for the Chinese Virus.

2    One of the players were Hendriks - who obviously was the leading bowler from the Lions.   The squad then added  Migael Pretorius to the squad,  

3    It became clear that the CSA policy as to racial composition of the team would go out of the window and in jeopardy  as they would only have 2 Black players in the team instead of four - so a day later the  names of three players are added to ensure the Black component of the team would not be open to racist attacks on the team - so Sipamla and two other players are called  up ensuring that -

*    in the case of Van Tonder to cover the squad spot vacated by  Petersen;

*     in the case of D Pretoprius to cover for Mulder; and Sipamla to cover for nobody else since the spot vacated by Hendricks  was filled by M Pretoiius and he was just added to the team to make up the numbers,  

*     after a poor start to his bowling in the first innings  Sipamla received a toguelashing and he bowled out the remaining SriLanka bowlers in the match - in the second innings he is not used at all until  all the key wickets were taken and after Mulder bowled nine overs in succession and was too tired to continue; and

*      now Rabada is back in the squad  and is obviously in the team to replace Sipamla in .he second test.

The fact is that the decision as to bowling are not  only the decision of the captain  and what you wrote is unadulterated BS since it was clear that Boucher and De Kock jointly gave Sipamla a lecture so your wild dream that De Kock was a shit for not using Sipamla to bowl earlier is just hot air,  .   You are totally out of zinc  on that one.  

They will replace Sipamla with  Rabada in the next test - so you will have to wait a longish time  to see Sipamla back in the squad,

Would not be the first time that the coach was told to keep to the CSA guidelines on racial representation and that is exactly what happened here,  He was pushed into the squad based on racial grounds and Boucher had no option but to follow instructions,    

In any event Boucher had a big hand in deciding how to use Sipamla in the test,

Why do you think that bringing in of Rabada into the squad was decoded upon - obviously even the coach realize that Sipamla cannot be used in the second test and especially not against the Aussies.   

To be quote frank the test being in Johannesburg they will field four fasties (leaving out Maharaj and include the following in the team  and will no start experimenting against the Aussies.   So my projected team is being amended as follows:-

Markham 

Elgar

Van Tonder

Du Plessis

De Kock

Bavuma

Mulder

M Pretorius

Nortje

Ngidi

Rabada

Would not be the first time that the coach was told to keep to the CSA guidelines on racial representation and that is exactly what happened here,  He was pushed into the squad based on racial grounds and Boucher had no option but to follow instructions,    

In any event Boucher had a big hand in deciding how to use Sipamla in the test,

Why do you think that bringing in of Rabada into the squad was decoded upon - obviously even the coach realize that Sipamla cannot be used in the second test and especially not against the Aussies.   

To be quite frank the test being in Johannesburg they will probably field four fasties (leaving out Maharaj) and include the following in the team  and will not start experimenting against the Aussies.   So my projected team is being amended as follows:-

Markham 

Elgar

Van der Dussen/Verreinne

Du Plessis

De Kock

Bavuma

Mulder

M Pretorius

Nortje

Ngidi

Rabada

Stuurman is a Coloured not a Black - the minum for blacks is four - but with some lenience  in the case of injury, 

I am not lying - I am just been logical.    The issue as to the elcture given to Si[amla by Boucher and De Kock was in a newspaper report - so that is not a lie.   

I never said that Pretorius will replace Sipamla - I clearly said that Rabada will .replace him and that if they decide to go without a spinner - Pretorius will replace Maharaj

Dave be assured there was a report by the paper - but never mentioned anything about when Sipamla should b bowling, as you mention,  It is logical that it was decided not to use him against batsmen,

Let us be quite frank,   Sipam;a despite the wickets were  expensive in giving away runs,    It ios a fact that the ame happen on provincial level and something needs to be done about it,    If he was playing for the Knights where Donald is the coach - the problem would have been attended to properly and Sipamla's cricket future on international level would not have been a topic for discussion.     He does have a future on highest level if proper coaching can crrect his present problem and even though you deny there is one - I am afraid  that other people in the know  like Haysman realize it too,    With the right coaching he can become a great bowler.

Dave the idea of not playing a spinner at Wanderers has been raised in the media as well.   Some are for it - some against it,   I assume that they know what Maharaj can contribute and that it present an opportunity to see what the other bowlers can produce before the Aussies arrive in SA.    

In that event  the chances of playing Preetorius ahead of Stuurman  based on the fact that Pretorius is also a handy batsman would be the case,    The fact is that when Boucher and De Kock interviewed Sipamla during the match - what to do with him in the second innings would also be decided upon - that indeed was the logical thing to happen.    The fact ios that your assumption about the issue is a wild guess without any proof,   

If I differ from you not relates to facts not fiction,     and I never said that you write shit on site,    Because of a difference based on what people believe does not mean it gives a free hand to anybody to insult anybody else.  I wrote elsewhere that Sipamla has the potential to be a real top class bowler - but he needs proper coaching = which he does not get at the Lions.   I wish that  SAC will get Donald to help with his coaching - since natural talent and action should be enhanced by professional coaching,  Sipamla's whole career on international level depends on coaching and no one is better qualified to do that than Donald.

To use Sipamla at this stage against the Aussies has the potential to seriously damnage ghis development,          

Dave 

Are you getting mixed up again?     The fact is that in the history if cricket there are thousands of examples where specific batsmen are targeted by using bowlers who turned them into their bunnies.   A famous case us Cullinan and Warne  - remember that?

Anyway you are nots to think that the coach do not give instructions to the captain about usage of batsmen and bowlers,   It has been done even in the case of De Kock when ion tests were sent in to open the batting in some tests when he was supposed to bat at 6 according to the teamsheet.   

When a coach do not give specific instructions to captains on specific issuers in tests then why the hell have a coach at all present at games  - he might as well stay at  home and watch the game over TV,

You made assumptions based on your own views and not on factual information and  when somebody point out that you may be wrong - you started attacking the person  based on   assumptions. and conclusions of which you have no proof yourself, 

I stay with what I said about Sipamla and the bowling coaching he needs to refine his bowling effectiveness.     Unless that happens his career on international level will be effected badly,    And the funny one that Smith and Boucher insisting that Sipamla be included in the squad is your  assumption as well,   It is highly unlikely especially when even Haysman was surprised about his inclusion in the team despite his extremely poor performances against th English in the last game played before the SL test, 

If you want to make assumptions and state it on site ass facts please find some logical proof  that you are correct as well,   

It  is weird how the SA media  mixed up players when forecasting teams,  In one article they stated that Stuurman  is injured and released from the squad - in another they claimed that Stuurman is a candidate for selection at Wanderers.

In another newspaper report they claimed there was unhappiness about the bowling when the bowlers gave away 396 runs in the first innings against SL - but was much better ion the second innings,   Yet they say that Henriks after testing negative is back with the squad and he is a candidate as well,   Hendriks is not a test level bowler an to my mind kaksleg - the worst SA Bowler I have ever seen playing in tests,   

The one article clam that Rabada is back in ths quad and may be considered to play - the other said even though he is in the squad,    Yesterday there was an article that referred to SA may not use spin in the Wanderers test - in another the idea was opposed.

In the latest reports there is no reference that H Pretorius is still in the squad - but he was in the squad and there was no report on his release from the squad, 

Bad news is that Van Tonder injured a finger in the match practice on Friday and will reirn to the Knights for rehabilitation.    So Rassie van der Dusen is sure to play unless theyd ecide to use Verreinne in his place.   Van Toider would have been tested before the Aussies arrive and now will have to be in the squad to be announced against the Aussies as a newbie.