Time's running out..

for coach Gibson to decide on a final makeup of the WC squad. He has at his disposal a world class attack and that's the easy bit but as we all know batting is a major problem and getting worse not better. I question the merits of Dale Benkenstein as the batting coach, he has nothing to show for a less than average Protea performance, on the contrary Gibson, an above average bowler at his best has improved the attack. 

The WC is not going to be won by a team with only an attack, it's going to be won by a team that excels in both bat and ball. Gibson has made an awful mistake fronting with 5 recognised batsmen. Markram should be playing in all of the ODI games so as to gain experience and the duds should have been culled.

I see Gibson as an attack orientated coach and there's no doubt he's brought that WI's bowling attack along with him.....Ngidi for example reminds me of Joel Garner and Rabada reminds me of Michael Holding. He also brought short pitched bowling into the attack and we saw quite a bit of it in Duaine Olivier.

But as far as the batting is concerned there has been no improvement and even though blind freddie knows that Houston is in deep shit with regards to the batting the man has audaciously left Markram out of the squad. Markram is potentially a star in the making in my not so humble opinion. With only 5 ODI's before the WC one would think that he'd give Markram as much experience possible leading into the WC.

You say "blooody stupidity"...I can say a lot worse!

Sorry, I don't get to see the local talent so I can't comment but our local posters might be able to help.

Like you I've noticed that our batsme n only come to hand at a late age, Markram being the exception.

Marques Ackerman

Remember the name

Dave

There is that guy Van Tonder who last year in the Under 19 WC was the captain of the SA team.  After the tournament he was selected as captain of the World Team.   Another guy was I think Makwetu who in the same tournament was the SA WK and batted at 5 - a great hitter of balls.

There was a classy all-rounder also in the same squad who at 17 years of age was bowling at 140 + kms already.

You do not like Hamza - but he is a good prospect,   I have seen him play a couple of times and he is better than you rate him.

I personally think that Van der Dussen is a very good player with another 5 years or so ahead of him.   I do not really rate Hendricks, but he seems to be the flavor of the month at present.

The sooner they get Markram and Hamza in the squad the better it would be for the Proteas.      

Dave

There is that guy Van Tonder who last year in the Under 19 WC was the captain of the SA team.  After the tournament he was selected as captain of the World Team.   Another guy was I think Makwetu who in the same tournament was the SA WK and batted at 5 - a great hitter of balls.

There was a classy all-rounder also in the same squad who at 17 years of age was bowling at 140 + kms already.

You do not like Hamza - but he is a good prospect,   I have seen him play a couple of times and he is better than you rate him.

I personally think that Van der Dussen is a very good player with another 5 years or so ahead of him.   I do not really rate Hendricks, but he seems to be the flavor of the month at present.

The sooner they get Markram and Hamza in the squad the better it would be for the Proteas.      

Seems like the best on offer as there are no young guns with the exception of Markram likely to make the squad. Have to say it's hugely disappointing and will continue to be after the WC.

They should forget the pending WC and plan for the next.  

Dave the answer is simple - the quota system coupled to the persistence with over-the-hill players who do not produce the goods anymore.    

Name th e quotas?

Denny

I think this was not restricted to test cricket or ODI's my comments dealt also with franchise cricket.  

On international level I think that the following is or has in the past year became quota selections:-

Amla, Hendricks, Bavuma as Batsmen

The bowlers are largely made up by Black and Indian players and are in the main selected on merit.   The only one who is a definite quota is Shamsi,   .    

 The players whose batting are substandard include Elgar and De  Bruyn  

Dave

I find that Mike says stupid things and is unaware that he does.

Amla a quota???? 

It begs the question whether Mike understands the meaning of the word in the South African context.

Hope I haven't put a curse on Nortje but for obvious reasons I have a high opinion of  him.

Enjoy the game.

Denny and Dave

If you only read what I said about who recently became quotas you would realize that perhaps I am right,   Read what happened to Amla in the match yesterday between the Cape Cobras and the Titans and you may realize why Amla is now a quota, 

Dave - if Bavuma is that good - why is his stats so low?   He had his chaces and time is running out for him to become good enough to play test cricket.