CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
29 Jul 2014, 18:50#3
He is very unpredictable and his problematic in tests. He sometimes makes runs - but when teh spinners come on - he is all sixes and sevens and goes out early. The opposition has found out what to do to get rid of him earlier rather than later in innings.
Personally I think there are better batters coming through than he is.
DBDbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DBDbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
29 Jul 2014, 19:33#4
Mike, De Kock is not a test opener yet. Elgar is new to that role, so, although Alviro is not quite up to scratch, he will probably keep his place. Stiaan will get his opertunity sooner rather than later. Tahir has however reached his sell by date and will probably be replaced by either Piedt or Parnel according to the conditions.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
30 Jul 2014, 00:43#6
DbDraad
I think that Ellgar will do better at 3 than at 1. That being siad I would have suggested an opening pair of De Kock and Elgar - but for the fact that they are both lefthanders.
Why I think De Kock should open is because he has excellent eye-hand co-ordination - better than most players I have seen in the game. He would also take the sting out of the opening bowlers and that would help Elgar a lot.
DBDbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DBDbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
30 Jul 2014, 23:05#7
Mike, I like QdK, but even if he has the goods at a young age like GS did, it would be unfair to him to pair him with a greenhorn in the best test team in the world. Don't set him up to fail. Same for Stiaan. We need to phase these guys in. Test cricket is 90% in the mind. I agree that Alviro must go, but he needs to be replaced by someone clearly better. ATM we don't know who that is. Test the new squad first. We do have that luxury ATM. We should use it.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
31 Jul 2014, 00:20#8
Sorry Draad. - but De Kock at 20 is better than Steyn was at 23. He showed that on ODI level already and the way he batted in Srilanka in the tests shows that he is a very good batter. The fact that he came in at no 3 - when the other players were crumbling and held up his end for 95 balls showed real talent. Smith always had a batting problem with his balance and it got worse the longer he was in the team.
I agree that Ban Zyl needs to be phased in. There is a test against Zimbabwwe coming up within the next two weeks and I think that is when it is going to happen.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
31 Jul 2014, 00:20#9
Sorry Draad. - but De Kock at 20 is better than Steyn was at 23. He showed that on ODI level already and the way he batted in Srilanka in the tests shows that he is a very good batter. The fact that he came in at no 3 - when the other players were crumbling and held up his end for 95 balls showed real talent. Smith always had a batting problem with his balance and it got worse the longer he was in the team.
I agree that Ban Zyl needs to be phased in. There is a test against Zimbabwwe coming up within the next two weeks and I think that is when it is going to happen.
