SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
01 Feb 2015, 14:30#2
ODI's can throw up surprises......but the best side on paper is without doubt SA.
With AB and Amla you have not only the best current bats in the game but as the Sky team correctly said, they are amongst the best of all time. These two are well supported by exciting young talents in de Kock, Miller and Rossouw and the dependability of JP and Faf.
It does not get much better than Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Tahir in the bowling.
Its there for SA to win if they can all fire
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
01 Feb 2015, 16:18#3
I think my money is on the Proteas winning this one.
02 Feb 2015, 10:03#5
Oz will win it. We may look good on paper, like we always do, but they are in better form, they are playing at home, and most importantly, they have BMT!
I'd put money on it! Proteas CAN win the cup, but I don't think they WILL.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
02 Feb 2015, 10:16#6
Denny
Horses for courses. Remember the 2nd ODI in Perth between SA and Australia in November - when they got a meagre 154 runs and was bowled out in 42 overs. At that stage their run rate was 3.69 runs per over.
From a bowling perspective Johnson was a flop that day getting one wicket and going for nearly 6 rpo - the worst prformnce of any Aussie bowler. Hazelwood was excellent and I think the Perth wicket is good for his style of bowling getting 5 wickets.
I am also much more worried about Starc bowling than Johnson. In any event that is the wicket where I do not think SA will play NZ in the WC - so I am not really worried about the bowling records of Hazelwood, Starc and Johnson in this case. They are no doubt top bowlers - but none of them is better than Dale Steyn.
If SA meets Australia in any game in the WC it will be a close affair. We have the first, second and 7th ranked batsmen in world cricket in our line-up, so that is also a point to consider. I am optimistic that we will beat them batting and be on par bowling - so my money is on the Proteas in this case.
DEDenny
Captain12,893 posts
02 Feb 2015, 10:24#7
I like our batting lineup minus Behardien....it's without a doubt the best on paper but we would need Steyntjie to be at his best.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
02 Feb 2015, 10:47#8
enny
I would prefer Rossouw in that batting line-up. Even though you aid he is not good enough - he is fast finding his feet in the team and is domestically highly rated. He also took the Aussie bowlers apart when the SA "A" team was there last year. Two of those bowlers were - I believe - Hazelwood and Cummins.
Behardien should nevr have been in the squad - Van Zyl should have been. if Van Zyl was in the squad - the batting line-up should have him as no 7 batsman and the fifth bowling function should have been shared between him and Duminy.
With the present squad I would rather have Parnell at 7 and hope our top 6 batsmen can make the required runs. With Amla, De Kock, De Villiers and Miller in that mix at least three of the batsmen coming off would be a tricky situation for any team.
DEDenny
Captain12,893 posts
02 Feb 2015, 10:57#9
Mate, you misunderstand my take on Riley. Let's be clear, I want him n my 11....I'm just not impressed with his inconsistency neither am I in awe of him scoring a ton against a piss poor Windies attack. He did exactly what any half decent batsman would have done.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
02 Feb 2015, 11:33#10
Denny
Just Checking up. In the last series Rossouw batted in only two of the five ODI's in Australia and in those two innings he made 83 runs. Not bad against a bowling attack consisting of Johnson. Hazelwood, Starc and Cummins.
Rossouw is not an opening bat - he needs a few overs to play carefully and once he settles he scores quick runs and is difficult to dislodge. His main problem has been thus far that he was insecure and therefore vulnerable - ut he is getting over that now and will not let the squad down.
