State of SA

[Tinah09]

They lost too many great batsmen in one go, Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB, Prince, Alvaro Peterson all retired within 2-3 years of each other....I don't think they had prepared for this. They handled succession regarding the bowling quite well, as in they now have 5-6 good pace bowlers available to fill 3 spots

[Googly]

Here's another question-
Do you think SA will ever be top 3 in any format again?

[Googly]

Lungi Ngidi has silenced his critics...again. Ngidi and Rabada are the first choice strike bowlers, Nortje is also great, Jansen is to be groomed and mentored by Rabada and Notje. Oliver adds depth, good for rotating seamers. Its a pity SA do not have good spirit bowlers, Tahir was okay but more of a short format bowler, Shamsi, Maharaj aren't good enough. AS will now be chasing 320, do they have the batsmen for it?? I am not convinced!

Just seen Jansen for the first time. Damn!!

[sam_ahm]

Very very impressed with Indian bowling in the first innings. India are easily the best test team atm hands down and it is because of our bowling. I don't think South Africa can avoid defeat here. This is an excellent chance for India to seal a first ever series win in South Africa. It's bound to happen, can't see this proteas team taking the fight.

As for South Africa, I think Hamza, Verreynne and Janneman must be in the test line up. I don't know if there are other contenders but surely Markram, Keegan, and Bavuma aren't good enough.

Temba has played 45 tests for a single century. This is just unacceptable, surely they must have better colored players out there, even De Zorzi might do better.

[Googly]

You're forgetting NZ, they're sharp.
SA have some serious quicks now. I think Jansen could be the next big thing.

[sam_ahm]

You're forgetting NZ, they're sharp.
SA have some serious quicks now. I think Jansen could be the next big thing.

Agreed, New Zealand are quite good as well followed by the Aussies but I'll still keep India at the top for now.

[Tinah09]

Once a great cricket nation reaches rock bottom, it takes several years to get back up. Sri Lanka and West Indies are good examples, they were once near-invincible, now they are average at best. I think it will take SA 5-10 years to get back to the top, provided they depoliticise their cricket board and insist on picking the best players available based on domestic stats and/or potential at under-age levels because I find it hard to believe that the SA batsmen currently facing India are the best batsman in South Africa, no way!!

[Tinah09]

Very very impressed with Indian bowling in the first innings. India are easily the best test team atm hands down and it is because of our bowling. I don't think South Africa can avoid defeat here. This is an excellent chance for India to seal a first ever series win in South Africa. It's bound to happen, can't see this proteas team taking the fight.

As for South Africa, I think Hamza, Verreynne and Janneman must be in the test line up. I don't know if there are other contenders but surely Markram, Keegan, and Bavuma aren't good enough.

Temba has played 45 tests for a single century. This is just unacceptable, surely they must have better colored players out there, even De Zorzi might do better.

What you’re suggesting worked well in the good old days when SA was not too proud to face weak nations like Zimbabwe. Introducing 3 fresh faces to the test arena when all you want to face is India, Australia and England (for financial reasons I guess) is a reciprocal e for disaster. Those guys may do well in domestic leagues and SA A tours but against quality bowling attacks, they will be made to look like rank amateurs. If SA schedules a series or two against Zim, gets these emerging batsmen a “soft” introduction to test cricket and boosts their confidence, they, De Zorzi, Janneman, Hamza etc might eventually become formidable test batsmen. Having them face off Cummins, Wood, Bruvi and co on debut will be international career suicide

[secretzimbo]

Very very impressed with Indian bowling in the first innings. India are easily the best test team atm hands down and it is because of our bowling. I don't think South Africa can avoid defeat here. This is an excellent chance for India to seal a first ever series win in South Africa. It's bound to happen, can't see this proteas team taking the fight.

As for South Africa, I think Hamza, Verreynne and Janneman must be in the test line up. I don't know if there are other contenders but surely Markram, Keegan, and Bavuma aren't good enough.

Temba has played 45 tests for a single century. This is just unacceptable, surely they must have better colored players out there, even De Zorzi might do better.

What you’re suggesting worked well in the good old days when SA was not too proud to face weak nations like Zimbabwe. Introducing 3 fresh faces to the test arena when all you want to face is India, Australia and England (for financial reasons I guess) is a reciprocal e for disaster. Those guys may do well in domestic leagues and SA A tours but against quality bowling attacks, they will be made to look like rank amateurs. If SA schedules a series or two against Zim, gets these emerging batsmen a “soft” introduction to test cricket and boosts their confidence, they, De Zorzi, Janneman, Hamza etc might eventually become formidable test batsmen. Having them face off Cummins, Wood, Bruvi and co on debut will be international career suicide

I wish we could have 1 annual test match vs SA, alternating host each year. Great opportunity for SA to test alternative players. Great chance for us to be reminded how far off the pace we are and a way to benchmark our progress each year.

[sloandog]

Hamza isn't good enough for test cricket, it's really that simple.

Verreyne and Jannaman Malan are LOI players for the time being if I'm honest. They have oodles of talent and the shots to match it, so leave them in the ODI side to develop some confidence. They'll get their chance in the test XI, they're too good not to.