State of SA

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Duanne Olivier makes himself available for South Africa again

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espncr ... atform=amp

[sloandog]

This is only a good thing for South African cricket. This guy is a gun and should be ahead of Sipamla and Ngidi.
Man there's some serious talent in the South African system

[sam_ahm]

Sure there is a lot of talent in South Africa and Olivier is such a great addition to the side but that will further reduce the transformation numbers.

The Netherlands series was important for South Africa in terms of filling transformation targets, they were playing 7 players of colour, which would have helped. Hopefully that series continues later in the season.

[Zimco]

Such strict or high quotas at a national level is one of the most racist things an organisation can do to individuals. I don't know why the icc allows it.

Whilst somewhat unrelated, imagine if India said more than half the players have to be from the south because most of the players are from the north and they want people from the south to see players from the south on TV.

[slcricfan1]

Such strict or high quotas at a national level is one of the most racist things an organisation can do to individuals. I don't know why the icc allows it.

Whilst somewhat unrelated, imagine if India said more than half the players have to be from the south because most of the players are from the north and they want people from the south to see players from the south on TV.

Because the ICC are retards

[Kallum]

The fact the India tests have been confirmed is brilliant news. CSA and SACA have quite literally banked everything on it to be able to rejuvenate the finances. The TV revenues will actually keep CSA afloat for another 4 years provided no-one nicks all the money again...

I don't see how SA stand a chance at winning though since they'll have to play extra black and coloured players to meet the yearly transformation target.

My test 11 and I know its not meeting the targets.
1. Elgar (c)
2. Markram (vc)
3. Petersen (I'd love Raynard van Tonder but Petersen has earned this spot domestically so should be given a proper go)
4. van der Dussen (I'd actually prefer Markram to bat at 4 honestly with van Tonder opening but with such short notice)
5. Bavuma (he is gritty if not brilliant and helps with the target)
6. Quinton de Kock (wk) (Qeshile is a promising wk for the future but blooding him against India would ruin him)
7. Wiaan Mulder (would ideally see him move up the order but he hasn't proved himself with the bat internationally at all yet but provides decent control with his medium pace)
8. Maharaj (while some might be calling for Harmer Maharaj is South Africa's greatest spinner since readmission and I'm a big fan)
9. Rabada (been a bit out of form in the t20s but this is real cricket and he is the goat)
10. Nortje (had a slow start to test cricket but has been excellent v Pakistan and west indies earlier this year)
11. Olivier (he betrayed SA by turning down the central contract yes but God has he been good since he returned to domestic SA cricket is averaging just above 10 with the ball this year and is just a shame he is white really so they may go with the incumbent Ngidi if fit which seems to be far from common)

[sam_ahm]

The fact the India tests have been confirmed is brilliant news. CSA and SACA have quite literally banked everything on it to be able to rejuvenate the finances. The TV revenues will actually keep CSA afloat for another 4 years provided no-one nicks all the money again...

I don't see how SA stand a chance at winning though since they'll have to play extra black and coloured players to meet the yearly transformation target.

My test 11 and I know its not meeting the targets.
1. Elgar (c)
2. Markram (vc)
3. Petersen (I'd love Raynard van Tonder but Petersen has earned this spot domestically so should be given a proper go)
4. van der Dussen (I'd actually prefer Markram to bat at 4 honestly with van Tonder opening but with such short notice)
5. Bavuma (he is gritty if not brilliant and helps with the target)
6. Quinton de Kock (wk) (Qeshile is a promising wk for the future but blooding him against India would ruin him)
7. Wiaan Mulder (would ideally see him move up the order but he hasn't proved himself with the bat internationally at all yet but provides decent control with his medium pace)
8. Maharaj (while some might be calling for Harmer Maharaj is South Africa's greatest spinner since readmission and I'm a big fan)
9. Rabada (been a bit out of form in the t20s but this is real cricket and he is the goat)
10. Nortje (had a slow start to test cricket but has been excellent v Pakistan and west indies earlier this year)
11. Olivier (he betrayed SA by turning down the central contract yes but God has he been good since he returned to domestic SA cricket is averaging just above 10 with the ball this year and is just a shame he is white really so they may go with the incumbent Ngidi if fit which seems to be far from common)

I guess that's exactly the line up they will go in with. Obviously only question is about Olivier or Ngidi, I hope they prefer Olivier.

[Kallum]

My biggest question marks with Ngidi is his fitness. When he first came about he looked absolutely sensational like next rabada level but he has seemingly packed on more weight and its caused him plenty of durability issues and his pace seems to have dropped considerably

[sloandog]

Yea his pace has well and truly sapped.

[Tinah09]

The fact the India tests have been confirmed is brilliant news. CSA and SACA have quite literally banked everything on it to be able to rejuvenate the finances. The TV revenues will actually keep CSA afloat for another 4 years provided no-one nicks all the money again...

I don't see how SA stand a chance at winning though since they'll have to play extra black and coloured players to meet the yearly transformation target.

My test 11 and I know its not meeting the targets.
1. Elgar (c)
2. Markram (vc)
3. Petersen (I'd love Raynard van Tonder but Petersen has earned this spot domestically so should be given a proper go)
4. van der Dussen (I'd actually prefer Markram to bat at 4 honestly with van Tonder opening but with such short notice)
5. Bavuma (he is gritty if not brilliant and helps with the target)
6. Quinton de Kock (wk) (Qeshile is a promising wk for the future but blooding him against India would ruin him)
7. Wiaan Mulder (would ideally see him move up the order but he hasn't proved himself with the bat internationally at all yet but provides decent control with his medium pace)
8. Maharaj (while some might be calling for Harmer Maharaj is South Africa's greatest spinner since readmission and I'm a big fan)
9. Rabada (been a bit out of form in the t20s but this is real cricket and he is the goat)
10. Nortje (had a slow start to test cricket but has been excellent v Pakistan and west indies earlier this year)
11. Olivier (he betrayed SA by turning down the central contract yes but God has he been good since he returned to domestic SA cricket is averaging just above 10 with the ball this year and is just a shame he is white really so they may go with the incumbent Ngidi if fit which seems to be far from common)

I actually see the presence/ availability of Ngidi and Oliver as a plus, the key to success is to rotate your seamers. As for quotas, on its face, its not a bad idea if you have a depth of quality of cricketers of colour...Hashim Amla, Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Alvaro Peterson were solid cricketers who "benefited" from the "quota system: and turned out to be among the best cricketers in the world. Would they have got the opportunities without the "quota system'? that's debatable. That said, I struggle to see what everyone sees in Themba Bavuma, for a specialist batsman, he doesn't seem to have done enough to be guaranteed a spot in the proteas, in all formats no less...let alone as captain of the side. No disrespect to the brother but he is in his early 30s and has mere test ton with an average in the early 30s. Those are Zim stats right there or at best a good allrounders batting stats. But the guy is a specialist batsman!!. I have followed his career closely, he was considered a prodigy in youth teams and has been groomed by SA and Gauteng cricket to be a world class star. I just don't see what the fuss around him is all about. Were SA so desperate for a world class black batsman that they chose to convince themselves that Themba is more than what he is. Perhaps he will be a late bloomer like Mike Hussey, hopefully he will kick-on and be counted among the great SA batsmen