State of SA

[Kriterion_BD]

SA's bowling is probably overrated. WIll get exposed on flat surfaces against class batters. But the bowling attack is still decent, probably even world class. Its their batting that has lost its depth in recent years.

Australia in India is going to be a great series. India's top order is hella week.

[jaybro]

Yet they beat India last year in a test series. Stop being so fickle. They'll come good. In Australia it's as hard as it gets.
Their bowlers are world class but they're up against three absolute rockets in Warner, Smith and Marnus.

Zondo needs to go though. Bavuma warrants his place. He's a very good batter and has averaged 50 the last year, so people need to pipe down.
He's done a damn site more than Markram of Rassie has

They haven’t passed 200 in 7 innings now or something crazy like that. So the criticism is warranted Sloan

[Kriterion_BD]

They haven’t passed 200 in 7 innings now or something crazy like that. So the criticism is warranted Sloan

Damn. Thats Bangladesh level bad.

[CrimsonAvenger]

SA's bowling is probably overrated. WIll get exposed on flat surfaces against class batters. But the bowling attack is still decent, probably even world class. Its their batting that has lost its depth in recent years.

They have such diversity in their attack and are all proven performers. The batting is surely letting them down and the bowling unit can't be expected to keep delivering if the batsmen don't even put up scoreboard pressure.

To make the matters worse, the batsmen are all one dimensional. They seem to not be able to contribute in any other way (or "any" way, currently )

[jaybro]

SA's bowling is probably overrated. WIll get exposed on flat surfaces against class batters. But the bowling attack is still decent, probably even world class. Its their batting that has lost its depth in recent years.

Australia in India is going to be a great series. India's top order is hella week.

Yeah and nah,

Yes I agree they are slightly overrated as most of their careers have been played on very favourable decks for pace bowling. In tougher conditions here in Melbourne, only Nortje really stood up whilst KG has been so disappointing this tour.

But they are very much a talented bunch, KG has already proven to be a world class bowler, but probably needs to mature more and ‘suck it up’ when the times get tough.

Jansen looks like he’ll be a good player for a long time, he’s scored a 50 as well this game, but again he has faded in tough conditions. You can’t expect to play on favourable decks every game, he’ll need to learn more consistently and a few more tricks to his game.

Ngidi is ok but nothing more, he should give way to an allrounder or batsman imo, but he’s probably the second best black cricketer in the land so he will start every game to fill their quota.

[sloandog]

Jansen is the next big thing. He did excellently well in England on their last tour with both bat and ball.
He bowls mid to high 80s and already has 40 wickets at 18 in just 8 games. He'll get better and better.

[Kriterion_BD]

SA's bowling is probably overrated. WIll get exposed on flat surfaces against class batters. But the bowling attack is still decent, probably even world class. Its their batting that has lost its depth in recent years.

Australia in India is going to be a great series. India's top order is hella week.

Yeah and nah,

Yes I agree they are slightly overrated as most of their careers have been played on very favourable decks for pace bowling. In tougher conditions here in Melbourne, only Nortje really stood up whilst KG has been so disappointing this tour.

But they are very much a talented bunch, KG has already proven to be a world class bowler, but probably needs to mature more and ‘suck it up’ when the times get tough.

Jansen looks like he’ll be a good player for a long time, he’s scored a 50 as well this game, but again he has faded in tough conditions. You can’t expect to play on favourable decks every game, he’ll need to learn more consistently and a few more tricks to his game.

Ngidi is ok but nothing more, he should give way to an allrounder or batsman imo, but he’s probably the second best black cricketer in the land so he will start every game to fill their quota.

Yeah Ngidi is bang average to me. KG is great but only in red ball cricket. The way SA performed at the 2019
WC was shocking and I can’t see them doing better in 2023.

[jaybro]

A piece too about Dean Elgar’s captaincy which imo has been very poor this series. Elgar is currently on a very lean trot of form which he hasn’t passed 50 in his past 10 innings, but history tells you a captain out of form can still make a difference with his tactics.

But his captaincy has been pedestrian to say the least this tour and he’s failed to lead from the front in the field or with the bat. Two soft dismissals gloving down the leg side along with a stupid run-out just before lunch on Boxing Day has summed up his tour.

I also didn’t like him having a sook about the Gabba pitch, considering a few points -

A) the Aussies seemed to handle the pitch ok scoring over 200 in their 1st innings against one of the best attacks in the world in those conditions.

B) unlike playing on a dust bowl in India, the proteas should be able to adapt to such a wicket as they prepare similar decks at home.

C) I also thought it was a bit rich for Elgar to complain about the pitch when South Africa hit the panic button earlier this year against India when they went one nil down after the 1st test. They rolled out ‘favourable decks’ in the following two matches which helped them secure a famous test series victory.

Luckily for Elgar there is no one else remotely close to being ready to being test captain in this Protea side. Bavuma is probably the next in-line, but he’s still struggling at this level to become an elite batsman.

[sam_ahm]

8 consecutive innings now without crossing 200. Unbelievable.

[eugene]

They did cross 200 at least in this test.