First off, how superior have been the Proteas girls! Bliksem, did these women give the Aussies a scare.
They may not have gone all the way in which, however they performed lekker cricket and made us all proud.
Also, earlier than I get into the nitty-gritty of this week’s rant, I’ve to say nicely finished and congratulations to the Proteas males’s workforce, too, for beating the Windies inside three days (extra on that later) and particularly to Aiden Markram, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada for producing such good performances.
Oh, and let me not overlook about Chiefs, who beat Pirates within the massive Soweto Derby final weekend.
Right, now to the Test in Centurion.
Poor batting
Firstly, the place have been all of the followers? Hell, it seemed so unhealthy seeing all these empty seats and grass banks, I’m wondering how the gamers should have felt. It can’t be lekker taking part in a Test when so few individuals pitch as much as watch.
Maybe extra individuals will go to the Wanderers subsequent week, however once more, why begin the Test on a Wednesday?
This final week it began on a Tuesday and didn’t get near seeing the weekend. That’s simply poor planning on CSA’s half. Come on, up your sport please.
But the most important concern of the final week was the Proteas’ poor batting, once more. Hell, these okes have been struggling for ages.
I do know the bowling was good and the pitch was presumably a bit dodgy however how will you go from 221 for one and get bowled out for 342? And then you definitely go and make simply 116 in your second innings. No man, it’s simply not adequate.
First Class cricket
Maybe the fellows have gotten an excessive amount of of a T20 mindset now. I imply the place is the combat, the will to play for hours, to construct a rating? But we shouldn’t be shocked. How a lot of our high order have performed common First Class cricket not too long ago?
I believe we should simply concede we don’t have nice batters at this stage in our historical past.
Dean Elgar, for all his gutsy innings’ over time, averages 37.51 in 82 Tests. In top notch cricket it’s 41.38 (from 237 matches). Is that adequate for a Test opener?
And whereas Markram was the one batter within the Test in Centurion to do one thing of substance, his average in 33 Tests is barely 34; that’s why he was dropped not too way back. In 86 First Class matches it’s 42.92. It’s okay, nothing extra.
Debutant Tony de Zorzi is averaging 101.40 in First Class cricket this season because of a stupendous 304 not out, however does an general First Class average of 37.85 warrant a nationwide call-up?
Captain Temba Bavuma, who sadly acquired a pair of geese on Test captaincy debut, averages 34 in Tests and 37 in FC cricket; additionally nothing particular.
Keegan Petersen averages 32 in Tests and a tad over 39 in FC cricket.
Heinrich Klaasen, most well-liked by new coach Shukri Conrad to Kyle Verrynne, averages 47.24 in FC cricket — one of the best by some margin of the Proteas high order.
Ryan Rickelton
Sadly, we’ve got to ask, once more, why did the shape SA cricketer of the final two years, Ryan Rickelton, not play in Centurion? Come on, it’s ridiculous how this man is being handled.
The Lions participant has been within the type of his life for 2 years and this season alone averages 121.66 from 5 innings. His general FC file has him at 46 video games, 79 innings, 3896 runs and average of 54.87. He’s a run machine. But he sits within the stands, watching the motion.
Coach Conrad and batting guru Neil McKenzie have their work reduce out.
Our batting within the Test enviornment wants drastic consideration. Then once more, with so little Test cricket on the horizon for the Proteas (they’ll play solely 4 Tests in 2023), why ought to anybody actually be bothered.
It’s the restricted overs stuff that issues most now … however extra about that one other time.
Until subsequent week, examine you on the Wanderers.
- Vusi Voetsek is a disgruntled former coach, who was by no means given a shot on the big-time. He’s acquired an opinion on all the things from athletics to golf to rugby and cricket and a complete lot in between. He’s a straight shooter who says it like it’s and he isn’t scared to ruffle a number of feathers.
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