SA tour of Pak, Jan 26 - Feb 14

[sussexpob]

The fact is South Africa cannot bat to save their lives. Since 2018, only Elgar has an average that is anywhere near test class, but at 37 in that period, its a pretty tragic low bar. The rest of the top 6-7 cannot buy runs regularly and are all some way off acceptable returns. They are in that sort of troublesome loop where no one justifies their position, but no one is knocking on the door given the opportunity; so what do you do? Rip the plan to shreds and burn it, or accept the players you have are probably the best you have and just stay in a stasis of being uncompetitive whenever your opposition scores anything par or above?

The selectors dont help because they have tried to supplement bits and pieces into the bowling attack to add batting depth, and all its really done is get a few subpar bowlers who get dropped after 2 tests being mixed into every team. They then gave players like TB De Bruyn quite a lot of tests when I think it was clear after one over watching him, he could barely hold a bat.

When you see someone who looks that obviously rubbish coming out of the domestic scene with massive runs, I guess you realise the depth of the problem. A very sad era for South African cricket, because the quality has just been gutted in a very short time. Kuhn was another that springs to mind who looked like a technical trainwreck, and Hamza another.

They really need a radical overhaul of the structure there (which I think is coming in the form of an extended competition). Atm its hard to see how they can remain competitive unless Rabada bowls teams out.

[mikesiva]

Imho, South Africa is in an irreversible decline similar to the West indies after the retirement of Viv Richards. The batting is the first to go.

In the Windies, cricket has become a minority sport in every country except Barbados and Guyana. Only the t20 version still has popular appeal. In SA, cricket is still a minority sport. It's failed to make the post apartheid appeal to the majority the way rugby has.

No amount of tinkering with the domestic system can solve the problem of a declining talent pool.

[mikesiva]

Pakistan 272 all out

Faheem 78
Babar 77
Fawad 45

Nortje 5-56
Maharaj 3-90

[mikesiva]

South Africa 201 all out

Bavuma 44 not out
Mulder 33
Markram 32

Hassan 5-54

[mikesiva]

Pakistan 298 all out

Rizwan 115 not out
Nauman 45

Linde 5-64
Maharaj 3-118
Rabada 2-34

Target 370

[mikesiva]

South Africa 274 all out

Markram 108
Bavuma 61
Rassie 48

Hassan 5-60
Shaheen 4-51

[Arthur Crabtree]

That was a sudden collapse.

[The Professor]

Mohammad Rizwan could do no wrong today - 104* off 64 balls, a run out and a caught behind in Pakistan's 3 run win over South Africa. It came down to the last ball but SA never seemed in it.

[sussexpob]

Strikes me as a real quality player when I've seen him, Rizwan. Maybe I've gave his career the kiss of death, but he looks like he's going to be a key player for Pakistan in years to come, and maybe needs upping in the order

[mikesiva]

Pretorius 5-17!

T20 series level 1-1.

[The Professor]

Strikes me as a real quality player when I've seen him, Rizwan. Maybe I've gave his career the kiss of death, but he looks like he's going to be a key player for Pakistan in years to come, and maybe needs upping in the order

He and one other wicket keeper have scored a century in all formats of the game....any guesses?

Great fight back from Saffers today.

[The Professor]

David Miller was on absolute fire as his 45-ball 85* helped South Africa recover from 65/7 and post 164/8! However he could not save the match as Pakistan chased down the overall total of 169.

Been a cracking series this.

[sussexpob]

Strikes me as a real quality player when I've seen him, Rizwan. Maybe I've gave his career the kiss of death, but he looks like he's going to be a key player for Pakistan in years to come, and maybe needs upping in the order

He and one other wicket keeper have scored a century in all formats of the game....any guesses?

Great fight back from Saffers today.

Well Id guess McCullum or ABDV. Although it surprises me both of these didnt make a T20I century

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe Bairstow or Buttler. More likely Buttler.

[sussexpob]

Maybe Bairstow or Buttler. More likely Buttler.

Buttler has never made a T20 century, I am pretty sure. He once got very close, but ran out of target runs in an IPL game.. ended up with something like 99* not out. Bairstow is a good shout though