SA fast bowlers lack Oz know-how
He’s understandably hogged the domestic cricket headlines over the past two or three days and I’m comfortable with South Africa’s decision to call up Lonwabo Tsotsobe for the three-Test tour of Australia, writes Rob Houwing on Sport24 .
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
He’s understandably hogged the domestic cricket headlines over the past two or three days and I’m comfortable with South Africa’s decision to call up Lonwabo Tsotsobe for the three-Test tour of Australia, writes Rob Houwing on Sport24.
The only thing that concerns me, if any of the Steyn-Ntini-Morkel strike trio, heaven forbid, gets crocked, is the lack of proven experience for near-unique Australian conditions among the Zondeki-Tsotsobe back-up. We cannot skirt the issue of what happened the last time Zondeki represented his country in Australia, even if he answered an injury SOS and was understandably badly undercooked when tossed straight into ODI combat in 2005-06 after the Test series had been surrendered 2-0. He was unceremoniously thumped for 106 runs in just 14 overs (one wicket), over the course of two appearances against Australia at Brisbane and Sydney.
JP Duminy was in the headlines again on Tuesday morning. This is not an uncommon occurrence for him. However, it was again about when he will finally get an opportunity at Test level. Having known the man since he was eight, Duminy was probably cringing at the question being posed yet again, writes Zaahier Adams on iol.co.za.
I have spent many hours debating with cricket people, the majority with exceptional cricket pedigree, (and by this I mean with Test-match playing experience), about what those options are. The consensus generally reached is that the only way for Duminy to be accommodated is for de Villiers to be handed the wicket-keeping gloves, with Mark Boucher dropping out of the team ...
... For the record, I am not suggesting that Boucher be axed ahead of the most crucial Test series in South African cricket history. All I am doing is exploring the options of possibly strengthening the South African batting line-up.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo