Within 24 hours Jacques Kallis will have retired from Test cricket and South Africa’s quest for replacement will begin.
In reality, Kallis is irreplaceable so it is virtually impossible to fill the void of South Africa’s greatest cricketer.
Instead the selectors are likely to bank on the ‘horses for courses’ approach.
The first obstacle is the toughest and with a rampaging Australia arriving in only few weeks’ time, it is likely the South Africa will play with an extra batsman given the defensive mindset of Graeme Smith and influence of Mitchell Johnson on the tailenders.
With the first Test match on the fast, bouncy track of Pretoria, and the third Test at the seaming Cape Town, South Africa will load up their pace battery with four quicks (Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott) and play JP Duminy and Dean Elgar as part-time spinners.
Choosing Robin Petersen is risk given if he is taken out of the attack by the Australian batsmen, so the pace trio will have to share a heavy workload.
With three Tests against Australia in three weeks it remains unlikely Morkel, Steyn and Philander will be pushed.
Smith’s conservative approach in the recent Test series against India is a clear indicator South Africa is still paranoid of losing for the sake of winning.
Similar trend followed in England last year when after the retirement of Mark Boucher, they opted for AB de Villers to perform a dual role rather than bringing in a dedicated wicketkeeper.
It was a further suggestion South Africa preferred to strengthen their batting.
Even for a team that is number one in the world, they are unlikely to risk a bowling all-rounder at number seven or a rookie wicketkeeper, especially against quality bowling line up of Australia.
If South Africa opt for a bowling all-rounder Ryan McClaren or Wayne Parnell are the likely candidates.
McClaren averages 30 with the bat in first-class cricket and has improved his batting over the past couple of years.
Parnell on the other hand has not really developed as a cricketer South Africa would have liked.
He might have gained pace but off-field discretions and a lack of consistency suggests he is suited more as a one-day specialist.
Importantly, McClaren bowling resembles Kallis more than Parnell. It is safe enough to say McClaren is the only viable option.
The other option South Africa could explore is to introduce Quention De Kock as a specialist keeper at number seven.
It will enable De Villers to bat at Kallis’ position at four but it also means there is no all-rounder in the team and hence more work load for Steyn, Morket and Philander.
Although this is the conventional option, the wicketkeeping of De Kock still leaves plenty to desire. Additionally De Villers is comfortable at five and with the gloves so in the near future it is an unlikely option.
The only Test in the nearby future South Africa that could be thrown in disarray will be the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
Traditionally it is the slowest pitch in South Africa and given Australia’s recent spinning woes Petersen could play a role, meaning Steyn, Morkel and Philander’s fitness and ability to share the extra workload could dictate the combination.
South Africa’s next prolific Test series for South Africa will be at home against a weakened West Indies nearly eight months later.
It is a long time away and by then De Kock would have likely taken over gloves from De Villers.
The real challenge will be when they tour India in 18 months’ time. Until then South Africa has plenty of time to groom or develop an all-rounder or a high quality spinner.
Until then the theory of horses for courses is only logical way of replacing ‘King Kallis’.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Biltong it's a lost cause with some or these Aussies.... Steyn, coming in to bat in the last 3 overs decides to take the safety approach first in one Test match and all of a sudden it's Graham Smith who is a bad captain and too "conservative". It's amazing that SA fought themselves back in a position to win it in the first place. (I still think Philander and Steyn should've tried to make more of an effort to go for it but hey that's another topic and just my opinion, there was the defensive bowling to consider, Morkel's injury, Tahir's lack of batting ability etc) And I guess Smith was soo "conservative" that we beat the 2nd ranked team quite easily in the end.... And that's a Series win :-)
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Patrick... By the way there are plenty plenty websites and news agencies with info about South African cricket if you want to find out. Similarly I haven't a clue about any first class Aussie cricket or players!! Doesn't mean I couldn't find out if I wanted to. I think it will be the current 5th ranked team who may test the number 1 team in Test cricket as they seem to have found a bit more life against downward spiraling England over the past month or two. South Africa will still clean up imo
aussie sports lover
Guest
agree - the stats are mind boggling.
JGK
Roar Guru
It's a strong side no doubt. Would be even stronger with 11 players.
Gavjoshi, I am trying to figure out who you are trying to convince about Graeme Smith's approach to test cricket. Over the past six years his team has a win loss ratio of 2.84, that is 1.3 ahead of any other team during that period. It may not be up there with the great Australian and West Indies teams, but are certainly good enough to recieve a little more credit than what you are giving them. Anyway. Listening to the ex players it sounds like AB de Villiers for now should remain the wicket keeper batsman and suggestions are that FAF du Plessis move to four. McLaren might be the most obvious solution as all rounder, however I am not convinced of him yet. He has improved his standing in the OdI's this year being one of the leading wicket takers and his batting isn't too bad. Problem is he isn't good enough to be a bowling allrounder in the class of Shaun Pollock and he is certainly no Kallis. Smith Alviro Amla DuPlessis DeVilliers Duminy Philander Steyn Morkel Abbot The spin department for us is bare, neither Petersen nor Tahir is class enough for a sustained period in the Protea team. Tahir may be very successful at first class level but one good innings every three tests isn't worth it. petersen may offer more with the bat, but his bowling is as inconsistent as Tahir's. The only spinners that has ever beneficial to the Proteas were those who played a containment role, such as Clive Eksteen, Nicky Boje, Pat Symcox or Paul Harris. The ability to hold an end up should be more of a priority than wishing Tahir or Petersen to become attacking spinners, and neither of them are accurate or consistent enough. Duminy and Faf can both twirl the ball a bit and I would rather have them work on their craft to provide relief to the seamers and select either Dean Elgar or Quinton de Kock as the extra batsman rather than expose Petersen or Tahir to our opponents. Playing an extra batsman has nothing to do with " conservatism" but rather the approach that has been successful for the past 6 years. Let Australia play cricket the way they want to, and let Graeme Smith and his team continue their path along one that has clearly been successful over the past.
Photon
Guest
Smith, Peterson, Amla, du Plessis, Duminy, McLaren, Philander, Steyn, Morkel and Peterson or Tahir. That is the team they should pick, the only alternative is to pick Elgar or in place of the spinner. We can't have less than 4 seamers in the side and McLaren represents a long term solution and as he will grow given the opportunity into a very good test all rounder. The side is awesome though, Abortt should be kept as a squad alternative in the event that one of the other main stream batsman gets injured.
JGK
Roar Guru
I thought de Kok was unlikely to get a run due to his melanin deficiency.
brian
Guest
My first choice would be McLaren at No 7. Averaging 30 at FC was after all good enough for Bailey to be batting 6 for Australia. That would allow the bowling to remain as is and if a fourth seamer keeps Steyn and Philander fit its worth its weight in gold. I agree the only vialbe alternative is Duminy and Elgar bowling spin and four seamers but you wouldn't do that beyond a short-term solution.
Cantab
Guest
Such a great player, IMO the best cricketer of his generation, Having him in the team was almost cheating, very few all-rounders can hold there own with both bat and ball.
Patrick Hargreaves
Roar Guru
Thank you, information of South African cricket is pretty limited. I have a feeling Australia will be more than tested.