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Roar Rookie
Joined October 2019
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Cricket and Manchester United
Published
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I click over to another tab on my browser and there is a sense of inevitably when I see Marnus Labuschange raising his bat once again, the various voices of the commentary team assuring me it was a well-built and determined innings.
From the first time I watched cricket I wanted to be a fast bowler.
The victorious side in a game of cricket is usually the one that executes its plans best. Occasionally something weird happens, these days that seems to be Ben Stokes, but most of the time cricket is a game of plans and execution.
Steven Smith is on the ground. He fell while flashing his bat quickly, very wide outside off.
“Quotas kill quality,” began one comment on an article about South Africa’s dismal performance in India – a three-nil series loss, including two innings defeats.
Recently, India completed their eleventh straight home Test series win, a streak going all the way back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2013.
The cricket writer and Marxist historian C.L.R. James saw, in the history of West Indies cricket, the social and political history of the West Indies.
Very good points, Jeff, I can’t really counter anything there. Who do you think is a good pick?
Five-way battle for two Test batting spots
Starc has a brilliant test record, over 200 wickets at a sub-30 with a strike rate of 50. He also recently took ten wickets in a first class match. He should, and most likely will, play the first test against pakistan
Why Starc should stick to white-ball cricket
my nickname was once “number 16”
The gorgeous, wonderful madness of Steven Peter Devereux Smith
It’s still a good attack Pakistan have, and the atmosphere and pressure would something else entirely. Pucovski has the skills and talent to succeed at test level, a FC average of 40+, four hundreds and good start to international cricket would do his confidence a world of good. He hasn’t knocked down the door this season yet, but is averaging 40 and has scored a hundred and was brilliant last season
Five-way battle for two Test batting spots
Picovski’s talent is obvious and his youth exciting. Getting him at number 6 against a side with poor form and low morale is a good opportunity rather than waiting until we have India next season. He would struggle against NZ though
Five-way battle for two Test batting spots
Burns, Head and Pucovski in for at 1, 5 and 6 respectively, is my pick for the test. It’s great these players feel comfortable enough to be honest about their mental health, there’s very little that’s worse than being in that dark space
Five-way battle for two Test batting spots
They were implemented in 2016, you don’t get to decide they were unofficially in place because you have disagreed with some selections seven to ten years ago. Ngidi has played five Tests and 22 ODIs and has done very well, he is a certain starter now in almost all conditions and is as good as anyone else right now. He will be a star. I agree that Bavuma is not up to it, I just don’t believe that his continued selection is a result of quotas. Around the world people with FC averages in the mid-thirties are often selected to play test cricket, and his being dropped would not have an effect on whether or not the quota target was hit for the season. Your argument about Bavuma being a symbol also means he would be selected regardless of whether the quotas were in place
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
never heard that one, though when it came to batting I rarely received any compliments
The gorgeous, wonderful madness of Steven Peter Devereux Smith
I do not understand this phrase… but I like it
The gorgeous, wonderful madness of Steven Peter Devereux Smith
Khan played that game in 2009, seven years before the quotas were put in place. The quotas have been in effect since September 2016. If the marshes can keep getting selected, and Vince and denly, then why is bavuma such an injustice? Sometimes selectors see something, sometimes they have a project player. And seeing as Bavuma being dropped wouldn’t actually effect hitting the quota targets (because of rabada’s and ngidi’s selection), how can his selection be a result of those quotas?
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
Sport and politics always mix, the sports we play reflect society and are charged with those social tensions. That’s why so many people feel so invested in these games. The quotas exist because that funding hasn’t been forthcoming in those areas, they will force investment in those areas. In an ideal world, of course you wouldn’t have quotas, but it isn’t an ideal world. Until those inequalities the quotas should remain in place, otherwise there will not be a transformation
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
Which Khan do you mean? All the others have solid/strong domestic records.
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
But that is why the quotas exist, to ensure more funding reaches those communities. If it was, the quotas wouldn’t exist, that’s what I mean when i say it’s about capital and class and not race. I also never meant imply you didn’t feel that way, so I’m sorry if I did. I am, however, yet to encounter a situation where someone undeserving was selected because they filled a quota. And, also, there is only one wrong here, apartheid.
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
Right, Olivier was offered a two year contract and turned it down for more money as a kolpak player (4th paragraph). Abbott played 11 tests over four years (3rd para, only one year during quotas). Everyone I mentioned has a higher FC average than Roussouw, so I don’t know what your point there is. Look, quotas exist in South Africa because there are a very unique set circumstances that distort society to such an extent that it is now necessary to sort through the economic and social trauma of apartheid. In England, New Zealand or Australia, quotas would be out of place. In South Africa they are not, because of the unique socio-economic conditions. Quotas at the top will direct grassroots funding, eventually leading to a society where quotas are not necessary. Quotas are only necessary because the end of apartheid is yet to see a fundamental rebalancing of power from capital to people.
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
It will take time for the decision to effect those changes at the lower levels, but with quotas in place it means first class structures will have to identify those players. Therefore, they will have to send scouts and coaches to the places they haven’t before, or did so less frequently. Black and coloured players tend to have more deprived upbringings and come from poorer areas than whites; that is also reflected at the lowest levels. In order to get to the point that the quotas can be done away with, much more capital will have to be directed to those currently deprived areas
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
You also haven’t questioned the reason for the quotas, which is about ensuring there will be investment in poorer areas. The massive inequalities that apartheid created still, for the most part, exist
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
Ngidi definitely is. Hamza, de Bruyn and Klaasen all have superior FC records to Roussouw. Also Roussouw signed his deal only a few months after the system was put in place, we can’t say what would have happened. de Bruyn hasn’t performed at test level, but he could, and we have no idea how Roussouw would have done in tests. The argument that having Klaassen in the side undermines de Kock doesn’t hold weight. de Kock is so well established that if Klaassen were picked as a batsmen no would ever think he were a threat to de Kock. Jennings can’t defend straight balls.
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
Heino Khun was 32 when the quotas were brought in. Theunis de Bruyn and Heinrich Klaasen are two very good player who haven’t taken their chances yet. But the best young batsmen is probably Zubayr Hamza, who has done well without impressing yet. These quotas mandate that only two of the players of colour must be black. Rabada and Ngidi fill that quota. They obviously see something in Bavuma, I think they’re wrong and de Bruyn or Klaasen deserve an extended run.
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
Would love to see a couple test hundreds from Babar the summer. If he can translate his white-ball performances to the red-ball game he’ll challenge Kohli, Williamson, Smith
Get set for the Babar Azam show
Paine’s win ratio is low because he inherited a traumatised side missing its two best players. He’s now the first Aus captain to retain the ashes in England since 2001, not a bad get that
Smith “better” under captaincy pressure
I don’t think Wade has the skills with the gloves to be the test keeper. If Paine is there for another two years that will give Carey the time to mature. Also, it will give Philippe, who I think is a real special talent, the time to establish himself as a proper contender for the role
Australia needs to plan for its wicketkeeping future
Quotas at the elite level will dictate where grassroots spending is directed. I agree that Bavuma has probably run his course, but is true South Africa are still waiting for that young middle order batsmen to reveal himself. But, and I don’t mean to imply this is what you’re saying, it’s unfair to say it’s quotas keeping him in the side when people like James Vince and the Marshes keep getting opportunity after opportunity. Sometimes selectors see something in a player, and Bavuma is clearly a very talented athlete who hasn’t performed as well as he should.
Why quotas help, not hinder, South African cricket
Mark Waugh and Shane Warne actually accepted money for pitch and weather information. Their punishment was to pay the money back and are now considered greats of the game. Have never seen anyone question either of them about it in a recent interview, or Warne’s use of prescribed substances. I’m very disappointed and al Hasan obviously did the wrong thing, but he didn’t accept any money and immediately accepted his punishment and has been contrite. Unlike the former two, who enjoy jobs on selection panels and in the commentary box
Shakib Al Hasan ban creates opportunity for Australia
They’ve certainly shut me up. I love Pakistan for exactly this reason.
Five-way battle for two Test batting spots