How Australian is Clarke?

 

 

So South Africa, despite beating Australia away in their last two series there, are still to beat them since readmission at home. They came pretty close to another drawn series, 4 overs close, but Australia struck at the end to win the series, a series that really should be longer than three matches.

What’s really stood out for me in this Australian side, bar one idiot, has been the spirit and class which they have played. All three Tests were hard fought and took the on field battle to the edge at times. Australia don’t play quiet, it’s one of the reasons they have been dominant in the 90’s and early 2000’s – a mental disintegration of there opponents that takes place before and during each match. Back in the 90’s and early 2000’s South Africa have had teams that could compete skills wise with the all conquering Waugh and Ponting teams, but mentally were found wanting in the 50/50 plays that decide matches and series. This is an altogether tougher Proteas team, thanks to Smith, and crossing that barrier has lead to series wins away in England, Australia and the sub continent. So to see the emotion and fight out on the field between the two teams was evidence of the passion they have for their countries and their sport.

Knowing where the line is, is as important as knowing when to attack and fight, and when to step away. This is where Michael Clarke has lead by example, and bar David Warner, the rest of his team have followed suit. Mitchel Johnson and the attack would try and take your head off, snarling fire and were never short of a suggestion to the batsman, but each milestone passed by the batsman was met with applause and a handshake when they walked from the field. They recognized the spirit of the game and gave respect to who they were playing. This class within the team was no more evident than after Warner had made a few stupid remarks about AB de Villiers treatment of the ball in a press conference, and Ryan Harris later told reporters he didn’t think the Proteas had done anything wrong, they were just better at executing their skills than Australia were in that lost Test. On the perhaps the tensest day of the series, the last day of the deciding Test, after Australia had a decision overturned on review, emotions were high, with South Africa doing a brave job of battling for a draw and Australia tireless running in trying to get the win, their were a few words said between the Australians and Dale Steyn, with Clarke getting involved and the umpires having to separate them and have a word with Clarke about their behaviour. In the next break in play Clarke was seen going up to Steyn and apologizing. In the heat of a passion and emotion filled day things are said, and lines crossed, but recognizing when you’ve stepped over and addressing that is a class move, and Clarke showed plenty of that throughout the series. At the post match press conference he was again apologetic and took full blame and responsibility for it.

Teams have been used to be sledged, bullied and pushed around by Austalian sides in the past, sides that had the beating of others in terms of skill, but also on the mental side of the game, not allowing soft teams an inch. It has left things bitter in some regards, there’s no love lost between Harbajan Singh and the Australians, but when a side lead by someone like Clarke, and a side that follows his example, plays in the correct spirit, hard but fair, you can’t help but show a bit of admiration. Even if they are Australia.

Dolphins Mean Business

 

The Dolphins, the Durban based franchise, have announced the signing f West Indian batsman Chris Gayle for the 2012 Pro 20 Series.

The east coast team had a successful period in the mid to late 90’s, under current coach Graham Ford, when players like Malcolm Marshall, Jonty Rhodes, Andrew Hudson and Pat Symcox were joined by a clutch of highly talented, energetic and eager young guns, lead by Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusner and Dale Benkenstein. The team won the domestic double in the 96/97 season. Four day competitions were won in 94/95, 96/97, 01/02, 04/05, 05/06 as well as limited over triumphs in 96/97 and 01/02, with the team being trophyless since 2006. They have yet to win the Pro 20 Series.

A number of experienced players have been released in the last two seasons, including HD Akerman, Johan Louw, Andrew Hall, Alfonso Thomas and recently Jon Kent, as the Dolphins have decided restructuring is needed to get the team back in a title challenging position. Youngsters such as Dave Miller, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Kyle Abbot are the teams future, and when available Protea’s players Hashim Amla, Imraan Tahir and Loots Bosman, should make the team competitive. However it’s the signing of Gayle and Aussie speedster Shaun Tait that signals their intention loud and clear.

T20 cricket is where the money is. The finalists in the Pro 20 Series will go on to the Champions League and the domestic riches to follow. This is where the Dolphins have decided to focus and pin their hopes on. They have gambled on overseas players before, Ravi Bopara had a decent run in the Pro 40 Series last season, whule Sanath Jayasuria has been less successful in his Pro 20 games for the Dolphins. Gayle and Tait should prove less risky than the Sri Lankan who was rapidly approaching the end of his career. Gayle showed in the IPL this year how much he enjoys the T20 game, and the relaxed beach city of Durban should be just what he needs as he travels the various world leagues playing T20 cricket. Shaun Taits body may not hold up to the rigors of longer formats, but he remains a supremely destructive T20 bowler.

While the signings are no doubt expensive, and mean the team will have to supplement the squad with youngsters, it may prove just what the franchise needs. A technically and tactically astute coach like Ford, who’s no stranger to nurturing young talent, the potential of Dave Miller, and the proven talent of Gayle and Tait, could fire the Dolphins to the Pro 20 Series final and with it the Champions League. One trophy is all it takes to get back on track with a winning mentality breeding confidence and added attraction for future stars. This is one gamble that looks more calculated than sure than some may think. The season could be the one the success starved Dolphin fans have been waiting for.

 

 

 

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Protea Selectors Miss Point

 

As I begin writing this post the ODI series between South Africa and India is poised at 2-2, with India needing to chase 268 from 46 overs to take the series. No easy task, but within their capabilities. Of course this series is just a warm up to the big event next month in the sub continent when the two giants will face off again in a group game at the World Cup.

On Tuesday night, after India again won a tight encounter, the Protea’s named their World Cup squad. The squad contains a good mix of youth, experience, pace, spin and the potential surprise of Imran Tahir – who’s yet to play a game for his adopted country.

In truth most of the squad picked itself. If you’d asked a bunch of people to pick the squad a few months ago, with the proviso so Tahir would qualify, you’d have most people picking similar squads with perhaps 12-13 of the 15 common across most lists. With that said an inclusion that most may not have had is that of Morne van Wky. Always a performer at domestic level, the Eagles opener and keeper is a great tactical choice by the selectors. When Smith pulled out of the T20 before the ODI series van Wky was given a last minute call up. He took his chance to impress brilliantly and was the only Protea batsman to really show up. He’ll fulfill the role as back up to de Villiers behind the stumps, as well a backup batsman, able to bat anywhere in the order. So that’s the positive from the squad.

Where the selectors have failed is in not picking David Miller or Albie Morkel. The middle to lower order collapses during the current series have been alarming. What is clear though, and was very evident today, is that the Protea’s don’t have anyone in the middle/lower order who can come in and clear the boundary. The batsman they do have are all very good and can fulfill roles of keeping the scoreboard ticking, rotating strike, and rebuilding an innings, but arent finishers. Past South African teams have been spoiled for choice with the likes of Lance Klusner, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje and Albie Morkel. This squad is clearly missing a trick.

Miller was identified as that player once the selectors decided that Albie Morkels form had declined. Yet instead of sticking with the young player they have balked at the first hint of panic. It became clear after Faf duplessis made a debut 60 that Colin Ingram and Miller were playing for one position. As good as a player as Ingram is the selectors made the wrong choice. They’ve gone for a number 3 batsman to bat at 6 or 7. Ingram is a backup to Kallis spot and nothing else. He’s not suited to anything lower and it’s unfair to expect him to be called on to finish off an innings. That’s the role they picked Miller for and the role he should have been persevered with. If anything it made more sense to take the youngster with and have him part of the World Cup squad, even if he didn’t get on the field. Instead he’ll be watching from home, confidence shattered, having to rebuild his reputation, while the Protea’s struggle with finish off an innings.

If Miller was seen as to green to take to the World Cup, then why not go with Albie Morkel? He has the record, the experience, and has been out of the team for a period to warrant coming back hungry. His record in the IPL bares testament to how he performs on Indian pitches. That match winning late swing bowling that turned a loss into a win against Pakistan in Pakistan a few seasons back shows just how good he can be. His big hitting needs no justification. On his day he can’t be touched.

With Miller and Albie sat at home it would make more sense to have van Wyk come in at 6 or 7 if need be than Ingram. Ingrams time in the top order will come, he’s a very talented run accumulator, but at this stage, for this particular role, the SA selectors have erred big time.

A final thought – if not Miller or Albie….why not Davy Jacobs?

Yes or No to Tsotsobe?

With the Boxing day Test between South Africa and India a day away, both teams have a few selection issues to think about. The choices should be easier for India, who will have to make changes to the woeful performance first time out. Zaheer Khan will come in for any of the seamers, none did enough to suggest they are ahead of the others, and Pujara could come in for the misfiring Raina. For the hosts there is only one possible change. To play Tsotsobe or not?

The conditions at Kingsmead, where there is expected to be some grass on the pitch, and over cast weather, could be the ideal time to play an all seam attack for South Africa. This could mean Mclaren or Parnell coming in for Harris, or both coming in for Harris and Tsotsobe. The likelihood though, no matter how seam friendly the pitch and conditions are, South Africa will retain Harris. The current Protea’s team, unlike the 90’s teams, will almost always go into a Test match with a spinner. So it becomes a shoot out between McLaren, Parnell and Tsotsobe.

Tsotsobe was the weak link in the attack in the opening Test. He was unlucky, with drop catches and mistimed shots, edges, all finding gaps, but the drop in pace, after facing Steyn and Morkel, meant that he was targeted by the Indian batsman. The same could have happened to anyone who played the 3rd seamer role. The danger here is that in the deeply political let up of South African sport, Tsotsobe is made to feel like a token non white player rather than a bowler of merit. Be sure that he is just that – his performances in the ODI series against Pakistan highlighted just what an affective bowler he is, but the longer he goes in Test cricket without picking up wickets the more people will cynically whisper. They did it to Hashim Amla when he first started and struggled with Test cricket. He’s now one of the top batsman in world cricket. So patience is the key here.

On form Mclaren is the right choice. Domestically he’s been brilliant, both with the ball, where he opens the bowling, and with his batting in the lower order. Mclaren would give the batting lineup depth that we havent seen since the Pollock, Klusner, Boje years. The selectors have said that they would reward domestic form, and with that Mclaren should be the obvious pick.

However Tsotsobe was picked for the opening Test, and it would send the wrong message to him where he to be discarded after one poor match. The potential is there, and having picked him they should stick with him. The pitch in Kingsmead may be more to his liking.

Potentially, Parnell is the best option. He offers both pace and swing, can bat, and is a future star of world cricket. He has however come back from a long injury, has not played much cricket since, and has remodeled his action somewhat. There needs to be a point where South Africa pick him, and stick with him. An attack led by Steyn, Morkel and Parnell has the potential to be lethal. Perhaps this is too soon for that however.

The best option would have been to pick Mclaren for the opening Test and stick with him. That didn’t happen and Tsotsobe was the man chosen. Having done so the selectors should be consistent and stick with Tsotsobe. He needs confidence and dropping him would not be the way to build that. Expect an unchanged Protea’s 11 tomorrow.

 

 

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50 Up for Hashim, the search for a new coach, and India’s spirit tested

 

The boxing day Test in Durban could potentially be the turning point for this Protea’s team. Two years ago in Australia they secured their first ever Test series win in Australia with a win in the Boxing Day Test. What should have been the start of a dominant period for the Protea’s turned on its head after that. They lost their next 3 Tests, losing the return home series against Australia, and then failed in both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. While 2008 was great, 2009 was not.

SO they now have the chance to launch themselves again. Last weeks thumping thrashing of the number one ranked Test team has given South Africa the chance to claim the series in Durban, and potentially set up a 3-0 whitewash which will take South Africa to the top ranking in Test cricket. While India have been steady and impressive in reaching the number one spot, there was always the feeling that they had to win outside India to justify the position. They’ll need a lot more fight to make up for the thrashing the received in the first Test. Zaheer Khan’s return should give the bowling a bit of spirit, but in truth they’ll need more of their attack to stand up, and not expect Zaheer to take on the South African’s on his own.

Hashim Amla will play his 50th Test match at his home ground of Kingsmead this Boxing Day. His brilliant form this year will be tested at a ground where he is yet to have an impact on the international scene. When Hashim scored a century at Lords in 2008 he stated that the ultimate would be a ton at Kingsmead, his home, rather than Lords, the home of cricket. The form he’s been in this year, he’ll have all the opportunity in the world to fix his poor record in Durban, and get the achievement he deserves in his 50th Test. It would be a just and fitting end to a great year for the star batsman. How they work the ICC rankings is baffling. While Amla’s form has seen him rise up the ODI rankings to number 2, the century he scored last week saw him climb to number 9? Surely he should be way higher than that?

This series will also see the South Africans begin their search for a new coach. Corrie van Zyl will step down after the World Cup and go back to his role at the High Performance Centre. Van Zyl has done a great job since taking over from Arthur, but always made it clear that it would be a temporary appointment. Those who are being talked about include former captain Kepler Wessels, Richard Pybus, who’s had a successful time in South African domestic cricket, and has coached internationally with Pakistan, and most interestingly, current India coach and South African legend Gary Kirsten. Kirsten will not be renewing his contract with India, and the timing does fit perfectly. Someone who has not been mentioned, but who I think would be a great choice, is the former Protea and current Dolphins coach, Graham Ford. Ford took over from Bob Woolmer in 1999 and lead the team to 8 series wins in 11. He was unlucky to be on the receiving end of two thrashings by Australia which cost him the job. Australia were thrashing everyone at that time so it was harsh to say the least. He deserves a fair crack at the highest level again, and his coaching and tactical knowledge would be perfect to ensure the team doesnt lose focus, as they did in 2009.

All that having been said, lets hope the weather doesnt ruin what should be a great match this week. The rain in Durban over the last month and a bit needs to take a bit of a break and give everyone what we need – an enjoyable festive season.

 

 

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A Change is Coming

The media attack on the Protea’s has been brutal since their tepid performance at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies. As cricket fans sit back and watch the final between the two best sides by far in the tourniment, Australia, who will hold all ICC trophies should they win, and an England side inspired by 3 South Africans at the top of the order, and an Irishman in the middle, the Protea’s will take stock.

The criticism directed at Smith and his team has been scathing, and led by many past players. South Africa go into ICC events amongst the favourites, and generally get to the semi final’s before crashing out. However the last two ICC events, the Champions Trophy, which they hosted, and this T20 World Cup, has seen the Protea’s fail to reach the knock out rounds.

Once people have calmed down and reviewed the past weeks properly, then only should we begin to properly discuss what needs to be done as the Protea’s look to put an end to their ICC events drought. There have been calls for the heads of Smith, Kallis and Boucher as many give opinions based solely on emotion.

Kallis was the Protea’s top run scorer in the T20 World Cup. Added to this was his bowling, which was as good as we’ve seen for a very long time. He may be 34 but shows no sign of declining standards. Anyway suggesting that Kallis should go have motives beyond cricket. The great man should not be hounded out of the national set up but rather carry on leading the batting attack. Just as India have looked to keep Tendulkar going for as long as his body will allow, so should South Africa. The reality is that Kallis, as an allrounder, will not last as long as Tendulkar. He could prolong his career by becoming a pure batsman who bowls occasionally, as Steve Waugh became during the twilight of his career. Sadly, as I’ve said time and time again, Protea fans who don’t appreciate the greatness of Kallis will when we no longer have him to call on.

South Africa did not go into this competition and choke. They were badly off form. Man for man they are still one of the best and most balanced side in the world. Unfortunately very few of their players got any IPL time and the patchy limited over form, that stretches back a year, has clung on.

Form is one thing but there are some aspects of this last week that need to be addressed. The team were tepid and lacked any spark at all. The chases against England and Pakistan lacked energy and most alarmingly, any idea. Their was no urgency in a do or die chase against Pakistan, until Johan Botha came in at the end. The big hitting Albie Morkel was nudging the ball for singles, when clearing the stands was needed. Going down swinging is more preferably than feebly scratching around. That is the aspect that needs to be addressed and sorted before all else.

As for the team – changes will be made. Freshening up needs to be done soon with the next World Cup under a year away. The issue of captain is one that maybe should be left till after the world cup. Smith has led the team for 7 years, and while his record in Tests is good, he would not be happy with the major tournament record. If it was his planning and tactics in the chases against England and Pakistan than maybe a change is needed.

Andrew Hudson, the new head of the selection committee has spoken about any changes needing to wait for a full review by all involved. Wise words. His calling up of David Miller to be added to the squad for the West Indies tour though speaks volumes. A fresh face, and young blood, has been added to an experienced and maybe shell shocked team. It’s also an addition that shows Hudson is well aware of the short comings of the team. Miller is a powerful hitting batsman who boasts a T20 strike rate of 131 and List A strike rate of 109 as well has averages of 40 and 35 in each. The ability to find the boundary has been left on Morkels shoulders, and with the help of Miller, South African batting line up could be set to again pose a threat.

While changes should not be made for changes sake, you’d have to say that the likes of Colin Ingram, Riley Roussow, Stian van Zyl, Darren Smit and Rusty Theron will be looking to get their chance in a youthful influx and fresh changes to the Protea’s set up. Changes that will hopefully bring about success that the country has been starved of for years. David Miller will look to lead this influx, starting in the West Indies next week.

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Kallis Justified

A few years ago Norman Arendse was in charge of South African cricket. His time in charge was more controversial than successful. Amongst the happenings under hiswatch was the retirement of Charl Langeveld, who refused to be used as a political pawn by Arendse, who has withdrawn Andre Nel from a touring team and replaced him with Langeveld, because he wanted less white players and more players of colour. Heroically Langeveld did not allow this to happen. There was also the occasion, a post match presentation to Shaun Pollock, who had played his final game for the Protea’s and had received a reception fit for the legend of the game that he is, and Arsendse decided to interrupt this goodbye to one of the countries favorite sons, to wish his daughter a happy birthday on live TV. I hope she was as embarrassed as the rest of us.

Perhaps the biggest mess up of his thankfully short stint, yet still too long, in charge of the countries cricket team, was his veto of Jacques Kallis from the first T20 World Cup squad. South Africa, still searching for their first ICC World Cup triumph, were hosting the tournament, and Arendse decided that the best cricketer the country had ever produced was not good enough to play T20 cricket. South Africa
bowed out before the semi finals with just one defeat – how Kallis experience was needed.

In the years that followed, taking us to this point, IPL 2010, Kallis has shown himself to be one of the best T20 players in the world. Currently jostling with the great Tendulkar for the Orange Cap, that worn by the leading run scorer in the IPL,
Kallis has been instrumental in the fortunes of the Bangalore Royal Challengers.  He has played the part of the batsman other look to play around, opening the batting and looking to bat for as long as possible, but has shown enough aggression and wonderful timing to keep the runs ticking over at a very healthy rate. He can field and bowl too.

Many thought in the infancy of T20 cricket that it wasn’t made for Test masters like Kallis. They forgot, or failed to understand that the likes of Kallis and Tendulkar are legends for a reason. They are able to not only adapt to any form of the game,
but to master it. That’s why they are the best. Maybe Arendse is watching, and this time he feels embarrassed. I doubt it though.
But Kallis won’t give him a second thought. He’ll just carry on doing what he was born to do – play cricket brilliantly.

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What’s Going On India?

It’s been billed as the battle for the number one position in the Test rankings. Currently India sit top of the table but a series win by South Africa would take them to the top of the log. The Protea’s win in the opening Test takes them a step closer, but an Indian win in the final Test would keep them there for the April deadline, where whoever is leading then gets the cash prize.

So with the series being billed so highly, and with much at stake, surely only the best will do? South Africa has struggled to fill stadiums for Test cricket but the last couple of series, featuring Australia and England have seen record Test crowds show up. But those record crowds are basically half full stadiums each day. Those of us outside India expect to see big crowds for all games. The first Test was very poorly attended and makes me wonder why such a high profile match was not properly assigned? At least we move on to Eden Gardens for the next Test.

The main worry however was the lack of the review system. The ICC wants to make the review system mandatory at all Test matches, and rightly so. Calls for technology to be introduced to ensure the right decisions are reached are always the right way to go. Especially when the match has so much at stake, as this series does. There have hiccups in the trail period of the review system, but that can be sorted by ensuring that all the technology is available for all matches. The South Africa England Series didn’t have hot spot because it was being used in the Australia West Indies and Pakistan New Zealand Series. Everything needs to be used for all matches to ensure parity.

There has been debate about who should pick up the tab for hot spot and the such, with the ICC wanting the host broadcaster to pick up the tab and the host broadcaster wanting the ICC to. My feeling is that the ICC should pay as it is a cricket matter and not a broadcasting one. It would also ensure that the poorer nations would also benefit from the best technology. In terms of India the point is moot. India are the richest cricket board and would have no trouble paying. They make so much from the sport they should be made to put some back in.

But India don’t like the review system and so we aren’t using it. The ICC should insist but everyone bows down to India. India did not have the best time with the review system when they first trialed it and perhaps this is why they don’t want it. England and India are the least in favour of technology and that’s because both haven’t worked out how to use it. England were clueless when they were in South Africa. When South Africa first used it, against Australia, they too struggled with it. But they’ve learned to use it and are fully behind it, ensuring the right decisions are reached. Interestingly as far as England are concerned, they moaned and complained about the review system during the South Africa Series, but had they not been using it England would have lost the series 3-1, with Collingwood being given out on the final day of the Cape Town match before the review should him not out.

India need to embrace the way the game is moving and get used to it as quickly as they can before they are left behind. A problem they face is that their bowlers tend to appeal for everything, so deciding which decisions to review would not be easy. A lot of their play would be called into question and they would be caught out. Maybe this is why they have been so reluctant?

In the opening session of the series, Ashwell Prince, a player under pressure for his position, was given out caught when he didn’t hit it. He looked to captain Smith to review the decision, forgetting that it wasn’t an option. He had to walk. Career defining mistakes can now be rectified and that can’t be a bad thing. It’s all good and well saying that these things even themselves out, but when someone gets a bad decision and is dropped from the team, things evening themselves out offers him little respite.

After all I’ve said Indian captain Dhoni must be commended for walking both times before he had been given out. But the review system is the future of cricket and India need to get behind it. How they can host effectively a Test championship series and not have all the trimmings is crazy and should never have been allowed to happen.

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Emphatic and Professional

After the Protea’s emphatic innings victory over India yesterday you’d think they deserved a day off. Add to that that the win came in 4 days, with a day to spare, and so they were entitled to a day off. Yet they spent their day off having an optional net session. This side is professional.

They’ve come to India to win the series, and with it take over from their hosts at the top of the Test rankings. Yesterdays win, as emphatic as it was, is just a step in that direction. There’s still another Test left and that’s were the focus has switched.

In 2008, this sides defining year, the year they won for the first time in England and Australia, actually began with a drawn series in India. That series, a 3 match series as apposed to this 2 match series, saw a drawn first match followed by an emphatic victory by the Protea’s, one that saw India bowled out on the first day before lunch. On that occasion India prepared a pitch that started as a day 5 one and got worse. The pitch was made to ensure an Indian win and a share of the series. And it worked. Expect much of the same in terms of pitch preparation for this weekend.

The difference between the team that toured two years ago and this one is focus. This team were able to put the backroom problems that engulfed the team, with Mickey Arthur’s resignation mere days before they left for India, behind them and focus on the cricket. They overcame a terrible start, being 6/2, to take the game away from India and dominate an Indian team that hadn’t lost a home Test since the last time the Protea’s toured. It was also the first Test they had lost with Dhoni as captain.

The Protea’s will be unchanged no doubt this weekend, had they lost the Test then perhaps the misfiring Prince or Duminy would have missed out and Alviro Petersen made his Test debut. That’s unlikely now. South Africa will be unchanged and India will make two or three changes in an attempt to draw the series and keep their number one ranking.

This South African team are bettered prepared to deal with spin than any other Protea’s team that has toured. Smith looks to dominate, Prince, who’s more of a middle order batsman and thus faces more spin than openers would, Amla is wristy and sub continental, Kallis can handle anything, de Villiers has great footwork, and although badly out of form at the moment, JP Duminy is also a fine player of spin bowling. This batting line up can dominate all attacks on all surfaces, and having a batting coach like Kepler Wessels in charge there’s no doubt they’ll be well drilled for what’s to come.

As for the bowling attack, we know what to expect from them. Dale Steyn is the best bowler in the world. In only 37 Tests he has 13 five wicket hauls and 4 ten wicket hauls. That’s a terrific record. His strike rate of 39 is the best in Test history for any bowlers playing a decent amount of games. He leads this attack and no matter what the surface he’ll be a handful. Morne Morkel is his new deputy and is coming of age with the added responsibility that goes with being a new ball bowler. Steyns pace and swing together with Morne’s bounce and aggression has the makings of the best opening attack in world cricket. If they continue to go at the rate they are right now. The new kid on the block, Wayne Parnell adds left arm swing to the attack, and with the ageless Kallis regaining his bowling fitness, the attack is looking well rounded and destructive. Case in point the last Test.

Spinner Paul Harris makes up the attack. After a poor series against England he came into this one low on confidence and with questions marks over his place in the team. His second innings figures will do much to restore his faith. He’s often taken for granted and underestimated, and he’ll have no problem with the opposition continuing to do this. He does a job for his captain and does it well. He bowled the entire second session yesterday, and not only picks up the odd wicket, ties the run rate down, but gives the pace attack enough rest so that they can come up with the sort of burst Dale Steyn produced on day 3.

India will fight, and no doubt do all they can to ensure the pitch suits them, but have no doubt that the Protea’s will be ready. The battle for number one continues on Sunday.

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Kirsten to Come Home?

While I’ve touted Kepler Wessels as my preferred choice to take over from Mickey Arthur as the new Protea’s coach, there are a nmber of contenders who will be talked about in the coming weeks.

Interim coach Corrie van Zyl must be the front runner, being the current high performance head, a former assistant coach for the Protea’s, when Graham Ford was in charge, and having extensive stints with the Free State Eagles, as well as a solid first class career. Should the Protea’s have a successive tour in India it would do little to harm van Zyls claim. His bowling skills will also come in handy with a young and potentially lethal attack that will need patience and more patience on Indian wickets.

Van Zyl has added Kepler Wessels to his team, as a batting coach, as well as a selector. Wessels will have first hand knowledge of what would be needed to take the team forward during this brief role as bating coach and selector. Although the appointment should be made before the end of the tour it would be a seemless transition should Wessels be named new coach.

Other’s who will be mentioned are Vince Barnes, Duncan Fletcher and Richard Pybus. Barnes has served as the deputy and bowling coach for almost a decade, under Eric Simmons, Ray Jennings and Arthur. The fact that he was not appointed interim coach suggests that he probably won’t get the job. Fletcher enjoyed a successful spell as England coach, winning series in South Africa as well as the Ashes. He also served as a batting consultant at times under Arthur. As a former Western Province coach he formed a mentor role with Jacques Kallis. Pybus has had success with in South African domestic cricket with the Titans, but would seem an outside bet at best.

One name that is quietly being spoken about is that of former Protea’s opening batsman and current India head coach Gary Kirsten. Kirsten certainly would be a popular choice with the supporters, who have fond memories form his playing days, as well as being impressed with the job he has done with India. Under Kirsten India have risen to the top of the Test rankings are are challenging near the top of the ODI rankings too. Most impressively has been their form away from home, something that many past Indian teams have lacked. The Indian cricket job is perhaps the most high profile and stressful in the game, and by not only copping, but excelling, Kirsten has shown he has what it takes to handle another potential difficult job, that of South Africa. The political goings on behind the scenes that come with the Protea’s job mean it is one only for the strongest characters, like Wessels, Kirsten would suit the job. Interestingly Kirstens contract expires in March, and if he isn’t tied down by India soon, he could be making his way home to South Africa – something that would suit his family. Should Kirsten get the Protea’s job it would mean he started and ended his Indian career against the Protea’s.

It’s clear that strength of character and will are needed for the Protea’s job, and with the team setting goals of being the best team in the world, and winning an ICC event, Kepler Wessels or Gary Kirsten must be the front runners to lead the team. The best man for the job must be appointed.

pic from cricinfo.com