Put the personal bests aside, this one is going to take a team effort.
What a glorious victory the boys produced in the first test on their tour to India, it truly is a great feat beating India by an innings in India, this has now been done by the Proteas three times.
It must however be noted that this test was won by three South Africans, the rest didn’t really feature.
Jacques Kallis, scored a magnificent century (173) and seems like the was well on his way to score his maiden Test double century. The class and elegancy with which Kallis played, with was only match by this third wicket partner Hashim Amla.
Hashim Amla’s double century was one of the finest batting performances I have and will probably ever watch. Amla played with total control, his patience is astounding and ability to concentrate is unsurpassed in South African cricket. Amla was on track to beat Graeme Smiths record of 277 as the highest test score by a South African until the team declared on 6558/6, which left Amla on 253*.
Some naysayers have commented that Smith declared so that Amla didn’t beat his record, this is unfounded speculation. The team needed to declare and I thought that allowing Amla to get 250 was a great gesture. Hashim Amla is a team man, and I’m sure he’s happy that he got the opportunity to post one of the highest totals scored in South African test history.
Dale Steyn also produced a personal best, he took 7 wickets in the first innings to destroy India single handily. He went on to take another 3 wicket in the second innings to end with 10 wickets in the test match, a truly remarkable performance.
Having mentioned those three players, the rest didn’t inspire confidence, except de Villiers knock of 53. Looking forward to the second test we can expect a stronger Indian side, playing on a pitch that will suit them. We’ll need a team performance to pull this one off; we can simply rely on the same guys that pull it off each game.
The South African management need to make a call on Prince, the man is not up to playing Test cricket anymore and needs to make way. I would drop Price, replace him with Alviro Petersen, Petersen gives us the additional advantage of another spin option. Mark Boucher could also find himself sitting this one out, which in my opinion wouldn’t be the worst thing; it would allow Johan Botha to play. If Botha and Petersen play the Proteas will have an excellent chance of winning on what WILL be a spinner paradise.
Proteas Team : Charl Langeveldt added to ODI squad
Cape Cobras bowler Charl Langeveldt has been called up to the Proteas ODI squad for the tour of India. Langeveldt was originally left out the ODI squad, this could be seen as one of ‘those’ decisions that represents the breakdown between Cricket South Africa and Mickey Arthur’s ‘vision’ and structure.
It was reported that between Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell they have played only 67 matches, where Charl Langeveldt has played 64 ODI games. Langeveldt has also been selected with a view towards the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies and then next year’s ICC World Cup.
Langeveldt will have to pick up his game before he heads to India, this figures of 3 overs for 45 runs against the Titans in the Standard Bank Pro20, on Sunday evening were not the most inspiring. He did however demolish the Lions in the previous game, taking 3 wickets from 4 overs for just 18 runs, but that was against the Lions……
ODI squad: Graeme Smith, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.
Proteas team for first test
South Africa start the Test series today against India, the team is as follows:
Graeme Smith (capt), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (wk), Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris.
So my prediction that Johan Botha would pip Paul Harris was wrong, also thought that they might play both spinners.
South Africa India
The Proteas cricket team left for India this past weekend for a series that consists of three ODI games and two Test matches. For the Proteas this series offers the opportunity to regain the number 1 ranking in Test cricket.
The recent news of the resignation of coach Mickey Arthur and the temporary appointment of Corrie van Zyl must have added pressure to the team. It’s going to take a massive step up from the senior players to pull this team together. Winning a test series on the sub-continent is not to be taken lightly. Our spin bowlers are going to have to perform if we have any chance. Paul Harris had a shocking series against England, the answer from Cricket South Africa to the spin conundrum is the call up of Johan Botha into the test team. I’ve mentioned before that Botha can not bowl the doorsa, which I believe makes him predictable.
Good news from a South African perspective is the injury concerns from the Indian squad. It’s reported that Rahul Dravid has recently had surgery to his cheek bone, and will more than likely not play in the series. Yuvraj Singh and Sreesanth have also been ruled out of the series due to injury.
Related articles:
South Africa India tour schedule
South African squads to tour India
Proteas cricket team to tour India
Our boys are off to India in February, and I was looking at the squads that have been selected. There are some interesting selections here, but most of the squad remains the same:
Test squad Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
I find the inclusion of Johan Botha strange to be honest, I agree that you need a second specialist spin bowler when playing in the sub-continent, but why Botha? Remember that Botha is not allowed to bowl the Doosra, which makes him predictable. Where is van der Merwe is the test squad, or how about backing Petersen to step up as a main bowler? As for Prince, who really knows why he’s there, I don’t think his inclusion is based on pure cricketing reasons.
ODI squad Graeme Smith (capt), Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.
Welcome back Herschelle Gibbs, who must be seen to be taking the place of Hashim Amla, which I think shows that the selectors are moving Amla into a specialist Test cricketer, as they have done with Paul Harris.
Both squads are great, this is going to be a massive test for this mixture of experienced and young cricketer alike.
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