So let me just clear the air and say this post has nothing to do with the disappointing Bokke vs Australia RWC match.
Only a few months ago our Proteas team was also eliminated early from the WC Cricket tournament. After that tournament our captain Smith resigned as captain of the two shorter versions of cricket and we had to employ a new coach. After a bit of speculation the WC winning coach and SA opener Gary Kirsten was appointed, to the delight of many fans, as the new national cricket coach. A new captain was also appointed: AB de Villiers.
And now on Thursday that journey officially starts with a T20 game against Australia.
The touring schedule is as follow:
The SA squad for the T20 and the one day international is:
T20 squad:
Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins, capt), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Colin Ingram (Chevrolet Warriors), Heino Kuhn (Nashua Titans), Richard Levi (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), David Miller (Sunfoil Dolphins), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Robin Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Graeme Smith (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Rusty Theron (Chevrolet Warriors), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors).
Castle Lager ODI squad:
Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins, capt), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), Mark Boucher (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Nashua Titans), Imran Tahir (Sunfoil Dolphins), Jacques Kallis (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), David Miller (Sunfoil Dolphins), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Robin Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Graeme Smith (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors).
The Australian squad for the T20 and the one day international is:
The 14-man Twenty20 squad is:
Cameron White (c), Shane Watson (vc), Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Stephen O’Keefe, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, David Warner
The 14-man ODI squad is:
Michael Clarke (c), Shane Watson (vc), Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steven Smith, David Warner
In the meantime from the SA point of view, AB has fractured his right hand playing in the recent Champions T20 tournament and has to withdraw himself from the T20 and ODI’s leaving the squad again without a captain. Hashim Amla from the Dolphins was then appointed Captain in his absence. Another late replacement was made with Ryan Mclaren replacing Albie Morkel(also injured during the Campaigns T20 tournament).
On the other side the Australians lost the fast bowler Brett Lee for first part of the tournament due to an appendicitis operation he had to undergo after landing in SA with the team.
On the SA side we have a newcomer making his début for the Proteas in Richard Levi from the Cape Cobras and from Australia they included young fast bowlers Patrick Cummins and James Pattinson.
Since the World Cup earlier this year with both teams returning home with no success, SA had a long extended rest except for a few players playing overseas in the off season. SA’s last game was vs New Zealand when they got knocked out of the WC in the quarter final on 25 March 2011.
Most have been resting and preparing for the upcoming season. Our own domestic season has also only started two weeks ago. Australia on the other hand has had a tour to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
After our loss now to the Australian team in the RWC it would just be so sweet if we can send these guys home with a good hiding.
As long as tahir plays I’m happy..wow but arent we short on left hand pacers???
Is Ponting still there? SOB but he is difficult to get rid of.
ah well at least we have a player to target with some sledging.
just to add, David Warner recieved the golden bat award in the resent Champions T20 for scoring the most runs in the tournament.
Should be interesting..
Aus have been kak lately, but seems we are going to field an understrength team..
No matter how kak the Aussies are, they seem to lift their game against us.
Luckily for us, Brett Lee is out injured. *Sigh of relief*
@rhineshark (Comment 5) : they are quite exited about this CummIns guy.
@Franshark (Comment 6) :
Just a quick one: Graeme Smith stepped down before the World Cup and not after they were knocked out.
@wpw (Comment 7) : ok he announced it before hand but was still captain during.
Why is smith in the T20 team and why is Loots bosman not there. Smith needs to give it up already.
@cody0007 (Comment 9) : that sounds like a proper rugby comment
Ok so today is D-day, I know its not Rugby but even thou I am married to Rugby I do have a fling on the side with cricket…
I haven’t watch a cricket match in ages
Don’t know half of the new guys.
Sunfoil Dolphins
Bwahahahahahahaha
I am exited about what will the new era bring with Gary and even a new Captain…
for anyone interested SA batting first and started with familiar start…. Smith out for nothing
Jp Duminy scoring 67(53) being SA best batsmen for the night.
The new bowler for Aus Cummins taking 3 wickets in the 19th over
SA ended with 146 for 7 in their 20 overs
Let me guess, Smith out to a right hander, LBW?
Cummins ended with 3 wickets, 25 runs in his 4 overs
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 19) : close, inside edge onto his stumps
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 19) : Bowled by a lefty.
146 is the highest score chased on this field, so this is a full one run more as a target
SA starting with a bang getting Warner out for a 0 run out by some brilliant fielding by Morkel with a direct hit
don’t know if I should say it but Smith just dropped Watson
hehe – you had me fooled. I thought it was some sort of post mortem
Can someone tell me what Robin Peterson is doing in this team?
Bloody useless.
@rekinek (Comment 26) : hey hey, look who’s gracing the web, very welkom
@Ben (Comment 27) : he was briliant in the CWC earlier this year, think botha is better?
We need proper fast bowlers and when I say fast I mean FAST. Consistantly around 145km mark. And we need proper spinners. Tahir looks the part. Where is he today?
@Franshark (Comment 30) : Dude my grandmother spins a ball more than Robin and Johan spin a ball together. Johan Botha bowls smartly at least. Robin Peterson can only do well on sub continent pitches.
smith out again early putting pressure on the rest of the guys. Yes franshark does sound familiar with rugby but never the less true. I think miller should open or bat 3, he has never had the chance to do that. But cant blame sa selectors bcos the dolphins use him as 6 also in 4 day games and 40 overs. Dolphins management = sharks management! Scary.
@Ben (Comment 32) : ok, and he just took a wicket, you win case closed
@Franshark (Comment 29) : i thought i should make an appearance on your post meneer
@rekinek (Comment 35) : Ola Ola!
@Ben (Comment 36) : goeie aand
just 2 quick wickets and sa will win. Come on bowlers!
@rekinek (Comment 37) : It should be “goeie naand”. But your Afrikaans is looking good!
@rekinek (Comment 35) : thanks
really good to hear from you
@Ben (Comment 39) : I’m doing my FL now, don’t have 15 players to start
Johan Botha is a real a-hole! I invited him on Facebook a while ago. Instead of him just declining my request if he doesn’t want people on his FB that he doesn’t know, he told me to bugger off he doesn’t know me!
@Ben (Comment 39)
that’s not what auntie google says (I must sue for causing me embarrasment 
@Franshark (Comment 40) : @Franshark (Comment 40) :
i hope it was not serious here and I can carry on with nonsense – talking. I gave up on my FL 
but going strong on LMS 
@rekinek (Comment 43) : At leat I could understand you!
@rekinek (Comment 44) : LMS dead a long time ago
@rekinek (Comment 44) : FL hanging in @ 10th place
@rekinek (Comment 43) : Dobry wieczór Ola!
Does that make sense?
botha drops second catch.
@Franshark (Comment 47) : this is rather good, hey (I’m 77 or so
@Ben (Comment 48) :
yip – you even got the little dash in the right place.
@rekinek (Comment 51) :
nog meer agterdogtig of tanne google
Ok so its 6runs off 6 ball for Aus….
i’m off – chatta later
5 from 5
@rekinek (Comment 51) : Nie dawaj mi kredytu.
@rekinek (Comment 54) : promise, dont stay away for months now… say hi to your hubby
That’s it Australia win with 3 ball to spare, 147/5
Watson dropped @ 2 got 52 Aus highest score, Tsotsobe with one for 21 the best SA bowler
graeme smith 0 with the bat off 7 balls. He drops watson on 0 who goes on to score 50 off 38 balls. Sa loose by 3 balls. Please go on extended honeymoon. Loots bosman to take his place.
Watson MOTM
SUNDAY GAME
Australia won the toss and ended on the same score that they got on Thursday 147, this time 8 wickets down
Warner got the same score he had on Thursday a round 0
SA loosing Amla in the first over chasing a score of 148
SA starting slow
Smith out for 24(22) SA 48/4 9th over
Poor from David Miller! He’s going to struggle to get himself back into the team now.
Proteas falling apart now! Johan Botha out! SA 82/6
Botha follows Miller to the dugg-out, SA 82/6, 66 from 36 required
That’s from 14 overs
Heino Kuhn gone!
Kuhn out… SA 84/7
@Ben (Comment 74) : hallow Ben, whats-up
This is the ODI team I want to see.
1. Amla
2. Smith
3. Kallis
4. De Villiers
5. Duminy
6. Du Plesis
7. Botha
8. Morkel
9. Steyn
10. Tsotsobe
11. Tahir
12. Ingram
@Franshark (Comment 76) : Yo Frano! Howzit?
@Ben (Comment 77) : I think your close, De Villiers not playing thou, who’s wicket keeper?
I really hope Davy Jacobs is injured! Can’t see how he isn’t being picked for these 20/20 games..
@Ben (Comment 78) : not out… Yet
@Franshark (Comment 79) : I know but what I mean is that is the best team we can put out imo.
@Ben (Comment 80) : his not
, where’s that vd merwe? wicket keeper
Rusty Theron and Wayne Parnell are smacking the ball all over the place! 19 to win of 12 balls!
Wow 18 runs coming from the 18th over… 19 needed of 12 balls
@Franshark (Comment 83) : van der Merwe? Only van der Merwe I can think of is Roelof vd Merwe. He’s a spinner.
Parnell is seeing the ball like a beach ball! 12 required of 10!
13 from 10
@Ben (Comment 86) : ja, think I have the surname wrong, he played early this year, same time as faf…
Aaah Morne van Wyk
7 required from 7
@Franshark (Comment 90) : He’s a bit old already. We should be looking at the future now. That said, Boucher’s selection doesn’t make much sense.
ONE SHOT we WIN!!!!
SA win! Parnell and Rusty saving our behinds. How often does that happen for SA? The bowlers having to do the Batsman’s job!
Can u believe that… Great play by the 2 bowlers..
@Ben (Comment 94) : At this stage I will pick Rudolf before Smith…
Parnell got 29 from 11! Rusty got 30 from 16 balls!
@Franshark (Comment 95) : their partnership 64 from 27 balls
@Ben (Comment 97) : Sorry Rusty got 31 from 16 balls!
Partnership: 64 from 27 balls!
@Ben (Comment 97) : Aus loosing twise in one day
@Franshark (Comment 96) : Jacques Rudolph?
@Ben (Comment 101) : yes him
@Franshark (Comment 102) : What good can that do really? He’s far too old imo. Let Smith regain his for, he has played very little cricket in the last 6 months.
@Ben (Comment 103) : Let Smith regain his “form” I mean.
@Ben (Comment 103) : Smith is older and out of form? Why choose him before a yonger in form player?
@Ben (Comment 104) : let Smith play a season domestic cricket and regain his form like that, if he proof himself he welcome to come back…
@Franshark (Comment 105) : Haha Rudolp is a couple months younger than Smith. Thought he was older.
So yes you have a valid point. But Smith is still test match captain. Guess that counts in his favour.
@Ben (Comment 107) : I had the same talk this week so know about the age thing
,just think Smith can do with some domestic cricket and Rudolph is really playing well…
@Franshark (Comment 108) : I saw Rudoph hit a double ton and a 80 odd. He’s in pretty good form.