Changes to take immeadite effect (suggestions)

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by oracle

Aus where just to good for South Africa these last few months !

i'm not sure i agree but then i can't hear whether you're placing the emphasis on the "just" or the "too" - if it's the "too" then the emphasis on the "just" becomes important again..in any case, ino they were juuust too good.

SA bowling was fine, not great but fine.

nel - bowled really well in OZ, as far as i'm concerned he's worth a place.

polly should be 1st change - but only for a while longer. quite a few bowlers have found other deliveries to compensate for long-in-the-tooth inevitability, but don't wait forever - maybe hall (like someone suggested) is an alternative.

steyn has looked a decent prospect on the whole (not just the last nz game) - even tho' he's gone for runs...

the batting is a problem - but the real problem seems to be the order - who can open? dippenaar (20/30 from the openner if he can see off the new ball is acceptable) but better someome who can actually do the job - who you got? (start a petition to bring back kirsten -he the man!).

a middle order with 3 kallis, 4 smith, 5 gibbs, 6 de villiers (those are some decent bats there) is more promising imo.

in short - learn the FIVE (not 4 day game), find a couple of openners and a spinner

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by butchering lee

polly should be 1st change - but only for a while longer. quite a few bowlers have found other deliveries to compensate for long-in-the-tooth inevitability, but don't wait forever - maybe hall (like someone suggested) is an alternative.

well, it seems john may be right - this is polly's form. Don't wait too long!!!
good to see Hall back in the fray..but Nel should be persisted with...[with reluctance..i have to join the chorus for polly's termination]

[John]

Originally Posted by butchering lee

[with reluctance..i have to join the chorus for polly's termination]

There is a tendency for some players to play on well past their peak. If I saw something in Pollock's bowling or batting that gave me reason to think he would contribute than he should stay, but I don't.
For example Glenn Mcgrath is not what he used to be but there seems enough in his bowling to justify his place.

[Wanderer]

Well, seems like SA is going to focus on ODI's for the next 10 months. They've even decreased the no of tests, from 7 or 8 to 5, so they can play more ODI's and concentrate on the WC.

So, concerning changes we'd like to see in the test line-up, I don't think much will change in the current team set up. Or at least not until after the WC (barring injuries). Smith and Dippenaar will open...followed by Amla, Kallis, Gibbs and De Villiers, Boucher, Pollock, Boje, Ntini, Steyn or Nel. (or depending on the track, the pacers instead of Boje).