2006/2007 Domestic Season

[Wanderer]

The 2006/2007 domestic season starts in SA this week, with the MTN Championship (limited overs).

Whilst last season ended in mid-January, this year, the final will be played on 17 November. The reasons of course being the 2 tours by India and Pakistan to these shores at the end of the year and early next year.

Just a run-down of who's who again in SA franchise cricket:

Cape Cobras: Western Province and Boland teams (officially called, Nashua Cape Cobras)
Warriors: Eastern Cape and Border teams (officially: Fidentia Warriors)
Dolphins: Kwa Zulu Natal (officially: Nashua Dolphins)
Eagles: Free State and Griquas (officially: Gestetner Diamond Eagles)
Lions: Gauteng (Highveld Lions)
Titans: Northern Provinces (Nashua Titans)

The first game is this Friday, with the Titans taking on the Cobras.

Pre-Season favourites? Cobras, of course!

[Sidewinder]

Gonna be an exciting season this one! I too am a Cobras fan but realistically I don't share your optimism Wanderer. Gotta go with either the Titans or Eagles as these 2 teams are excellent units & play great cricket.
Cobras really dissapointed last season...

[Wanderer]

Now Sidewinder, this is me going with the heart of course (being a born-and-bred Capetonian)... Proooooooviiiiince!!!!

But my head tells me I have to agree with you on the Eagles and the Titans. Although most of these teams will be without their big names for most of the time, it will be great to have a look at what the players on the fringes of the national side has to offer.

So, what do you think? Will the Cobras finally have some venom this year? And who will wear the captain's band... Thami Tsolekile or Ashwell Prince?

[Sidewinder]

I prefer Thami as captain...Seems as if Prince is in & out of the national team...might be disruptive to the Cobras chopping & changing captains.
A lot has to be done to turn the Cobras fortunes around...they gotta rebuild after last season...let's hope that Bacher's experience will be a positive step in the right direction...
Sorry bru but I think the Cobras venom has been milked...for now that is

[Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Sidewinder

Sorry bru but I think the Cobras venom has been milked...for now that is

Im a "sis" ... hmmm...You could be right about keeping Thami. Prince does not feature in the Proteas' ODI line-up for now, but I think Thami should stay on as skipper.

The batting looks good, but the bowling might be our biggest issue...What do you make of Dominic Telo?

[Sidewinder]

Please don't take any offense but u know quite a bit about cricket for a "sis". Haven't seen a lot of Telo but heard good things... looked up his stats & quite interesting reading. Very promising but they say the 2nd season is the most important...bowlers from opposition teams have had time to check weaknesses & suss 'em out
Dominic Telo stats:

found here http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/sout...er/222838.html
Dominic Telo

South Africa

Full name Filipe Dominic Telo
Born March 4, 1986, Cape Town
Current age 20 years 206 days
Major teams Cape Cobras, Western Province
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium



Batting and fielding averagesclass mat inns no runs hs ave bf sr 100 50 ct stFirst-class 6 11 0 398 72 36.18 558 71.32 0 3 0 0List A 8 6 0 230 90 38.33 234 98.29 0 3 1 0Twenty20 8 5 0 122 48 24.40 92 132.60 0 0 2

[Wanderer]

And that is because this "sis" has been around cricket for over 20 years....

Hmmm...thanks for the stats. Did you see that he is one of the newly contracted players for the Cobras. That's really good. What I saw of him last season impressed me... Unfortunately nothing on him on the Cobras site.

Telo is very young, but I think Shukri is the right man to "nurture" him...for now.

What do you think of Mondi Zondeki in the Cobras attack? Will he again reach the heights of before...And Paul Adams? Are we going to see a return of the Goggo?

[Sidewinder]

Well dunno about Gogga. Seems as if he's past it? SA should never have let Henderson go...good left armer he is.
I was a huge Adams fan but the dude can't seem to get his lines & lengths right. Batsmen are content to defend & wait for the four ball the inevitably comes. Can't have that at international & 1st class level

Zondeki & Ngam I am bitterly dissapointed with. So much promise but they keep breaking down. Imagine what SA's attack would be like with 2 of them fit with Steyn & Ntini! Awesome! I'm also hold thumbs for Puttick to score some big runs this season

So, who u reckon for the upcoming tournament & WC?

[Wanderer]

True about Henderson...And what about Paul Harris? Another promising spinner we let slip through our fingers...

Adams is only 30. Thats young enough for a spinner imo. Shukri said they are definitely looking at playing Paul in the one dayers too.

I think I agree a great deal with what Brett Proctor said a while ago: "Maybe Paul is trying too much, trying too hard...Sometimes too much advice, too many different ideas can be a bad thing....For me the bottom line is that he must just work at his bowling, and PEOPLE MUST BACK HIM".

True about Zondeki and Ngam. Somehow or other they really seem to be injury prone. Is it their action? Or perhaps changes made to their action?

Upcoming CT Tourney and World Cup? I fear an early exit for SA! I don't know why...perhaps that awful loss this weekend to a domestic side? Or because we don't have a quality spinner for those flat tracks? Or perhaps because the batting cannot "kick on" in the middle overs...?

I like the looks of Steyn and VD Wath...But perhaps the SA selectors should reconsider Nella...He's lost it a little, hasn't he...?

[Sidewinder]

yep Nel has definately lost it...pace, line, length...he's a bit of a nutter too hey? I like vd Wath...real steely character. Just hope he is not gonna be utilised like poor Hall. Seems Hall is a "get out jail free" card for the selectors. Don't share your pessimism as far as SA's early exit is concerned. Bit worried about the mental side of the team though....they seem a bit panicky at times but if they can overcome that hurdle they're class! Hoping for big thing this season from Smith & the boys