Goodbye Bodgy: Nicky Boje retires.

[Wanderer]

Another test cricketer says goodbye...

Boje has just announced his retirement from ALL international cricket, with immediate effect.

Here's the link: http://www.supercricket.co.za/sateam

If you can't access, here are some excerpts:

"I have decided to retire from international cricket immediately and I am accordingly unavailable to form part of the Proteas squad for this season," Boje said in a statement released by the South African Cricketers' Association, of which he is the president.

"I now feel that the time has come for me to devote the remainder of my playing years to Eagles (his domestic franchise) cricket.

"I wish my former teammates in the Proteas side the very best for the future and I'm confident that the team has a very bright cricketing future," the 33-year-old Boje said.

Haroon Lorgat, the convenor of the national selectors, was not available to comment on who would replace the allrounder in South Africa's 15-man squad.

[greg]

I wonder if many more players will go before the World Cup?

Makes you wonder if they have been told they are unlikely to make the squad so are jumping now to make it look like it is their own decision.If only Giles did the same.

[gibbs_fan]

Good bye and good riddance to Nicky Boje. Maybe now we can see Botha and Tshabalala get an opportunity. Petersen seems to be favoured in the 1 day side but my guess is that the test spot is open for a spinner. Personally I would like to see Botha but due to the problems he has had recently (banned), maybe Tshabalala should get a chance.

Boje really did have a detrimental effect on SA cricket. He kept Paul Adams and Claude Henderson out of the team for so long. Henderson was by far the best spinner in the country and ended up leaving SA (Kolpak). He really could have done a decent job. At least now Boje has decided not to stand in the way of young spinners.

Nicky Boje, you certainly wont be remembered, well not by me that is.

[Wanderer]

IMO, Nicky's a much better bowler than he was able to show at the top level. Goodness, he took 50 wickets in the SS series last season. Best domestic bowler in the domestic scene for the last 2 seasons..

After Adam's injury, he was never a contender in the test side, as he could not even find a spot in the Cape Cobras side. Henderson and Harris chose the Kolpak option.

Botha is unbanned. But this is just his second year of spin...Cannon fodder is what the Indians and Pakistani's will think...

Tshabalala showed some promise last season, but what has he done this year? He's just about the worst bowler in the SS series so far. Play him against the Indians? Sure. Give the Indians a test on a silver platter. Mind, Harbhajan gave Thandi a nice compliment after that warm-up game they played...

The way things are looking now, it will be best for SA to go into the tests sans spinners.

Was Nicky Boje the best spin option for SA? Probably not. But the spin-cupboard was bare for a long time. So, although he was never my favourite protea, I personally cannot say, "good riddance"... I prefer to say: "it could have been"...

[Teatime FatCat]

What is wrong with this fellow Harris, who Warwicks picked up as an overseas player this season. He's an SLA I think, and he seemed to do a really good job for them, and was talked of quite highly by the press here.

[gibbs_fan]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

IMO, Nicky's a much better bowler than he was able to show at the top level. Goodness, he took 50 wickets in the SS series last season. Best domestic bowler in the domestic scene for the last 2 seasons..

Well, everybody has there opinion. IMO I think that he just was not good enough at the highest level. There are many players that fall into this category. Besides, just because he takes wickets in the SS, does not mean that he will take wickets at test level (Willoughby & Dawson takes wickets every year but could not cut it at test level). Where do you get your facts. Last time I checked, Boje only took 40 wickets and that was only 5th on the overall list.

Originally Posted by Wanderer

After Adam's injury, he was never a contender in the test side, as he could not even find a spot in the Cape Cobras side. Henderson and Harris chose the Kolpak option.

Yes, but he still has more wickets, better average and better strike rate than Boje. Problem is that when Adams got injured, he was not put back in the test team. Boje was given a long run based on his "batting" abilities. Why did Adams need to be a contender, he should have been the automatic choice. When Kallis & Smith came back, they were automatic selections.

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Botha is unbanned. But this is just his second year of spin...Cannon fodder is what the Indians and Pakistani's will think...

Tshabalala showed some promise last season, but what has he done this year? He's just about the worst bowler in the SS series so far. Play him against the Indians? Sure. Give the Indians a test on a silver platter. Mind, Harbhajan gave Thandi a nice compliment after that warm-up game they played...

Well, you have got to give these guys a chance anyway unless you want to wait for the Bangladesh and Zimbabwe tours every year to allow players to make their debut. IMO there is no better place for a player to make his debut than his home country irrespect of the opposition. What message do you send out to these youngsters. I dont know about the worst bowler this year. Correct me if I am wrong but did Thandi not take a five fer this season. Besides, he is one of 2 spinners in his side, so he does not get the number of overs he needs. Thandi is young, give the guy a run. Even if he has a bad day, it cant get wose than Boje's 0-200 (the worst bowling display I have ever seen). Thandi is young, and will learn with experience and he has the one tool that Boje never had (he actually turns the ball).

Originally Posted by Wanderer

The way things are looking now, it will be best for SA to go into the tests sans spinners.

I agree, we can use Smith (is not too bad) to get through overs if we need to. I would also like to see Langeveldt play but once again the selectors have given him the short end of the stick. Langeveldt just gives us that variety and I would prefer him to Hall. Then again, its always risky to go into a match without a spinner but I guess if you dont have a quality one, then why bother at all.

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Was Nicky Boje the best spin option for SA? Probably not. But the spin-cupboard was bare for a long time. So, although he was never my favourite protea, I personally cannot say, "good riddance"... I prefer to say: "it could have been"...

We should have used Claude Henderson. Nicky Boje is not even a "hasbeen", his a "neverbeen" and unfortunately, I have to say good riddance.

[gibbs_fan]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

What is wrong with this fellow Harris, who Warwicks picked up as an overseas player this season. He's an SLA I think, and he seemed to do a really good job for them, and was talked of quite highly by the press here.

ahh. TTFC, unfortunately Harris must be one of the unluckiest guys around. He is from Cape Town, so he had to compete with Paul Adams and Claude Henderson (the only 2 real spinners in the country at that time) for a place in the side. He then moved up north and played for the Titans. He is a decent spinner and I believe he did reasonably well in England. I just think that he is too similar to Boje and Petersen. We need someone with that little bit extra, like Botha or Tshabala. Harris is also quite old now. I dont think that he will ever feature as he does not even make the A sides. He is a useful spinner though.

What disappoints me is that whenever I see a guy with potential, they seem to disappear. The problem is that captains dont like to bowl young spinners for long spells because they do tend to go for runs and the tracks are not really suited to spin bowling. Goolam Bodi started off well, so did Imraan Khan. They are now opening batsmen. Its really sad as they had some talent, especially Bodi (I think that he might have a shoulder problem though). Now this guy Pillay looks useful but I remember him playing 2 seasons ago and also doing ok. Why dont they just stick with him.

The UCB should issue a policy of playing 2 spinners in each team. This will promote the development of spinners. We do not need fast bowlers, we need spinners.

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by gibbs_fan

Good bye and good riddance to Nicky Boje. Maybe now we can see Botha and Tshabalala get an opportunity. Petersen seems to be favoured in the 1 day side but my guess is that the test spot is open for a spinner. Personally I would like to see Botha but due to the problems he has had recently (banned), maybe Tshabalala should get a chance.

Boje really did have a detrimental effect on SA cricket. He kept Paul Adams and Claude Henderson out of the team for so long. Henderson was by far the best spinner in the country and ended up leaving SA (Kolpak). He really could have done a decent job. At least now Boje has decided not to stand in the way of young spinners.

Nicky Boje, you certainly wont be remembered, well not by me that is.

My two favourite SA spinners Botha and Tshabalala. Botha for Tests and Shab for ODIs at the moment. Not a fan of Petersen or Adams but Henderson should have played instead of Boje. Boje is our Giles.

[Wanderer]

Originally Posted by gibbs_fan

Last time I checked, Boje only took 40 wickets and that was only 5th on the overall list.

Right your are...40 wickets, but he DID finish at the top of the log.

Originally Posted by gibbs_fan

Correct me if I am wrong but did Thandi not take a five fer this season

Hmm..yes, the last game. He has unfortunately not been consistent at all. And he still tries too hard. But I reckon wisdom comes with experience. And he won't get any carrying drinks.

Originally Posted by TTFC

What is wrong with this fellow Harris

Absolutely nothing. He could have been the "one", but opted for a Kolpak deal. You see, in this country, spinners are "second-class" citizens...Not enough is being done for their development.

Former players have been begging the UCB to do more for spinners. Offered suggestions like:
1. Make franchises play at least 2 spinners and penalise them with money and/or points if they don't.
2. "Training sessions" for domestic captains to know how to "use" spinners as attacking options, and not just "holding bowlers".

[gibbs_fan]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

My two favourite SA spinners Botha and Tshabalala. Botha for Tests and Shab for ODIs at the moment. Not a fan of Petersen or Adams but Henderson should have played instead of Boje. Boje is our Giles.

Thats harsh, I dont think that Giles is that bad

You know what is funny, the 4 leading wicket takers for the current season are as follows: Botha, Harris, Henderson and Boje with 14, 16, 17 and 17 wickets respectively after 3 games. This just shows that us South Africans just cant play spin.