Who would you bring back?

[gibbs_fan]

Originally Posted by JEBJAB

I do not see Colin Bland listed here...Why Not?

I agree and what about Basil. Surely he is a better allrounder than Clive Rice

[Aurelius]

I think Bland was a Rhodesian too.

Surely Hugh Tayfield would be South Africa's greatest spinner instead of Kourie?

[Nostromo]

Pacehitta, in choosing your "all-time best XI" for South Africa, you have left out some really great players, notably Dudley Nourse who not only averaged over 50 in Tests and First Class, but was considered one of the best captains. My own all time best would be:

1. Barry Richards
2. Eddie Barlow
3. Bruce Mitchell
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Jaques Kallis
6. Dudley Nourse (c)
7. Denis Lindsay (wk)
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Mike Procter
10.Hugh Tayfield
11.Allan Donald

Tayfield is certainly the best spinner that SA have produced so far; I would choose Donald ahead of Adcock & N'tini while Lindsay was a very good keeper-batsman.

[Aurelius]

My team's similar to Nostromo's.

1. Richards
2. Barlow
3. Kallis
4. Greame Pollock
5. Dudley Nourse
6. Aubrey Faulkner
7. Proctor
8. Lindsay/Boucher (w)
9. Shaun Pollock (c)
10. Tayfield
11. Donald

12. Bland

Pollock's got a pretty good record as captain, with a winning percentage. I've heard good things about Lindsay from my father, but I can't help but wonder whether Boucher's sheer statistical feats will some day make him an automatic solution. Finally, I've included Faulkner as a No. 6 batsman and second spinner, instead of Bruce Mitchell as a third opener. Bland has to be the 12th man, as his fielding makes him worth his place alone, but his batting record is good enough that he could also be one of South Africa's greatset ever batsmen.

[Nostromo]

Faulkner was a fine all-rounder at a time when Tests were few and far between and certainly a worthy choice. But I would not choose him instead of Bruce Mitchell, who, as you have said, was excellent as an opener or at No:3. What Faulkner provides is that second top class spinning alternative and to be honest, I would choose him in place of Eddie Barlow. Barlow had a slight edge in batting, but (despite the pace vs spin comparison, or maybe because of it) Faulkner was more vauable as a bowler. Moreover, with Donald, Proctor, Shaun Pollock and Kallis already in, Barlow's medium pace would probably not be that much called for, while Faulkner's legspin would certainly be a great complement to Tayfield's off-breaks on responsive wickets.

So, if one did a Faulkner for Barlow swap, the revised team would be

1. Barry Richards
2. Bruce Mitchell
3. Graeme Pollock
4. Jaques Kallis
5. Dudley Nourse (c)
6. Aubrey Faulkner
7. Denis Lindsay (wk)
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Mike Proctor
10.Hugh Tayfield
11.Allan Donald

Tayfield was no mug with the bat and so the batting is very strong relative to positions in the line-up right upto No:10. As for bowling, Donald, Pollock & Proctor backed up by Kallis plus the off-spin of Tayfield & legspin of Faulkner would indeed make a formidable attack on any surface.