If you could invest Big Money into SA Cricket...

[PaceHitta]

Ok people will probably hate the topic but...

Say hypothetically there was a millionaire with 'Roman Abhromvich' big money what changes would you make to benefit South African cricket...

Myself I would...

1. Cut out red tape and put fitting people into appropriate positions...for example, there are people there like Clive Rice (who has just rub the wrong people the wrong way and he will never be in the set up.)

2. I would like to hire Shane Warne give him a position in spin development

3. Strengthen all franchises bringing one key player to every franchise just strengthen the domestic competitions more.

[Nostromo]

Remove the Quota System.

[darksideofthemoon]

Go back to the old system.

[John]

Originally Posted by Nostromo

Remove the Quota System.

Keep the quota system for a couple more years. I have heard the benefits are being felt amongest black cricketers. Cricket in SA will benefit enormously from the spreading of cricket and the quota system is part of that strategy. Though its usefullness is proabably coming to a end.

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by John

Keep the quota system for a couple more years. I have heard the benefits are being felt amongest black cricketers. Cricket in SA will benefit enormously from the spreading of cricket and the quota system is part of that strategy. Though its usefullness is proabably coming to a end.

No, I strongly disagree. I grew up in a system where there were quotas for most things and in the end all it did was to create animosity between groups that supposedly benefitted and those that did not...you know the bad old "us and them" mentality. In any walk of life, you choose the best of the number you need and that's it. You cannot offer previliges to the group who were previously disadvantaged because by definition others more deserving will be missing the cut. If SA has made a clean break from apartheid, it should do it properly and not exchange one form of reservation for another. Proportional representation is one of the worst things in any civilised society.

The young black people in SA townships should be encouraged to play cricket by providing facilities and training, but no more. After that, it is entirely upto the individual. You cannot manufacture talent.

[PaceHitta]

Quotas, Affirmative Action, Black Equity Empowerment...

Its the new South Africa these things are needed...my only grievance is that there is no deadline on any any of these processes...

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by PaceHitta

Quotas, Affirmative Action, Black Equity Empowerment...

..my only grievance is that there is no deadline on any any of these processes...

Precisely. Such things have a tendency to carry on long after their sell-by date....if there was any in the first place. Two wrongs will never make a right.

When I first came to the UK, I knew very well that I was at a disadvantage being an Asian, but would never allow anyone to show positive discrimination on my behalf.....indeed, I would have felt insulted if someone had offered. Likewise, you are not going to really help the young black people of SA by showing them the easy way out, and that goes for cricket as well. It might take a lot longer to do it the hard way, but the end justifies the means.

[Wanderer]

PaceHitta, on your 3 points, my humble opinion:

1. There will never be a place in SA cricket for the likes of Rice, Wessels, Jennings. People dont like to be told they're wrong, and these 3 guys dont mind telling people that they are... At least they are in a place where they can speak their mind. Although I must admit, I dont always agree with what they have to say.

2. Shane Warne? Good option, but SA will need this for the long term. Say about 4 years. Will SA cricket make such a commitment and/or will Mr Warne from his side be willing to?

3. I think the domestic set-up is strong. Only 6 franchise sides means there is strength vs strength already. What they need though, is a "finishing school". Like the Aussies Hussey and Lehmann went to play county cricket. SA need that. Not players who go to England as Kolpakkers, but as overseas professionals.

[pie_chucker]

South Africa need to drop the quota system and pick players on merit. This enables the strongest teams to play and as has been said before to remove any animosity betweeen players and teams.

Then they should invest this money into getting the non whites (sorry, I dont know what the correct PC term is ) interested in playing cricket and then giving the coaching and facilities to become world class. All they have to do is use Ntini as an example - a black players who has worked hard and came through the ranks, is worth his place in the team and is currently one of the top fast bowlers in test cricket.

Perhaps SA should also look at the make up of their wickets, and produce some that are more spin friendly to encourage the art of spin bowling.

[Wanderer]

South Africa need to drop the quota system

SA rugby won the Rugby World Cup in '96. And they have a very good chance of doing so again this year. SA football is nowhere NEAR winning anything anytime soon. But its only in cricket that everybody jumps onto the quota bandwagon...

remove any animosity betweeen players and teams

?

the non whites interested in playing cricket

Who said they're not? Do you know the history of "non-white" cricket in South Africa?

Perhaps SA should also look at the make up of their wickets, and produce some that are more spin friendly to encourage the art of spin bowling.

I agree. And I do believe that that is something that will finally get a serious look-at, especially seeing where the next WC is going to be held. For way too long SA cricket has relied on a pace attack (Proteas have had some VERY good pace bowlers in the past).

The only really spin-friendly wicket in SA cricket for a long time was St George's. And back then they had the Hobson's and Tim Shaw...Last Currie Cup before the abolishment of apartheid. EP vs Transvaal, St George's centenary. Transvaal "mean machine" had NO hope on a crumbling St George's Park wicket on day 5... Heh Heh, I recall how FUMED Clive Rice was at the "state of the wicket". Their quickies had no hope ... I digress (and reminisce)

Change does not come overnight. And that is all I have to say about that now...