Zondeki

[Milo]

He seems to be having a really good season so far. South Africa do not seem to be short on the seam options at the moment, especially with Pollock unable to make the test team (although I do not rate Nel).

Has anyone on the board actually seen the guy bowl this year. Is he looking a genuine test chance????

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by Milo

He seems to be having a really good season so far. South Africa do not seem to be short on the seam options at the moment, especially with Pollock unable to make the test team (although I do not rate Nel).

Has anyone on the board actually seen the guy bowl this year. Is he looking a genuine test chance????

Hi milo,

I haven't seen him play though (probably from the same source) i see he's leading wicket-taker in 1st class matches this season.

without meaning to hijack the thread I wanted to ask a question of my own:

How about this Tsotsobe(?), he's a left-handed bowler also having a pretty good season by all accounts (certainly a very good past few matches that i've followed) and would give the already pretty handy S'african line up an added variation.
For those in the know - is he test material?

As for Nel - i think he's a fairly decent bowler (though i have to say i don't care that much and think he'll lose his place to M morkel when he recovers). when i have a mental scan through the test bowling line-ups at the moment i can't think of any i'd rule Nel out of without a second thought.

[butchering lee]

Some sort of answer today for you milo. even though it's an ODI, Zondeki seems to be firing.

[Milo]

No problem for hijacking the thread. Just pleased it got a response, BL. Zondeki's 5 for in the A team shows he is in the selectors' minds. Statistically he has really performed this year. It would have been good to hear whether he is actually doing something different. Ntini suddenly leapt a few levels pretty much overnight. Maybe Zondeki's getting there. Having said all this, Steyn has suddenly moved up many leagues from the bowler we saw two years ago.

South Africa are clearly doing something right, and it does make Pollock's non-selection easier to accept (even though I like his runs).

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by Milo

, and it does make Pollock's non-selection easier to accept (even though I like his runs).

Dropping Polly is a tough one. On an emotional level - I'm gutted, he's been one of my favorite cricketers for a long time. He began 2007 with a bang and was looking good for another couple of years i thought. and his runs are essential recently cos although

Originally Posted by Milo

South Africa are clearly doing something right

they are not in the batting department.

It is a real worry if you are someone who is hoping SA do well (i have - against all my better judgement .. and probably largely to do with the general attitude towards them - really taken to wanting them to do well). I read the article about their lack of depth and disagreed only in that i think the national team is as bad as the next level. They all seem to seriously lack the sort of commitment that Kallis has (and Prince used to have) to their wicket. One might (i'm in two minds) forgive De villiers as he's been played with up and down the order a fair bit...but Gibbs, Smith, Amla, Dipenaar, Rudolph, McKenzie (i'm glad to see he's likely to play though), Van Jaarsveld and now Prince is joining the ranks of those not stepping up.

[engssmoothcriminal]

Well apparently we’ve got Zondeki lined up as our O/S player for next season . With our track record in recent years of (somehow) kick-starting the international careers of Harris and Steyn you might as well pencil him into the test team by the end of the year . Sadly sods law will dictate that as soon as he starts taking wickets he’ll be called up by South Africa for the second half of the summer and we’ll replace him with some second rate dross that’s playing Birmingham league cricket . Anyone know how Alfonso’s been getting on this year?

[gibbs_fan]

Hi all Zondeki happens to play for the local team here in Cape Town (Cape Cobras). He has been very impressive this season. Its not surprising though as he always had potential. Apparently, the story goes that in the pre season, the bowling coach worked with his action and managed to get the mechanics right. He deserves a mention but like I said before, Morne Morkel is still our best prospect. I rate him better than Steyn only because when Steyn started his international career he was not as consistent as Morkel is now. Morkel will only improve. Zondeki is next in line but he will probably have to wait for an injury before he plays again. Rumour has it that he will play for Warwickshire for the first half of the season and will play for SA against England in the 2nd. Talk here in SA say that he will b included in the squad to play England next year. Watch out England if these 3 (Steyn, Zondeki and Morkel) play together next year, it will make for an interesting series as they can all bowl up too 150 km/h. They are not that similar too so that may count in their favour. However, Ntini is still too good to make way so 1 of them will have to wait for their chance unless we play 4 seamers. As for Tsotsobe, another youngster who is very impressive. He had a good season last year and he is following it up with another this year. He also has natural pace and is a leftie. I still think that he maybe needs another season but he will definitely play for SA in the future. We have other fast bowling prospects too but on the batting front, we are struggling. We need another Gibbs The biggest prospect is JP Duminy but he fails to make the step up. He is a class player though. hope theses comments help Edit: oh that bloke that messed you around, Vaughn van Jaarsveld is also an immense talent. His attitude sucks tthough, so I am not a big fan but SA cricket have invested a lot of time and money on this guy and it is predicted that he will play for SA one day.

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by gibbs_fan

We have other fast bowling prospects too but on the batting front, we are struggling. We need another Gibbs The biggest prospect is JP Duminy but he fails to make the step up. He is a class player though. hope theses comments help Edit: oh that bloke that messed you around, Vaughn van Jaarsveld is also an immense talent. His attitude sucks tthough, so I am not a big fan but SA cricket have invested a lot of time and money on this guy and it is predicted that he will play for SA one day.

The bowling does seem to be sorted - not that I'd get overconfident but it looks good. I watched Duminy play against Zimbabwe a short time ago (not the greatest opposition granted) and he looked good. He seems to be feeling his way now against some, and i stress some, decent bowling from the Windies. If Van Jaarsveld comes good i will be pleased but i'm not holding my breath. Lots of promise; no payoff. Bodi, Ontong, Puttick, Dipenaar,...what about Philander, he has never really failed at international level, is he simply not a test option? I know he's not an out-and-out batsmen but he does a pretty good job of it. Must be in the same league as Hall and Kemp and they were given a run.

[engssmoothcriminal]

Originally Posted by gibbs_fan

oh that bloke that messed you around, Vaughn van Jaarsveld is also an immense talent. His attitude sucks tthough, so I am not a big fan but SA cricket have invested a lot of time and money on this guy and it is predicted that he will play for SA one day.

Hmm something of an understatement there. He's a disgrace to his profession and given some of the comments he made during his "I want to play for England" phase if I was a South African I wouldn't want him playing in my domestic competition let alone anywhere near the national team.

Not that I'd expect him to be close to international selection as whilst he clearly does have some talent he's nowhere near the batsmen that some tout him as or he believes he is. Some major technical faults that I doubt he has the work ethic or humility to sort out and let's not forget the weight, fitness and fielding issues. For a profesional sportsman (and a South African one at that) to be in his physical conditions in this era simply defies belief.

[engssmoothcriminal]

Was going to add he'll need an outstanding coach to sort him out. Looks like he might get one

Cricinfo - Fletcher likely to coach the Lions