The Cricket Thread

[Mystical_Titan]

Is anyone else very much NOT impressed by the next generation of SA cricketers? The SA team looked like they pretty much couldn't care less about this tournament.

[Stuart]

I somehow don't think that they could have cared much less.

[WiK1d]

WHEN CAN I BUY MY TICKETS?!

[Mystical_Titan]

So... it looks as though Mark Boucher's career could be over. If so, it would SUCK for it to end like this.

[doo_much]

+1

[Mystical_Titan]

WTF?!

Eye injury ends Boucher's career

[Stuart]

Lol, so much for blooding a new keeper.

[Mystical_Titan]

Yeah, they decided to blood the old one instead.

I salute you Mark Boucher! He deserved a better send-off than this.

[WiK1d]

I've given Bouch a lot of crap over the last couple of months, but this is not the way to go out I feel for the man, I really do.

And to stuff things up even further Tsolekile is probably going to be the successor, not one of the form players in the domestic series.

Oh well. Amla at least gave them a decent hiding today.

[Stuart]

Ja, I'm also seriously sceptical about Tsolekile, but I really don't see hope for anyone else getting the nod ahead of him.

[Mystical_Titan]

The problem with Tsolekile is that he's already 31. How long-term can his succession be exactly? Also, his batting leaves a little to be desired. They should have blooded a young guy, like they did with Boucher himself.

[WiK1d]

Right at this moment we need someone solid, Khun or Vilas IMO, and start prepping Quinton de Kock, seriously. Now.

[Mystical_Titan]

I'll be honest, I have no clue who the up-and-coming in South Africa's domestic cricket is.

[WiK1d]

He's not even 20 yet, in the side representing SA at the u-19 World Cup.

He hasn't played that many matches, but here are his stats

Also, looking at the comparison between Tsolekile, Vilas and Kuhn, the successor is clear.

[Stuart]

Quinton de Kock

Definitely. I'd honestly stick him in the team right now and let him learn, like they did with Boucher.

[WiK1d]

Quinton de Kock

Definitely. I'd honestly stick him in the team right now and let him learn, like they did with Boucher.

After we bliksem the Poms first.

[Stuart]

I may be overly optimstic, but I'd like to think we have enough depth to bliksem the Poms even with de Kock in the team. All he needs to do is keep well and learn the ropes. If the rest of the team can't bat and bowl well enough to beat England, we probably don't deserve it anyway.

But that is all somewhat moot, because I'm quite sure that tomorrow's announcement will see Tsolekile heading for England anyway.

[WiK1d]

I'm inclined to agree with you, but I think I'd prefer seeing Vilas there, even Van Wyk. But alas, as you said.

[Anakha56]

Sad news about Boucher, I really liked him as a cricketer and wicket keeper. This incident made me think but why dont wicket keepers, when standing close, wear some sort of eye protection? This is not the first time that this injury has happened and it could have be a lot worse.

[Stuart]

A lot of keepers do wear helmets for slow bowlers, and Boucher himself has done so in the past. I always find batting with a helmet to be a distraction (well, the grid, at least), so I would imagine that some keepers must also find it distracting to keep with headgear.

[WiK1d]

It's been announced, what we all were expecting.

At least I hope they send Vilas with the SA-A side to Ireland, should Tsolekile not perform.

[Mystical_Titan]

Vilas and Kuhn both have very good first-class records. Tsolekile does too, but both aforementioned average in the mid-40s.

[Stuart]

Anyone else anticipating a draw in this game? Smith and Amla looking great!

[Stuart]

Meh, commentator's curse.

[WiK1d]

Nope, we should bat until before tea tomorrow, clean them up on the final day. Tahir is going to have a ball on that deck come day 5.