Slave

Clarke isn't even in the same league as a bowler. Kalis is probably one of the finest batsmen I have seen, with huge powers of concentration. Perhaps my jibe was misunderstood. It wasn't aimed at Kalis, but the rather dismal performance of some of the worlds finest bowlers who allowed another superb batsman (One Mj Clarke) to score freely. Kalis is the MAN and in my opinion, always has been THE man. He isn't the top ranked all rounder for nothing. The point is rather that he is now er, advanced in age, and perhaps should be relived of bowling duties so he can at least bat us out of the $h!t that the likes of Fatty drop us into too many times. I didn't watch the test series so far, but I recall that he sustained his hammy injury while bowling. Somehow bowlers seem to have a shorter cricketing career than batmen. It also illustrates the other point I was making of team selection. That I feel AB should be allowed to bat. He is good enough.

He could still have played in ODI's for a few years to come. Unless I missed his announcement of retiring from all forms of the game. Whatever the reasons and result, I think we need to give AB a break. He hasn't really wanted to be the "keeper" anyway. Is it worth the risk that it may impact on his batting? Hell, the top order haven't zachery covered themselves in glory this test series. At least not like one MJ Clarke. Took Kalis years to finally get his double ton. Clarke sommer got two in consecutive tests against 4 of the worlds top rated bowlers. Makes you laugh, doesn't it?

Out and out pace is good, but it doesn't help if you can't bowl a decent line and length. Polly wasn't the fastest bowler around and neither was Craig Matthews (in the days of Hansie and Woolmot) and yet they both took loads of sticks. Polly was able to get good line and length very quickly. I think our boys today bowl far too many short pitched deliveries. It's good sometime, but too predictable, and too regular. The trick is to beguile the batsmen into playing a false stroke.

Hey, Big Vern has taken some scalps in his time and scored a few runs. Maybe not such an eyebrow-raiser as one would think. Personally, I think he is an up-and-coming all rounder. Part time bowlers are the likes of Fatty and JP. Even Clarke. I think the modern game dictates that anyone in the side is able to bowl at least a decent enough ball to take wickets. One other thought on the post mortem of the last two games, is that while Dale is a brilliant bowler and no doubt earned his top spot as a bowler in the rankings, He probably didn't mix up his pace enough. And that could probably be said of all the SA bowlers. Ntini took many scalps in his career, but he never bowled a slower ball in a match, even though he was quite capable in the nets. Ntini had one stock delivery, short and wide outside off.

Interestingly enough, Fatty only ranks 24th in the ODI batsmen rankings. MJ Clarke is in the top 10 as is Hashim Amla. King Kalis has dropped out of the top 10 as well.

Here is the link: http://www.supersport.com/cricket/rankings/test-all-rounder I agree that all-rounders are a dying breed. I think Kalis has more wickets than Steyn has runs. Admittedly, he has been playing since the dawn of time, but he is a true all-rounder. Dale is a bowler who can hold a bat. And then again, is Swann (ranked 6th) a true all rounder? I think not.

Sorry, I just saw this when looking at the test all-rounder rankings. Steyn comes in at number 10. WTF?? I know he is working on getting a good all-rounder rep going, but I still rank him as a bowler. There must be slim pickings if Steyn is number 10.

I think it will detract from his batting and can weaken rather than strengthen the side. But like that's just my opinion. If we look at Bouch, he was a fine keeper. He had the passion to get all the records and I think he got most, if not all of them. Made him one of the most passionate and best keepers around. Sadly, his career was ended by a freak accident. As a batsman though, he was mediocre. He hadn't made a test 100 for quite a while when he was forced to stop playing. Would you want to see AB fail as a batter if he has to keep wicket? I think that would be an injustice to the team.

Which he makes up for with arrogance. I think that's what we dislike about the Ausies and what I dislike about Fatty. Yes, he has good stats but what good is that if you lose games you should win? Statistically, we are a much better side. And if Shane Watson makes it into the side for the next test, I think we are going to lose the match.

AB wants to be a batsman. Why coerce him to do something he doesn't really want to be doing? I think they should find a keeper.( Pun intended). And let AB get on with what he is really good at. Batting (and being a very useful fielder.)

Yes, please do. @ Puncteur. Fatty has some of the most ama-zzzzzing averages. Dunno where he bought them because to me he is consistently inconsistent. He is an aggressive batsman, but I think his biggest shortcoming is playing across the line too early in his innings. It's one of his strengths and ironically, his biggest weakness. (IN my tiny mind anyway.) One day he plays well and the next, he ranks right up there with Mr Cullinan and Mrs Hudson. Then just when I think he should be shot, he produces a gem of an innings. Makes him to mercurial and unpredictable.

None at all mate. None at all. He didn't impress me way back when, and I cannot say he does now. Don't get me started on captain Fatty. EDIT; And as for Prince Ponce, he can stay wherever he is. True he sometimes makes a few runs, but on the whole, I don't think he should be in the side. Reminds me of Mrs Cullinan some time ago. Devastating batsman when she was on song, but she was terrible when she couldn't hold the notes. On form she was a joy to watch. When Warnie bowled at her, ai-ai-jai. Round and round the legs we go. She was Warnies bunny for sure. Think by the time the selector finally woke up and smelled the sewerage, he owed us about 4000 runs.

Ja-ja-ja. I think that's a lame excuse the bowlers will come up with for bowling badly. The wickets were flat for sure, but with lesser bowlers in their side, Aus managed to bowl us out more often and cheaper than we could do them. Although Kalis is ranked number 1 in all rounders, he is old. Why should only one bowler take the wickets? What about Dale and Vern? They are bowlers who didn't take nearly enough wickets. We played badly on both counts and we were outclassed in both batting and fielding. Clarke made more runs alone than just about the whole SA side. That is pisspooor.

Does it really matter if Faf replaced Duminy? Duminy can bowl and take wickets (and sometimes he can bat a bit too). Rudolph can't do anything. At least Faf can bat a bit and he can field. Rudolph is about as useful as an ash-tray on a Harley. He might not be bad in the slips, but he isn't in the same fielding class as Faf. I still say drop his ass and keep Faf if Duminy comes back into the side. Then you have more depth in all three disciplines. Better batsman ' fielder (Faf) and better batsman / bowler (Duminy) All you have with Rudolph is one less reindeer for Santa's sleigh.

Rudolph should go back to being Santa's reindeer or some junk. I say drop his useless ass and put Faf in his place.

Let's see. SA have no less than 4 batsmen ranked in the top 10. Amla (ranked 2nd), Kalis (3rd), de Villers (6th) and Biff (10th). Aus only have Clarke. In the bowling rankings, SA have Steyn (1st) and Philander (2nd) and Morkel (9th) On paper, that should make SA a better side and we should have cleaned up. That we have only managed to scrape two draws together and have only managed to dismiss Clarke (with two double centuries) once, I would say that would make the Ausies the happier of the two sides. If I was Clarke, I would be a far happier captain than Fatty.

It may have been a draw but we got comprehensively klapped in both tests so far. One to go.

One other thing I have learned from commuting is that no matter how many times they "SAY" Jo'burg is a "world class African city", it will never be more than a world class sewer. The roads haven't been resurfaced once in the time the ruling party have been in power. And that is an awesome privilege to be able to commute despite the road conditions, overflowing sewers, and lack of bike lanes. Shopping centers (like Clearwater Mall and several others) are not bike friendly. FNB is not bike friendly. (i.e. they have no secure place to park your baby, and security have a coronary if you try and take your bike with.)

Thousands enter, many don't even make it to the start line and the rest don't make it in time.

Heard about a possible fatal hit and run in this area yesterday. I don't have any details and trying to find out if anyone knows anything. Apparently the cyclist was an elderly gent,got knocked off and was left on the side of the road. Motorist no-where to be seen.

Er, boats and other floaty dis-tings.

Something I can't quite unnerstand: (Yeah, I know. it's normal for one of my limited mental capacity) In the current test rankings, we have 3 bowlers in the top 10. Steyn (1st) Philander (2nd) and Morkel (9th) (despite all his "no-balls") In the batting, we have Amla (2nd) Kallis (3rd) Abie (6th) and captain fatty (G Smith) (10th) So how come we lost so badly to Aus in the first test. (Yes, I know the official result was a draw, but it was technically a major hiding.) Surely we should be better than our previous performance. 2nd test starting tomorrow.

Only prep I ever do is make sure I have the full change of clothes at the office and that I have something to eat when I get there. Some days recovery mode is non negotiable. Taxi drivers are the best road users of the lot (generally) when I commute. Dark ladies in SUV's are blind and stoopid. Sunsets are also gorgeous (mostly) Racing the rain home is a great way to "time trial". I get to work in about the same time or slightly longer on the bike, and home much faster. That Accuweather is not always foolproof and I do get wet. Chasing other commuters is also a great way of getting up hills without noticing the pain. My bike tyres don't fit the car so I cannot kill them with it. That I still haven't worked out what I'll do with the trucks one day when I catch them after a chase. The wind is like a woman. It's unpredictable and has it's own mind. Subject to change without notice. People also do the scariest things in cars while driving. Like texting. Mostly, it's fun to see them stressing in the traffic while I ride passed. That bikes can trigger safety speed cameras. Some things I haven't found out yet:: What goes through those tiny motorist minds when we do overtake them? What do metro do with all those pickshas of my bike? Would they allow me to get a few copies and frame them?

My Speedo registered 92.99 km from line to line. (Checked it against a garmin or two. 100% accurate.) Those racing lines through the corners must have helped a bit. I agree on the plus points but not on all the negatives except for one thing: "Hosted by the city of Jo'burg. A world class African City Sewer." Time the mayor did some work and got the place cleaned and fixed up instead of losing billions. Fix the potholes and the sewers you chop!! The road surfaces are appalling. They resemble the work ethic of the ANC by and large. Rough and almost non existent. Just holes held together by bits of tar.

Hey guys. It's been a long time. My first race since 94.7 in 2009. Managed a 3:11:57 riding in I. Kid, I see you are riding tupperware bikes now and still breaking chains. Obviously this works for one who is nowquite the racing snake.