Mntboy

I think what many of us suspected might happen, has happened. Here's the link to the article on Cricinfo: South Africa vs England 2020 - Tour called off after Covid-19 outbreak (espncricinfo.com)

My brother never let on that there were threats and such from his time umpiring matches but he was umpiring the lower levels. League 2 mostly iirc. Sounds like you had an amazing time playing in England!

Mik en Moer - akkuraat baie akkuraat! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Doesn't Premier League cricket qualify you for a Level 1 coaching certificate? Or at least a few points towards one? That's if you've ever considered doing that. Did you find the adjustment to English conditions tricky or was it something that didn't effect you much? On the pink ball stuff, I think it's an interesting take on long form cricket. It's certainly entertaining but I view it as being a different, modified playing condition for what is still FC/Test cricket. Is probably best played where the fields and weather conditions are suited to it.

The white ball stuff fills the coffers of the boards though, so you understand why they get played but they aren't that memorable unless something special happens in the match. Even with the domestic stuff I find the 4 Day matches to be more interesting. AD needs to find a way to get his bowlers confidence back up after back to back losses for the Knights. And Prince needs to find a way for the Cobras to do something other than draw or lose. Pieter Malan finding some form is a boost. Also seeing Wiaan Mulder do well at the Lions after an injury lay off is pretty good too. It's stuff like that that makes it so interesting to watch and follow and I haven't mentioned any of the subplots that so often go with individual fixtures as well.

Test Cricket = Best Cricket The longest format has always intrigued me more than the shorter one's. A greater test of one's ability and character.

When I saw Sky was live streaming the Bob Willis Trophy final on YouTube I watched a session or two especially seeing that Cook, Harmer and Ten Doeschate were all playing. In the comments section there was a guy going off about how good the IPL is. You should've seen some of the comments that he got back blasting him for commenting as he was. I just couldn't help but find it funny!!!!!

A link explaining the situation: South Africa vs England 2020-21 - England tour in balance as bubble bursts for South African cricket (espncricinfo.com)

Mostly the embarrassment is due to the fact that they were the ones who invited England to come play and organised the hotel and were responsible to ensure both team's safety. Our players tested positive and so has the staff of the hotel and that has now effected the England team. Yes there is a risk but that risk was meant to be managed by CSA by creating the bio bubble.

Absolutely agreed. The only way our will improve is if the players get to play especially against high quality opponents like England and Australia.

And a Gigantic embarrassment for CSA. This could, and probably will, cause problems for the other incoming tours.

So, given the brief discussion between myself and IceCreamMan it has led me to look at who might be in Victor Mpitsang’s Test squad. Please bear in mind that this squad I am putting forward is purely hypothetical and easiest if I present it as a possible strongest Test XI (if all are fit). I will bolden those I think are assured of a place in the XI whilst also showing who I think might be possible replacement or another candidate for the slots that not assured. I will give this season’s form for those who have played in the 4 Day Franchise Series in brackets. The Test XI in batting order: Dean Elgar (Capt) (260 @ 37.14) Aidan Markram (469 @ 78.16) Keagan Petersen (346 @ 49.43)/Temba Bavuma (100@33.33) Faf Du Plessis/Kyle Verreyne(247 @ 61.75)/Temba Bavuma Rassie Van Der Dussen (33 @ 11) – He has shown some form in the T20I’s though. George Linde (147 @ 36.75 & 11 @ 19.18)/Wiaan Mulder (247 @ 59.25 & 4 @ 49.5) Quinton De Kock (WK) Keshav Maharaj (37 @ 18.5 & 10 @ 35.21) Anrich Nortje Kagiso Rabada Lungi Ngidi The other potential squad members include the following: Sarel Erwee (422 @ 60.29) Pieter Malan (326 @ 40.75) Tabraiz Shamsi (15 @ 15.06) Glenton Stuurman (3 @ 36) Beuran Hendricks (11 @ 15.36) Like I said in my previous post I am more concerned about the quality of our players given that we only seem to have two (QdK & KG) that are genuinely World Class. Faf’s time, one feels, is drawing to a close and he seems to becoming a little bit on the inconsistent side of late but that could also have been the stress of having to be the Captain as well as the senior most batsman. Kyle Verreyne seems the most likely to be given a shot at Test cricket but that could be at Faf’s expense or potentially in the allrounder slot which would mean that both Elgar and Markram may need to bowl in order to give the quicks a break. I really feel for Victor, he is going to have to make some tough calls regarding this squad and the Test team in general especially if we want to get it back to being a competitive unit. Just a side note: I got Petersen's figures slightly wrong in my previous post.

I think for the most part they are doing that but unfortunately our history does mean there is a need for restitution. For the most part it hasn't really hampered us as most of the guys selected (think Ntini, Amla, Duminy, Rabada and Ngidi) have been quality players although Duminy may have not quite realised his full potential at test level during his career. A few of the more recent guys have either struggled to adjust or have been inconsistent. Been following the 4 Day Franchise series and there have been some heartening performances but too many of the same people showing the same issues. Hamza is struggling for form and Bavuma has had starts without getting anything of significance. I really like Petersen and his form has been good (a shade over 400 at just under 50) which is why I mentioned him. Maybe Petersen has the quality we need and have been looking for. A lot also depends on whether Mpitsang decides on pushing FdP out the team or not ito how the batting unit might shape and who else might come into the conversation. Somebody like Linde for instance. Our biggest problem is more that many of our current squad, of all racial backgrounds, are not quite as good as their more famed predecessors with only a handful showing any potential to being a great of the SA game. Personally I would rate QdK and Rabada as genuine World Class players with the rest being a mix of very good and/or average.

Would you have a problem if the selectors picked Keagan Petersen (coloured batsman) ahead of Pieter Malan, who may or may not be used at 3 for our upcoming test series against Sri Lanka?

So the Cobras and the Titans drew and the Lions won by 76 runs against the Warriors. The link for the Titans v Cobras scorecard: Full Scorecard of Cape Cobras vs Titans Pool A 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com The link for the Warriors v Lions scorecard: Full Scorecard of Lions vs Warriors Cross Pool 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Links to the three 4 Day Series matches happening during the week: The Knights have lost to the Dolphins by 5 wickets. Full Scorecard of Knights vs Dolphins Pool B 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com The Lions look like they'll be scoring a big win. Full Scorecard of Lions vs Warriors Cross Pool 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com The Cobras and Titans appear to playing out to a draw! Full Scorecard of Cape Cobras vs Titans Pool A 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

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Then it's a good thing that it wasn't trying to hunt you! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I had a lovely experience with a Cape Barn Owl while I lived in Kommetjie, a small village close to Cape Point. I was out walking one morning and noticed a large bird flying towards me. I initially thought that it was a seagull but as it came closer I could see that it was an owl. Must've flown by me just about a metre to my right. It was absolutely whisper quiet and quite something to behold. Your experience sounds quite amazing as well.

That climb sounds like a gentler more spread out version of Platteklip Gorge and a solid, but easy, workout and a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

Firdose Moonda's latest piece on the selection problems we are facing is a good read. https://es.pn/2Vc547D

Here's the T20I side I think we need to have a look at as potentially being our best XI and seeing if it'll work: Bavuma De Kock (c & wk) Du Plessis Verreyne Malan J Linde Phehlukwayo Rabada Nortje Ngidi Shamsi What do you guys think?

So that ended up be a lot tighter than what I had originally thought that it would be. We have a the makings of a wonderful bowling unit in Rabada (will we ever run out good things to say about this guy - sheer class), the N's - Ngidi & Nortje and Shamsi. Linde put in another good all round performance and could prove to be a complementary all rounder to Phehlukwayo. Our batting unit remains a problem, we need them to actually contribute and not just look like they are.

Well it seems the chase will be a short one as our usual weaknesses are coming back to haunt us in a major way! Edit: 147 required by England. I reckon they should get there with about 4 - 6 overs to spare considering the aggression and intent that they bat with! Edit 2: Ok it seems that we are making them work for the win.

Yes it was 28. Six of which came from two wides as he lost his radar a bit. I think him being blamed solely for the loss is a bit harsh. The Klaasen over didn't help things either and neither did the fact that Shamsi was a little off colour as well. What confused me more about the team selection was having Van Biljon in the team. Really puzzled by his inclusion. We would've been better off if Nortje had played in his stead - even Nortje can manage 7 off of 6 deliveries. Our main issue is that we haven't really identified our ideal T20I squad and playing XI and until we have we'll probably lose more than we win which sucks but hopefully that'll change once we have that squad has been identified.

What a display of T20 batting by YJB, helping England win this one by 5 wickets. That nightmare over by Beuran Hendricks didn't help our cause but I still feel that this was an overwhelmingly positive performance from the Proteas. Linde had a solid debut (12, 2/20) and all our senior batsmen made runs. Would've loved to see more runs from both Du Plessis and QdK but can't really complain to much about that.