01-09-2018, 07:33 AM
(01-09-2018, 04:06 AM)crashlander link Wrote:Steyn is not what he used to be. He remains a class act, but the speed he had when he was younger isn't there any more. He has had a few injuries lately (which makes him almost the same as ours, who are injury prone in the extreme). That doesn't mean he won't find another leg against us: he tried to lift for us. He also still moves the ball, and we don't play the moving ball well.
Rabada, on the other hand, has developed into a very good bowler and must be taken seriously.
Our batting: we have problems in the opening spot. Both Renshaw and Bancroft have shown more than a little, but neither is in form at the moment. Both of them could do with a great big dose of confidence and some serious technical work.
Darcy Short, anyone?
I wouldn't be saying our middle order problems are over. The Marx brothers, sorry, the Marsh brothers, have done their share, but ..... Mitch Marsh is a flat track bully: I don't like him against the moving ball at all.
And Paine has been OK, without being outstanding with either bat or keeping. Not quite a match for de Koch.
This doesn't spell disaster, but we would have to go into the series as considerable underdogs.
South African batting isn't that strong. They had enough trouble with the Indian pacemen so they'll have alot of problems with our attack, although it was a pretty juiced track that become juicier after it sweated under the covers on the rained day. Australia invariably play well in SA.
Thought Paine did a really good job with the gloves. Actually never realised he has an average of 40 with the bat until I just looked it up, albeit from 9 Tests stretched apart..