NO DOWNRIGHT WAY OF REPLACING KALLIS

Within twenty four hours, Jacques Kallis would have retired from Test cricket and South Africa quest for replacement will begin.  In reality, Kallis is irreplaceable so it is virtually impossible to fill the void of South Africa’s greatest cricketer. 

Instead the selectors are likely to bank on the horses for courses approach. The first obstacle is the toughest and with a rampaging Australia arriving in only few weeks time, it is likely the South Africa will play with extra batsmen given the defensive mindset of Smith and influence of Johnson on the tailenders.

With the first Test match on the fast bouncy track of Pretoria, and the 3^rd Test at the seaming Cape Town, South Africa will load up their pace battery with four quicks (Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Abbott) and play Duminy and Elgar as part time spinners.  Choosing Robin Petersen is risk given if he is taken out of the attack by the Australian batsmen, the pace trio will have share a heavy workload. With three tests against Australia in 3 weeks it remains unlikely Morkel, Steyn and Philander will be pushed to the extent.

Smith conservative approach in the recent Test series against India is a clear indicator South Africa is still paranoid of losing for the sake of winning. 

Similar trend followed in England last year when after the retirement of Boucher, they opted for De Villers to perform a dual role rather than bringing in a dedicated wicket keeper.  It was a further suggestion South Africa preferred to strengthen the batting.

Even for a team that is number one in the world, they are unlikely to risk a bowling all-rounder at number 7 or a rookie wicket keeper especially against quality bowling line up of Australia.

 If South Africa opts for a bowling all-rounder, Ryan McClaren or Wayne Parnell is the likely candidates. McClaren averages 30 with the bat in FC cricket and has improved his batting over the past couple of years.  Parnell on the other hand has not really developed as a cricketer South Africa would have liked. He might have gained pace but off field discretions and lack of consistency suggests he is touted more as a one day specialist. Importantly, McClaren bowling resembles Kallis more than Parnell.  It is safe enough to say McClaren is the only viable option.

The other option South Africa could explore is to introduce Quention De Kock as a specialist keeper at number 7. It will enable De Villers to bat at Kallis position at four but it also means there is no all rounder in the team and hence more work load for Steyn, Morket and Philander.  Although this is the conventional option, the wicket keeping of De Kock still has plenty to desire. Additionally De Villers is comfortable at five and with the gloves so in nearby future it is a unlikely option.

Only Test in the nearby future South Africa could be thrown in disarray will be the 2^nd Test in Port Elizabeth. Traditionally, it is the slowest pitch in South Africa and given Australia’s recent spinning woes Petersen could play a role meaning Steyn, Morkel and Philander fitness and ability to share the extra work load could dictate the combination.

South Africa next most prolific Test series for South Africa will be at home against a weakened West Indies nearly eight months later.  It is a long time away and by then De Kock would have likely taken over gloves from De Villers. 

Real challenge will be when then Tour India 18 months away until then South Africa has plenty of time to groom or develop an all rounder or a high quality spinner.  Until then the theory of horses for courses is only logical way of replacing King Kallis.

COOK USE OF PANESAR APPAULING

Entire England knew life after Graeme Swann was going to be tough but the way Cook has handled his replacement, Monty Panesar in the 4^th Test Swann loss could even be more catastrophic than first thought.

First occurrence of Cook’s lack of faith in Panesar was in the first innings when the left arm spinner trapped Australia’s inform batsmen, Brad Haddin LBW only to be overruled by DRS. Panesar had a moral victory over Haddin and from that instance Haddin stayed glued in his crease for the next couple of over’s.  It was an ideal chance to persist with Panesar but watching wickets tumbling from the other end, Cook immediately reverted to his pace bowlers seeking the wickets of the tail rather than dismissing the well established Haddin.  

This was in stark contrast to the way Clarke used Lyon on Day3 and the confidence Clarke had in his spinner. It ended with Lyon finishing with his best figures in Australia.  Importantly, Lyon had the backing of his captain despite Stokes and Pietersen aggressive approach against him.

Clarke use of Lyon was a lesson in itself for Cook but instead of encouraging his spinner, the English captain went on a different tangent. 

It took Cook 20 overs to introduce his primary spinner on a day Australia needed 200 runs to win. Unfortunately by then Australia batsmen had eaten away half the runs.  

Chris Rogers, the man at the crease who scored freely in the first 20 overs is arguably Australia weakest link against spinners, he doesn’t sweep, doesn’t use his feet and importantly would have had to deal with distinct rough patch outside his off stump.  Instead Cook persisted with his quick men; it seemed to also play into Shane Watson hand.  Australia number three had struggled with a groin injury affecting his stretching but instead of testing his font foot stretches with his spinner, Cook adopted a contrasting approach.

Panesar might not have turned the Test match but given Australia struggles against spin recently, Cook had to back his spinner with more runs in the bank.  

Eventually when Panesar was introduced it was an act of desperation rather than assertion. Furthermore, Cook had injected Panesar from the wrong end.   Over the duration of the match, it is the end Lyon had bowled from Southern Stand end. The logic was Lyon bowled into the rough and the wind allowed his ball to drift away from the right handers.  Cook was so indecisive; he had forgotten the basics of the game.

One of the reasons Cook has struggled with Panesar because the he lies in the modern day psyche is spinner is a defensive weapon rather than an aggressor.   According to Cook, Panesar role in the team is to primary hold up an end rather than take wickets.  That theory is perfectly fine on first three days of the Test match but when a team is trying to win a test on a wicket with footmarks, Cook was on a different tangent.

Panesar is in a different class to Swann but the way Cook has handled his spinner during the course of the test match suggests Cook has forgotten one of the greatest assets in our game is a spin bowler. 

SOUTH AFRICA’S RECENT POOR RECORD IN DURBAN PRESENTS A GOLDEN OPPURUNTIY FOR INDIA

Nearly two decades ago, Durban was perceived as the South African WACA. The memories of Indian batting been blown away twice in a Test Match in 1996 for 100 and 66 respectively are engraved in many Indian fans memories.

  

There are striking resemblances between the two teams back them and now. The 1996 Test match, the core of the Indian batting was playing in South Africa for the first time.  South Africa bowling had a familiar look about them like today, a bowler with express pace in Donald, a probing seamer in Pollock and a fine all-rounder in McMillan. However, there has been one significant change. Since 1996 to 2006, Durban was a happy hunting ground for South Africa but over the last five years it has been a graveyard.

Since South Africa readmission cricket in 1992 to 2007, South Africa had only lost in Durban twice. The pace and the bounce extracted by the fast bowlers in Durban have often unsettled amongst some of the finest batsmen but in the last five years it has been the spinners that have suddenly had an impact and the home team has suffered.

South African has lost their last four test matches and on each occasions spinners have made a vital contribution in one of the innings. 

It was Australia that started to penetrate the Durban fortress in 2009. While Johnson wrecked havoc in the first innings, Australian part time spinners, Marcus North and Simon Katich picked up four wickets between them in the 2^nd innings to bowl Australia to victory. Later in 2009, it was Swann that spun England to an innings victory.  In 2010, Harbhajan four wickets in the 1^st innings allowed India to sustain a healthy 80 lead which eventually led to a remarkable win.

Then finally last year against all the odds and after former South African captain stated a South African B team was capable of toppling the Sri Lankans, the island nation humiliated the hosts. Once again it was a spinner that did the damage. Rangana Herath match figures of 9/128 were the best figures taken by a spinner at Kingsmead.

Despite the green tinge to the wicket, India should be aware the Durban pitch is no longer a competitor to WACA and the pitch has changed in characteristics dramatically. Even the during the ODI series, it slowed up as the game progressed.  The South African flag has not flown high on the Durban fortress for four years and with pitch likely to assist Ashwin, a massive opportunity awaits for India to keep the South African flag off the Durban fort.

No Freebies - the recipe of success for Indian bowlers

Luck plays a role in success but only when you can create your own luck.  During the post lunch session the Indian bowlers beat the South African batsmen edges more than 20 times, they can be termed as luckless but in hindsight they were building towards success. 

Usually when batsmen is beaten more than dozen times it is because the length has been that fraction short and by the time the balls moves it has deviated too much to kiss the edge. For the Indian bowlers it was definitely not the case. In the matter of fact they had out bowled their accomplished opponents by hitting the fuller length, but they were just less fortunate.

In between all the dismay India rarely bowled a ‘four’ ball that we have all accustomed to.  Amla was seldom given room outside the off stump and the Indian bowlers hardly gave Smith any width. In the past the Indian bowlers have guilty of releasing the pressure with a boundary ball but today they were ruthless.   Although Smith and Amla put on a partnership in excess of 90, they were made to earn their runs.  Even though runs seem to flow a wicket always seemed imminent.

Luck is only for the unprepared and it certainly didn't play a role in the next four dismissals. The relentless line and length bowled by the Indian bowlers finally transformed into rich rewards.

Amla had got into mindset of leaving the good length balls but all of sudden Ishant hit the perfect length causing him to misjudge a ball that crashed into his off stump.  It was sort of a dismissal that is likely to play on Amla’s mind for the rest of the series.

Kallis on the other side of 38, has been LBW 5 of the last 6 innings. Perhaps he too is having problems picking up the full ball just like Tendulkar did in his twilight. It was a definite plan given Flectcher had employed similar tactics at Kallis with Flintoff when he was the coach of England back in 2007. Sharma went for full ball first up and Kallis played all across it to be trapped LBW for his first duck against India.

Smith fell to Zaheer again. Once again it was the same plan. Drawing him across the crease and then slipping in the inswinger.  Zaheer had his South African captain number once again.

Realising the ball was started to swing, Dhoni went to Shami immediately and he found the edge of Dumminy.

DeVilliers had not faced Shami in his 20 balls and the right handers seam position was angled towards slips but the ball jagged back and Devillers was late on the shot to be trapped LBW. It was brilliant bowling and superb captaincy.

India bowlers had the tide not only through persistent line and length but the secret lied in not dishing out four balls. India had certainly made their own luck to make the Test match into a intriguing contest.

AUSTRALIA CASHING IN ON ENGLAND's STAGGERING SELECTIONS

David Saker, England’s bowling coach hinted at a selection blunder during the course of the day and by the end of day he will probably admitted to it, at least in his own mind. 

England brought over a group of fast bowlers that more resembled a basketball team because they expected them to prosper on the bouncy tracks in Australia. But despite been in the doldrums in the series, refuse to pick them.  England dropped one after the 1^st Test and starved the other two of an opportunity on a track that was tailor made for them. 

The axing of Tremlett is self explanatory, the giant bowler from Surry had lost a yard of pace that made him such a threat last time England toured these shores. Listening to a series of press conferences on the tour, Finn has not bowled as per the coach’s expectations despite constantly clocking around the 90mph.  Which leaves us with the third tall timber, Boyd Rankin, the former Ireland player was rushed into the England Test squad on the basics of strong performance against the Australians in the ODI series in England. Rankin ability to extract excruciating bounce and bowl close to 90mph troubled the Australians.

Today England could well have done with a bowler capable of bowling over 140kmph constantly. The only time England bowler’s extracted disconcerting bounce for the Australian batsmen was when Broad bowled an inspiring spell leading up the Bailey wicket. Broad really bent his back, bowled each ball over 140km/h and got his rewards when Bailey was beaten by pace.  Brad Haddin, Australia’s form batsmen also looked clueless at times as the ball wrapped him on the body three times in space of 12 balls. All of a sudden the wicket seem to spring to life.

On a day, centurion Steve Smith hit seven savage pull shots to the boundary only one was executed off Broad.

Throughout the series the Australian bowlers have bowled faster, hit the deck harder to trouble the English batsmen with pace and bounce.  In the process they have showed England the way to bowl on the hard Australian wickets with the Kookaburra ball.

England have had a chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck not once, not twice but three times in this series only to be undone by resilient Australian lower order.  Any lower order struggles to cope with pace and bounce but only when it is over 140 Km/h, especially the Australian tale that has been bred on the bouncy tracks.  The issue is England simply hasn’t had a quick bowler at their disposal. A decision they could well live to regret given the stock that was available.