Cricket: We’ll always have Perth and Melbourne
So today the Aussies drove the final nail in the Proteas coffin for this home test series and the heads have started to roll.
Admittedly this series test loss, as disappointing as it is, does not hurt as much as usual when SA loses to Australia.
I haven’t even gotten as upset as usual when Ashwell Prince was dropped when I thought Neil Mckenzie should have lost his place.
Why?
Because of Perth and Melbourne.
I was as proud of our Proteas as ever in that away series – their fighting spirit was amazing and Graeme Smith brought a tear to the eye when he marched out to bat with a broken finger and sore elbow.
Nothing that happened over the last two weeks will diminish what the boys did down under.
Having written all of the above, heads had to roll.
Especially Neil McKenzie’s. A few scratchy 30 runs was just not good enough. You can only live off hundreds against Bangladesh and a gorgeous wife for so long.
I do feel bad for Morne Morkel though.
He always looked like he was trying – far too hard sometimes. Maybe a break will do him good, but I do hope he makes it back.
I don’t really understand the team that we’ve ended up with for the Newlands test. Nothing about it looks balanced or solid.
Are Mike Proctor and his selectors setting up Ashwell Prince to fail? They are batting him out of order as well as making him captain for the game.
I don’t know much about the two new players, though I’ve heard good things about Imraan Khan as an opener - but I wish them the best of luck.
Team for Newlands test starting 19 March.
Imraan Khan
Ashwell Prince
Hashim Amla
Jacques Kallis
AB De Villiers
JP Duminiy
Mark Boucher
Albie Morkel
Paul Harris
Dale Steyn
Makhaya Ntini
Wayne Parnel 12th man
