Unexpected Problems In Brisbane

After graduating from High School, many of us start learning a few patterns of the vivid circle of life. One of these life lessons is that once you’ve gotten an opportunity, use it and value it to the fullest because it could just slip out of your hands within a blink of a flashback. In some cases, it might not be your fault, however when things do suddenly go wrong –make sure you at least got some credentials or some sort of history to back you up.

I’m not here to teach my readers about life skills, but rather inform you of unforeseen circumstances happening to you –in the wrong place at the wrong time. JP Duminy’s injury has caused huge controversy and mayhem, not only in Brisbane, Australia –but in South Africa as well. Already the exclusion of leg spinner, Imran Tahir, from the starting line-up of the first Test match against Australia was by itself topic of the week. Now that there’s no genuine spin bowler in the starting line-up of the current Test match taking place (unless you reckon Greame Smith and Jacques Rudolph’s part-time bowling would do the trick) South Africa might find themselves in trouble on a relatively slow and low Brisbane Ground wicket.

The big question now on everybody’s tongues and lips is who’s going to replace Duminy in the no.7 position? Thami Tsolekile I feel is the first choice simply because he initially had to be in that starting 11 to take over from retired wicket keeper, Mark Boucher. I assume that’s mainly the reason he was granted a CSA (Cricket South Africa) contract –to take over the glove duties from Boucher. Having Tsolekile in at no.7 would mean that AB De Villiers can simply focus on his batting duties and that South Africa would field a traditional Test match team, having Tsolekile at seven and AB and five.

The second option would be to award Faf du Plessis his Test match debut as he’s a batsman who bowls spin on a regular –similar to Duminy. So initially the replacement of du Plessis would necessary change tactics and game plans heading forward in the series. I must mention though that it would be very ironic for Du Plessis to obtain his Test match debut in Australia and score a Test match 50 because of Duminy’s injury; as that’s how Duminy also obtain his Test match debut in Australia and scoring a 50 in his first Test match courtesy of Ashwell Prince’s injury to the hand.

However many people in the media are speculating that Chevrolet Knights batsman, Dean Elgar, might be Duminy’s replacement. I suppose only time shall reveal that speculation. One thing though that we going to miss out on having Duminy injured is an off-spin bowler. With Australia having seven left-handed batsmen in their current starting 11, we might need a spinner whose stock ball is to take it away from the left handed batsmen –rather than in to them.

-Mandilulame Manjezi
@JizzyJakesTheIn
www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com