Amla captaincy surprised many

THE AMLA ERA: New Proteas Test captain Hashim Amla
will have to create a new environment with a crop of young
cricketers in his disposal.
Picture Source: The Guardian

Many people were surprised, including myself if I may be honest, to have heard the announcement of Hashim Amla being elected as the new Proteas Test captain. In regards to captaincy, It’s one of the better decisions Cricket South Africa (CSA) have gone with since the captaincy appointment of then young 22-year-old Graeme Smith in 2003 just after a dismal ICC Cricket World Cup performance by the African cricketing giants on their home turf.

I for one would back Amla over AB de Villiers for the Test captaincy any day. Not because I don’t have confidence in de Villiers as a leader, but simply because the gigantic leadership shoes of Smith that one has to fill require a level-headed and open-minded leader. And just like Smith, a natural-instinctive leader for those moments when a captain’s instincts could become pivotal win or lose moment of a Test match. Although it may not be the same format, de Villiers lacks this natural-instinctiveness when captaining the South African ODI side. He tends to rely heavily on senior players when the pressure starts mounting. Test captaincy pressure is much more than in ODI cricket. He may be able to survive those pressure moments in ODI cricket, but in Test cricket, decisions which a captain either should’ve or shouldn’t have made become extremely vivid. Secondly, it seems as if de Villiers is not backing down on being the Test wicket-keeper. Now that’s a lot for any individual. Captaincy, wicket-keeping and batting to consistently maintain his batting Test average at the par which it’s currently on is difficult for any Test cricketer. Now only would that affect the individual and his career, but the entire team and the moral of the team.

 A COMBINATION OF BRILLIANCE: The Test cricketing minds and
talents of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith might take another decade
to find and nurture.
Picture Source: Cricketblog

The biggest challenge for Amla in his new role as captaincy will be creating a new atmosphere in the changing room –the Amla Era if one were to put a label on it. In this new era of South African Test cricket under Amla's leadership, the restructuring of the batting order –specifically the middle order will have to be one of his first agendas. The South African Test team were ranked the best Test team in the world last season mainly because of the consistency of its top six batsmen. The retirement of Smith (who averaged 48.25 in 117 Test matches) –and arguable the greatest cricketing all-rounder to have ever lived –Jacques Kallis (who averaged 55.37 in 166 Test matches and took 292 wickets at an economy rate of 2.82) leaves the Proteas exposed and tremendously inexperienced. South Africa is going to need their new captain now more than ever. Not only for his consistent production of runs as he has done for three consecutive seasons and counting; but to also nature the new talent which has been included in the mix of the Amla Era.

The inclusion of consistence performances in domestic cricket level in Nashua Cape Cobras all-rounder Stiaan van Zyl and Bizhub Highveld Lions spinner Dane Piedt; as well as the re-selection of his franchise teammate, wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock, after his disappointing debut against Australia in Port Elizabeth, suggests that coach and convener of selectors Russell Domingo and Andrew Hudson respectively, are mindful of the fact that new young talents have to be introduced to the frame for the future of South Africa Test cricket. De Villiers’ role as a vice-captain will be more influential this time around than when he was Smith’s deputy. This time around, he is going to be the reliable senior player in the team that’s in ear-shot of Amla; constantly giving him suggestions –assuming as well that Amla will take upon the first or second slip position left by Smith and Kallis respectively.    

These three youthful cricketers, together with JP Duminy who seems to have begun finding his feet in Test cricket, Dean Elgar who is a leading candidate in replacing Smith up the order, and Faf du Plessis who was quick in finding his feet in Test cricket in the deep end of the pool against Australia; will be very instrumental in helping their new captain also find his feet in his new leadership role.

The Proteas begin their new Test cricketing season under a new captain and without two retired South African cricketing Test legends against Sri Lanka on July 16 2014 at the Galle International Stadium.

South African Test Squad to tour Sri Lanka:

Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla (capt), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Stiaan van Zyl, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Kyle Abbott, Quinton de Kock, Dane Piedt

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

Why Black Cricket Is Dying

For months now I’ve not been writing about cricket or anything which affiliates itself with it. I was sick and tired. Angry at seeing the entire South African cricketing forum bring down and discriminate black cricketers regarding their talents and skills; yet act all clueless in front of the media when asked why they cannot field a single black cricketer in the Proteas Test starting 11.

But on Wednesday, after watching Chevrolet Warriors seam bowler Lundi Mbane’s performance against the Chevrolet Knights at the Buffalo Park Stadium in East London, his performance made me break out from my defiant ways and write what was on my mind. Mbane was called up to bowl his first spell of the 20-over match by Warriors captain Andrew Birch in the 15^th over of the game. He ended with match-figures of 1/11 in 3 overs. Why had he not bowled earlier on in the game?

The only justified answer to this question would be that it was part of the plan for him to bowl in the back-end of the game as his style of bowling becomes very effective in the back-end of the innings with his gentle pace, toe-crushing yorkers and slower balls. But if this is how they are going to use him, how strong are his chances to make the Proteas T20 squad if he is not recognized as a leading bowler for the Warriors?

But in honesty these are the little things which kill a black cricketer’s career. If he is a bowler, where is he bowling in the innings? If he is a batsman, what number is he batting for the team he is representing? What are the reasons for them to be bowling and batting in that position? And finally are the reasons justifiable? In regards to a batsman, it’s really no point if he is batting at nine. He simply has no value and no role as a batsman at nine. The same thing goes with Mbane’s situation against the Knights.

For example, this is what they did to Bizhub Highveld Lions wicket-keeper batsman Thami Tsolekile in 2004 when he represented South Africa in just three Test matches. Judging Tsolekile by his performance in the national team from a decade ago; having played only three Tests is unfair. The man has proven himself to be worthy of a selection for the Test squad over the past few seasons, yet all his form and stat records seems to be falling into the selector’s outbox file.

The big question being asked by patriotic black South African cricket supporters is how players like Thandi Tshabalala, Loots Bosman, Ethy Mbhalati etc. suddenly fell off the selection radar? Did they perform that drastically for them to have been lost and forgotten from the South African cricketing system? Then we get angry and become bitter when young black players like Siphe Mzaidume go play cricket abroad, qualify for selection in their foreign country simply because they were not victims of the career-butchering of black cricketers supported by the entire South African cricketing forum along with the various national selectors.   

-Mandilulame Manjezi
@JizzyjakesTheIn