Number 1 still, and a look at team selection

The Proteas beat Australia with class by 309 runs, helping them retain their number one test ranking. 

The Proteas after winning the test series against Australia 1 - 0 on the day of Ricky Ponting's international retirement, holding on to their number one ranking. Picture taken from http://sports.ndtv.com

With so  many good players being available for test selection, the choices regarding selection are hard. This is a very good thing. Duminy got injured, so du Plessis played for him, and he played brilliantly. The Proteas have immense depth in batting. Even if Duminy does not play for a long time the squad still includes Elgar, Duplessis and Rudolph to choose from. I think David Miller and Richard Levi deserve a look at for test cricket.



All three of our fast bowlers did well in the last test. However, the Proteas should look at the reserves. Rory Kleinveldt is obviously a good player. However, he didn't impress me when he played in the second test match. Ryan McLaren is also good, but I think the selectors should try find a better bowler than either of these two. I think McLaren should stay as a back-up all rounder in case there is an injury, but it would be nice to have another good fast bowler in reserve, Marchant de Lange perhaps, or Parnell. 

AB Devilliers is doing well with the gloves, but prudently, we still have Thami Tsolekile as back-up. This is perfect. But maybe some work should be done by selectors to look for young keepers who we could call on in the future.

Selecting a spinner has always been hard for South Africa. Between Robin Peterson and Imran Tahir it is hard to pick a favourite. Tahir has done better in domestic cricket but has not done as well as Peterson internationally. For me they are both almost equally good spinners. I think though that because Peterson is better with the bat and in the field, he should play more in tests. Of course, I also think younger spinners should be looked at. Dane Piedt of the Cobras is possibly a future option for SA.

Who should replace Duminy?

The first test match between South Africa and Australia ended in a draw with neither side dominating the other. Michael Clarke's 259 not out off 398 balls was brilliant. The Proteas need to work on their bowling against the Australian Batsmen. An even more pressing matter though is with whom they should replace JP Duminy with.

There are two test matches left, the next one only starting on the 22nd of November. For me Rory Kleinveldt is not a great test bowler, he didn't prove it either in the match. The Proteas should replace him with a spinner. Maybe Imran Tahir, or another person perhaps.

I am certain that selectors will consider Francois du Plessis and Dean Elgar as suitable replacements for Duminy. They are both good batsmen and can bowl part-time spin. However for me, du Plessis has failed too many times in the international arena and I think he should not be given another chance. Elgar is definitely a good option. 

According to espncricinfo.com he has scored 5326 runs in first class cricket at an average of 44.75. So he's quite good.

Dean Elgar (25) Picture taken from the Gauteng Cricket Board website

For me though. I think David Miller should be given a chance. He's proven he can play very well in limited over competitions and has done so in international games. He was brilliant in the Hong Kong sixes, which the  South African team actually won this year. He outshone captain Colin Ingram in a few of the HK6s games. 
Though his statistics are not as impressive, they are ever improving and I think he is becoming one of the best batsment in south africa.

David Miller (23) Picture taken from the Gauteng Cricket Board website