TOPIC:

Any touring squad will have it's queries, great to see Richardson get a debut tour,....the selectors keep contradicting themselves all the time.....Agar selected for Sydney over Holland, yet Holland selected for SA tour....due to the fact he has taken loads if shield wickets these past few years....then Bird selected over Sayers....but isn't Sayers the leading shield wicket taker these past few years?. ..great team man Bird but just think he is limited on pitches that don't swing and seam....Sayers bowls on Adelaide pitches which are dead most games....

Yep I am bemused at Sayers non selection instead going with Bird who looked pedestrian in the Boxing Day Test admittedly on a dreadful drop in road.
The only reasoning I can see is they may think Bird is similar to Philander who has had amazing success on the SA decks over the years.
As for the selection of Holland over Agar well............at least it is good news for the Warriors in the SS!

I sym[athise with Sayers a bit, I must say, but to be honest the Shield is not always a good guide for test selection. I mean they picked Robinson in 1977 because he headed the batting averages and did the same with Kent and Trevor Chappell resectively in 1981, decisons which did not end well.

Ark they were 35-40 years ago mate.....bit of a difference between consistently leading the shield averages/aggregates than a one off like those guys u mentioned there Are....not saying Sayers is a world beater but do scratch my head when effort isn't rewarded.....but hey let's hope Bird delivers the goods

Freezin: I hear you, don't worry -- it was only supposed to be a meek defence of the national selectors. Sayers is unlucky full stop. What has happened to other SA bloke, Meenie? Considerring the way they picked and discarded him, I worry a little bit for Richardson when he goes to Africa. Le us hope he carves through their top order batting.

To be honest AR, barring an injury crisis, Richardson and Holland will be running drinks and sightseeing while they are in South Africa. Sayers will be much better off in Adelaide destroying Sheffield Shield line ups. I'm sure he will be well and truly in the frame for the ashes tour of 2019 where his bowling will be very effective.

mikeh: I think you are right -- Cummings, Hazelwood, Starc plus Lyon -- should be the bowllers. Sadly, tours are becomming a wee joke because international teams are just not staying long enough in a country to acclimatise to the conditons. Hopefully, the boards will wake up to this in the longer run, because, if I was being pessimistic, I would say such a trend has the potential to damage test cricket.

Another Ntini made there debut for SA in the second test v India. Took 6 Wickets in the second innings. He's big and fast and got plenty out of a flat deck.There is talk Sth Africa are going to prepare green top wickets for our tests.

GTR they tried that last time we toured there and after Mitch Johnson put the wind up them and destroyed them in the first couple of Tests they were scared off into taking the grass off the wicket for the rest of the series.
Mike the way Vic centric radio sen was talking this morning with an interview of Holland he will be the one leading the Australian attack in SA .....haha they must be just overjoyed Victoria have actually managed to produce a tourist for a change as he will just be flat out delivering the gatorades and new gloves!

BH: never forget what they did to our mate William Morris Lawry at Durban in 1969. The pitch was green, until, at least, Bacher lost the toss, when, magically, just befor play, according to Bill, the curator came out and cut the grass.