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Bosman Charged by CSA

Cricket South Africa seems set on supplementing their potential income over the next few weeks by fining their players. With just days to go before the opening match of the T20 World Cup between South Africa and the West Indies there seems to be no end in sight to the battle between the players and administrators in the game in South Africa.

Following on from the Jacques Kallis saga, which lead to Mark Boucher being fined half his match fee from every game he plays in the forthcoming competition for speaking out against the omission of Kallis, to Andrew Hall making himself unavailable for South Africa and rumours of him signing up for the ICL, comes the news that Loots Bosman has been charged by CSA for breaching CSA's rules and conduct.

Bosman, the South African opening batsman, was withdrawn from the T20 squad on the basis of a back injury he sustained when he crashed into an advertising board in Zimbabwe. Bosman responded to his withdrawal in a newspaper article which appeared in the Beeld on Wednesday where he said

"I am fine, ask my physiotherapist in Bloemfontein who treated me last week. I am very, very, disappointed. Mickey [Arthur] tells too many lies."

Mickey Arthur, the South African coach, responded to Bosmans claims that the CSA's medical advice was suspect in the same article, saying

"It is understandable that he would be disappointed," said Arthur, "but his reactions are very immature and I am disappointed how he has handled this."

Bosman has been one of the leading Pro20 batsman in South African domestic franchise cricket with an impressive average of 32,33 in 23 matches at a strike rate of 147,93 including a top score of 104 and 3 fifties. His international T20 record is as impressive with an average of 38,5 in 3 matches and a top score of 53 not out. As one of the most experienced 20/20 players in South African cricket Bosman was expected to play a major role in the upcoming tournament for the host nation. He has been replaced in the squad by fast bowler Andre Nel.

The replacement of a batsman by a fast bowler is suspect given the nature of things between CSA and the players. While many had been hoping that Jacques Kallis would be the man called up to replace Bosman, the more obvious and warranted choice would have been Morne van Wky. The Eagles batsman, and franchise team mate of Bosman, has been the domestic limited over and Pro20 batsman of the season over the last few seasons, and was unlucky not to be included in the initial squad. Following South Africa's warm up series in Zimbabwe it was decided that the the bowling lacked an edge and the opportunity to call up Nel was taken at the earliest opportunity.

Another view on the Nel call up could be that he has been included to ensure he does not follow in the footsteps of Andrew Hall who resigned from the national team following his exclusion from the T20 squad. Nel and Hall were South Africa's best bowlers at the World Cup in the West Indies earlier this year.

There is clearly problems in South African cricket, with mistrust and lack of communication between the players and administrators causing new problems each week. The South African cricket team will have to come together in spite of this if they are to win the T20 World Cup in the coming weeks, and unite the team and country, and forget about their problems - for a couple of weeks at least.

T20 World Cup Preview - South Africa

In Group A along with the West Indies and Bangladesh.

South Africa - The hosts will favour themselves to go far in this World Cup, and in so doing hope to win the countries first major cricket honours.(The have won the ICC championships, but not a World Cup) The will have to guard against the burden of expectation by both themselves and their country, a burden that has proved to strong in each of the last 4 World Cups, where they were amongst the favourites to win. In 2003, the last time South Africa hosted a World Cup, they failed to progress past the group stage in a tournament they were fancied to win, both as hosts and on form. Along with England, South Africa has the most experienced T20 domestic league and thus have more experienced players in the shortened version of the game. They have dipped into this pool of talent for their squad with the inclusion of Gulam Bodi, Albie Morkel, and Johan van der Wath.

Players to watch - Graeme Smith - The South African captain is the leading batsman in international T20 cricket, with 259 runs in 5 matches and a strike rate of 138, including 3 fifties. His best score of 89 not out came against the Australians and took just 59 balls.

Shaun Pollock - the senior bowler in the attack, his batting will be as important in this format as his bowling. While economy is used loosely in T20, when anything under 8 is good, Pollock will have to lead from the front and take the pressure off the less experienced bowlers in the SA attack, like Albie and Morne Morkel. His free hitting stroke play may be South Africa's secret weapon, both as a finisher of an innings in the lower order, or has an injection of aggression higher up.

Albie Morkel - The Titans all rounder has had the label of potential hanging on his shoulders for a few seasons now and it may be time for him to cash that in and prove his ability to be a big player in the current squad. Like Pollock, Morkel can be expected to float anywhere in the batting order, and while his bowling will be relied upon to restrict and take wickets, it's his ability to hit any attack far and wide that will have all South Africans hoping for an on form Albie Morkel. Scored 97 batting at number 3 in the last ODI South Africa played, against Zimbabwe, and it will be that form that he will hope to carry through to the T20 World Cup. The scene may be set for Albie to come of age.

Morne Morkel - The younger brother of Albie, Morne has shown a great deal of promise in his young career, both as a future Test and ODI star. More then the pace he is able to bowl at it will be the bounce he gets from any wicket that will cause batsman problems. A strike bowler who is also economical is a rarity, and in Morne SA have this scarce resource that they will hope to get the best out of. Has shown capability with the bat that wont see he bat higher than 9 but will ensure depth that is needed in this form.

While T20 can be a lottery. more about luck then anything else, there is a fair amount of skill and tactical know how needed to best utilise the talent at your disposal. A South African team packed with all rounders, and Twenty Twenty experience, backed by home ground experience, may finally be able to make the impact on the world stage that their talent warrants.

Hall Quits - Joins ICL?

IN the latest episode of the soap opera that is Cricket South Africa Andrew Hall, the Proteas all rounder, has quit international cricket, and is expected to sign with the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Following on from the drama of the Jacques Kallis exclusion from the T20 squad, and his resignation as vice captain following the announcement, and the subsequent fine imposed on Mark Boucher for speaking out against the Kallis omission, these are turbulent times at CSA.

While it seems Hall's decision is impetuous, a reaction, like Kallis, to be left out of the T20 squad (and Abdul Razzaq of Pakistan who also retired on being left out of their squad) the recent spat of events suggests more than just the players bruised ego's and perhaps a cricket board that does not have the players trust or respect. In Halls case he was called back early from his stint at Kent in County Cricket to prepare for the T20 World Cup, and was then left out of the squad and sent on an SA "A" tour to Zimbabwe. In a recent TV interview following the squad announcement and the Kallis saga Joubert Strydom, the new convener of selectors, said that the team had been decided almost a month before the announcement, and the decision to "rest" Kallis had been made then. If this is the case then why was Hall called back from Kent if they already knew he wouldn't be in the squad? Even if he were to be standby for the squad, should someone fall out, surely playing County Cricket would be more beneficial to him and SA then a couple of four day games against Zimbabwe?

This seems to be another case of ill treatment to a player who has always given his all for his country. Hall had become the new Boeta Dippenaar of South African squad, in and out of the team irrespective of performance, and never sure of his place, no matter how much he merited it. In all Hall played 21 Test matches and 88 ODI's for South Africa. In both Tests and ODI's he batted almost everywhere in the order, from opening the innings to number 9 or 10, and had his best results as an opening batsman. his top scores of 81 against Sri Lanka in ODI's and 165 in Tests against India were both made at the top of the order. Initially a batting allrounder in the ODI team, Hall has become more of a bowling allrounder in the last few seasons, and has established himself as one of the best death bowlers in world cricket. Hall picked up 45 Test and 95 ODI wickets.

Hall looks set to join former team mates Nicky Boje and Lance Klusner in signing up for the ICL, but while they had both been retired from international cricket for some time, Hall becomes the first player to actively retire to join the rebel league. This would reinforce the suggestion of his disillusionment with CSA. The Titans franchise team are looking into recruiting hall for the forthcoming domestic season.