Waleed asked:
Hi Haze;I''ve got a concern about our batting,for some reason I just get the feeling that our batsmen are not in their stride & feel that we''ll get caught out by a more ruthless & experienced bowling attack,like England. Could it just be the pitches that we''re playing on or is it maybe because of a lack of game time?Kind regards:-)
Haze answered:
The preparation regarding the start of this international season was far from ideal. However, the way the batsmen played in the last test under those conditions was superb and there is no doubt partnerships went a long way to winning the test. They are finding their stride now.
Make no mistake, England will be a massive challenge in their conditions.
Dewald asked:
Howzit Haze? I think Vernon is doing great. It is nice to see new blood in the team that is still eager to play the game. Do you think Morne will come through in the next test or are we going to see another Ntini like downwards spiral? Enjoy your session
Haze answered:
Even though Morne has slipped from three to five in the ICC test rankings, I have no serious concerns about him. I expect him to fire in Durban following another extensive week with Allan Donald.
Basically, they're working on shortening his run-up strides, so he is more explosive and controlled at the crease. He's an enormous talent who runs on confidence.
Timothy asked:
My question is simple, im not a big fan of flat pitches but i think the south africans are using the advantage against the subcontinent countries too much. Im wondering if the ICC have rules on regulating the preparation of fair wickets.
Haze answered:
There are no instructions nor rules regarding pitch preparation from the ICC's perspective. They only get involved if pitches are reported.
I think home country advantage is an essential element of test cricket. The tables are turned when southern- and northern hemisphere teams are touring Asia.
All good for the game!
I also hate flat tracks.
sivendra bechoo asked:
What do you think of ashwell prince`s place in the team do you think he should be replaced by jp duminy or even a colin ingram , should marchant de lange be given a chance in the team
Haze answered:
It's always hard to change a winning team, particularly when their dominance and intensity levels are so high.
The runs that Prince scored at SuperSport Park, were valuable, but admittedly he benefited from good fortune. He is under a bit of pressure as JP's off-spin dimension is an asset.
Marchant has time on his side.
Thomas asked:
Howzit Haze, i''ve been a cricket lover and follower for over 2 decades and have seen the ups and downs of many players in the national side including when people were callong kallis to be dropped a few years ago and now people are calling for boucher. Those are the two players in the side that have kept us winning games for the last 15 years. My question is, how come no one is calling for Smith''s head in the shorter forms of the game where he hasn''t scored a hundred for about 2 years now?
Haze answered:
South Africa has an extremely busy schedule for the next 12 months.
Smith at his best, is needed in the tests and one-dayers, but I would definitely release him from the T20s.
SA is a far better team when he's firing.
The opening stand between him and Rudolph in the last test was an extremely influential one in those conditions.
Louis asked:
Hi Haze
Great performance by SA!! Sure Sri Lanka not the best but i thought we were very profesional during the whole test.
Glad Boucher got some runs!! Do you think they should give someone like Kuhn a run in the 3rd test if we clinch the series in Durban??
Haze answered:
No.
Warren asked:
Hi Mike,
Last week AB De Villiers finally said something that some of us have always said about the Proteas: they need to develop a proper killer instinct. Do you think that Gary Kirsten and his team may finally add that missing piece to the Proteas?
Cheers.
Haze answered:
Smith said similar leading up to the SuperSport Park test, and the ruthlessness they've displayed thereafter was superb.
As Smith said yesterday, they must follow through in Durban. It seems this culture is finally hitting home and they realise the importance of it. #noexcuses
vuyolwethu bala asked:
Hi Sir Haysman : I think its time now that SA selector have three different team ,different teams for ODI''s ,Test and T20 . I don''t want to see Amla ,smith,boucher ,Steyn,Morkel and Kallis in the limited games ,give other guys a chance.Do you think morkel could be dropped on the Boxing day in DBN ?
Haze answered:
I do think you're on the right path to a certain extent.
The nucleus of the team will be similar for tests and one-dayers, but it will be healthy if the T20 team is changed considerably - that is a young man's game.
Morkel will play in Durban and perform.
steve brook asked:
Hi Mike,
Assuming SA clear up SL 3-0, how do you think they will fair against England next year? There''s a couple of worries for me :firstly Kallis never seems to bat well in England, I''m not sure if he''s ever got a century ?? Secondly I would like to see Parnell step up to the mark, no disrespect to Philander, i just think being a left arm pace man, SA can be become the most complete all round team in the world !
Haze answered:
That will be a brilliant series! What a pity we have already been compromised by it being reduced from four tests to three.
Kallis will be an essential cog considering the potent English bowling attack.
Parnell needs to perform consistently at domestic level and earn his selection.
Are you suggesting Philander be left out? Are you mad??
Mark asked:
I''ve been a fan of Mark Boucher most of my life, but now I''m not. Do you not think this is the perfect opportunity to blood a new player? Mark Boucher has never been a consistent batter which wasn''t as big a problem when he was followed by the likes of Pollock/Klusener. I''ve heard people say that no one is challenging as a replacement, but we have two guys averaging 45+ in FC cricket (Dane Vilas and Heino Kuhn). Surely the sooner one of them takes over, the better? They need time to build a career and are already 26 years old. Boucher has had his day...
Haze answered:
I don't think many people realise the true value of Mark Boucher. If you stack his stats up against the best ever, he is miles ahead on dismissals alone.
His longevity has been remarkable and his batting crucial.
Yes, he has fallen away with the bat of late, but check the score card of SuperSport Park...
He's answered his critics.
Currently there is no stand-out keeper to challenge him seriously.
Mark asked:
With Heino Kuhn/Dane Vilas both averagine 46 in FC cricket, and both 26 years old, would now not be an ideal time for one of them to be given a chance? Boucher can''t go on forever.
Haze answered:
Everyone should realise that Boucher's form in the last test is a massive bonus. There is no way a young, inexperience keeper at international level will cope with the challenges that will confront him on a tour to the UK.
That is the hardest place to keep and a level of comfort will be provided by Boucher.
After that tour, some progression plan must be implemented.
Scott Duncan asked:
Morning Mike,
Morkel hasn''t been firing for a little while now, with no major comeback seemingly in sight. Do you think it''s time the selectors drop him? He''s a great bowler but keeping him around in the Test won''t do his confidence any good. Some time at provincial level might be what he needs. De Lange is waiting to make his debut, and couldn''t possibly be as ineffective as Morkel is at the moment.
Haze answered:
There is no way that Morne Morkel should be dropped for this series.
Asad asked:
Hi haze,I think de lange should debut instead of tahir.Obiously tahir is a great spiner,bt it not south african condition.....
Dean Elgar should get a chance instead of prince.
Haze answered:
Tahir must play in Durban. The pitch will be typical of Durban tracks of late - some pace, some bounce, but little lateral movement. It will not have the venom that SuperSport Park had.
Spinners traditionally enjoy those conditions in Durban.
I would like to seem him get a good run with the ball, and get his teeth into test cricket.
WayneJ asked:
Hi Haze,Hope you doing well.What is the reason for Lonwabo Tsotsobe falling out of favour with the selectors as i can recall he performed well in the last test that he has played but it looks like he has fallen behind Merchant De Lange in the squad, While Morné Morkel who is out of form does not get dropped.Don,t you think certain players in the SA squad gets more chances than others which i think can be regarded as favouritism by the public.THX
Haze answered:
Tsotsobe suffered from all the negative publicity after his brief stint at Essex. That episode was a pity after his sterling performance last summer against India. Suddenly a question mark appeared over his attitude.
He has work to do to rectify that.
Also, he was side-lined by an injury and has been a victim of Philander's sublime performances. However, he is expected to be named in the squad for Durban which is sensible for his development.
Don't expect him to play. Expect Morkel to perform.
Zaakir asked:
Is it fair enough to say with the bounce expected at Kingmead, Morkel could be ruthless if he finds the correct lengths, added to the form of Verno and Steyn - If Sri Lanka bat first it could be another shortened test match?
Haze answered:
I have a feeling Morkel will be extremely challenging in Durban for those exact reasons.
Sri Lanka's batting, as it has been for a while, will be based around the immense skill of Jayawardene and Sangakkara. SA had a bonus regarding their non-performances at SuperSport Park.
Sri Lanka will be different in Durban.
Do you remember what happened last year against India?
Siddharth asked:
Do you think south Africa will become number 1 in test cricket next year as England got tough assignments?
Haze answered:
The shoot-out mid next year between England and South Africa will be fascinating.
English conditions will pose challenges and that test series probably will determine the number one spot.
ADF asked:
Hi haze
This question is regarding the proposed day-night test cricket.
Opinions exist that state that twilight will play a huge role and could be a negative factor for the batting team ...
Since the cricket will only start later , why can we not move the halfway break (normally lunch) to overlap the twilight ? Surely this is the easiest way to take twilight out of the equation ?
Haze answered:
Agreed.
It is one of the many tweaks that need to be thought through to make sure day-night test cricket is effective. Many components need to be considered extensively and the ICC cannot go into this half-baked like they have done in the past.
Day-night test cricket in my mind is a must.
What a pity HD Ackerman's thoughts are pre-historic :)
Johann asked:
Hello Mike
I heared you talk the other day on the bad light issue. It is sure to be a problem again in Durban.... What can be done about this???
I am a Knights supporter bad it was sad to see the Titans denied a brilliant victory due to bad light with 9 overs left and only 33 runs to get the other day.
Haze answered:
It astounds me we have not considered this for years.
We definitely should be starting at 0930 and even move to 9 o'clock if bad light intervenes in the test. This is a prime example of what I've been banging on about over the last few weeks. Everyone needs to be more pro-active and progressive about test cricket.
Warren asked:
Hi mike. Do you think morne morkel possesses sufficient talent/ability to justify his continual selection in the team? I''ve never been a fan of dropping guys when they hit a bad patch of form (like what Ricky ponting recently went through) but it seems that we''re persisting with morne. He obviously has a huge height advantage but is he really that good?
Haze answered:
Morkel at his best is devastating.
We all know his mind is fragile and he runs on confidence, but that is something only he can sort out.
The bounce in Durban will suit him and he is just one good spell away from getting things back on track.
thember asked:
Do you think Morne Morkel should be replaced going into the second test in Durban?
Haze answered:
No.
Malcolm Sandt asked:
With the hiding we gave Sri Lanka,i still feel we still have lots to work on, especially the key lower order position of 8 as a batting unit.I always feel when we are 5 down, we are in danger of being bowled out quickly.Do you think Vernon can be encouraged to worker even harder on his batting to take over Kallis''s role as a genuine allrounder one day.
Haze answered:
What does it take to please you?
kevin Berman asked:
why is Johan Botha, not in the test setup, SA have shown a need for a clever, variation bowler, the likes of Symmo and Boje proved a successful formula, Tahir has not really shown any great ability to be a strike bowler, surely Botha''s cricket brain, batting and fielding should make him at least a squad member
Haze answered:
Botha is a quality cricketer who possesses a good cricketing brain. The inclusion of Tahir change things dramatically for him - he has now taken a financial decision to play in the ridiculously named Big Bash.
Tahir needs an extended run to find his groove in test cricket, but there is no doubt Johan in the wings provides solid back-up if needed.
carlo asked:
Hi Haze
i think vernon philander has been absolutely fantastic thus far, I just hope his peers , managers and all those who support him, will guide him into making the right choices as far as his career goes because he will still bowl for south africa for a very long time i hope, however my question is that its always the bowlers who comes to the party and have to rescue S.A where as the batters simply dont perform that is a big worry to me looking ahead..your thoughts please
Haze answered:
I think, although the bowlers were devastating in the first test, the batsmen certainly came to the party.
Scoring 411 on that surface, was some performance.
The mentality of the team is such that they realise, to be a dominant force in world cricket, both departments must deliver consistently.
JEREMY asked:
GD MORNING MIKE, DO YOU THINK OUR BEST WICKET KEEPER IN THE WORLD MARK BOUCHER HAS SILENCED HIS CRITICS WITH HIS OUTSTANDING BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE WITH BOTH BAT & GLOVES.SOME MYT ARGUE ITS ONLY 1 PERFORMANCE AFTER A LONG TYM,BUT CONSIDER THE SITUATION SA WERE IN & ALSO HOW MANY OTHER TIMES HAS HE COME THROUGH FOR SA IN PRESSURE SITUATIONS WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN. I SAY LETS GET BEHIND OUR STARS LIKE BOUCHER, KALLIS,AND BACK THEM 100%.THANK YOU
Haze answered:
YES - AGREED.
arnold asked:
Do u think that prince should be dropped and maybe someone like alviro pieterson should play at number 6?
Haze answered:
They correctly won't change a winning combination.
Derrick asked:
How much psychological impact has the Sri Lankan salary issue contributed to their performance. From personal experience, your moral is affected when income is not available. Your comments. Derrick
Haze answered:
I think a great deal.
It is a far from ideal scenario and exterior pressures would have influenced mind-set.
I see today's reports are saying they received their 50% salary payment directly from the ICC, so that's got to be good news.
Will it broaden their bats for Durban? I don't think so.
Sergio asked:
Hello Haze. I''ve been really impressed by Imran Tahir even though his not getting as many wickets in the conditions his making strides forward. Do you think groundman should create wickets that give him more assistance? and do you agree that he needs to work more on his defensive bowling? I enjoy him bowling in partnership with Dale will this continue going forward?
Haze answered:
SA must prepare tracks for their fast bowling strengths.
Martino asked:
Hi Haze...I think we sure have a coaching team that are world class with great experience as players themselves, and certainly as coaches. They both (Gary and AD) has tasted great success. I think Gary need to concentrate a lot on strengthening our mental side as I think we have more than enough potential in every other aspect of the game. Gary certainly made a huge difference with the Indian team. It is my opinion that our national team are in great hands for the next couple of years. Do you agree, and how do you see these two greats of SA cricket take our team to new levels?
Haze answered:
Yes, I do agree. And that certainly is Gary's strength. Along with Paddy Upton's assistance.
With Russell Domingo and Allan Donald on board, I reckon it's pretty close to an ideal blend.
Skipper asked:
Hi Hazy, what is your opinion about ''keepers who appeal for balls that have missed everything going down the leg side to try and confuse umpires in one day and T20 games?
I think they suck!
A second if I may: Is it really so difficult for fielders to judge whether they have taken a catch cleanly?
Haze answered:
The better umpires have worked out that lark. Quite frankly, I find it quite pathetic.
No. It is not difficult.
JEREMY asked:
DO YOU THINK THAT TAKING THE NEW BALL AWAY FROM MORNE MORKEL HAS AFFECTED HIS PERFORMANCE, CONSIDERING THE HARD WORK HE HAS DONE. ALSO HE WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH THE NEW BALL AND PERSONALLY THINK HE IS A BETTER BOWLER THAN PHILANDER.
Haze answered:
Yes it has. But he better get used to it.
Alan asked:
Hey Haze,
My question is: Should South Africa wrap up the series when they play SL in Durban, what are the chances that we will see the new Titans youngster "Marchant de Lange" play in cape town?
Will Kirsten experiment a bit or will he stick with the tried and tested?
Haze answered:
That is a chance. Some form of rotation policy will be introduced to protect work-loads and why not have a look at him?
Even though the bowlers have had a ridiculously long lay-off, it's a tough 12 months ahead.
Jacques asked:
Hi Hazey, Could someone please tell me why Alviro is not playing?
Haze answered:
Had Rudolph not played more responsibly in the last test, he would have got a run in Durban. Rudolph is definitely worth persevering with, and at his best is a class act.
Ferdi asked:
Haze
What do you make of the current state of AUS cricket?
Haze answered:
Average!