Pollock dropped

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/content/current/story/312907.html

... no quota funnies either. Morne Morkel or Dale Steyn in line.

Beginning of the end?

Always sad to see someone of Pollock's status dropped. Quite surprising, actually. He's been having a bit of a resurgance in Test cricket last season.

Maybe if it wasn't for the quotas Ntini would be under pressure from these young quicks instead. Pollock's got a better record in Asia and is obviously a much better bat.

Ntini took plenty of wickets last winter though, so it's still a tough one.

The killer blow for Pollock was probably the fact that Morne Morkel looks ready- 6'5 and 90+ mph with pretty good accuracy. He has to play, really. Steyn is also an impressive young bowler, but he needs to start turning promise into performance more consistently.

Ntini has appeared to be in cruise control in the one day stuff over the last 6 months. Maybe he'll produce a bit more in the Tests. For the first time in a long time, South Africa will have a long tail with Morkel batting at 8.

To me, seems like Arthur's from the same school as Fletcher in that "pace will get you wickets" . Not necessarily true. I'd crave a good L&L bowler. Saying that, I like the look of Steyn and Morkel alot. Two of the more promising quicks around. Exciting times.

Will be interesting to see how this side develops as they give the younger players their opportunity. World cricket needs a few new pace bowling stars to emerge, the batsmen have had it their own way for too long.

It was bound to happen and imo it's overdue he has done nothing much in tests over the last couple of years, these days he needs a helpful track to be a threat which you won't find many in Pak.

But we shouldnt underestimate his contribution as a batsman. Massively underrated with the bat, imo. One of the cleanest stikers going. If you look at his record, it really is comparable with some of the great all rounders of all time.

SAf's loss, Pak's gain. He's still good enough to walk into the SAfrican team.

doremi wrote:SAf's loss, Pak's gain. He's still good enough to walk into the SAfrican team.

No, we've lost two, Inzi and Akthar!

Madness.

You need lightning pace to get wickets in the sub-continent? Er... tell that to Glen McGrath.

Glen McGrath is one in a million!

Chaminda Vaas?

John Lever?!

Pollock himself?! He has an excellent record in the Sub Continent. Despite the myth's, he was never an express bowler. In his prime he was operating at about 135 kph.

It's time to give the youngsters a chance, if the guy currently in the team is not performing then he should be replaced not picked solely on reputation, we all know Pollock is not the bowler he used to be, nothing lasts forever.

From what ive seen of Morkel he deserves his chance.

Yeah, Morkel does deserve a chance, but you get the feeling that the quota issue has again reared it's ugly head, meaning Pollock had to make way for Morkel instead of Ntini.

Not that Ntini is a terrible bowler. Far, far from it. He just gives the impression of a guy who needs a bit of a kick up the backside because he's been bowling at 75% pace of late.

With the season Ntini had last year, you'd be crazy to drop him.

vs India & Pakistan last winter:

Pollock, 266 runs at 38.00, 21 wkts at 18.81
Ntini, 47 runs at 6.71, 34 wkts at 21.00

Have South Africa dropped a Pollock?

Dello wrote:Have South Africa dropped a Pollock?

They seem hell-bent on giving Pakistan a head-start! Pollock would walk into just about every other test side at the moment.

madness. hes a great bowler. his record in and against every country, except australia, is world class. he averages 22.5 i pakistan, ntini averages 55.5. ntini shouldve made way, if ever there was a home track bully after darryl tuffey it is him.

Makaveli wrote:Glen McGrath is one in a million!

So's Pollock.

Ash wrote:madness. hes a great bowler. his record in and against every country, except australia, is world class. he averages 22.5 i pakistan, ntini averages 55.5. ntini shouldve made way, if ever there was a home track bully after darryl tuffey it is him.

How could anyone drop Ntini after 34 wickets @ 21 in SA's summer? THAT would be madness......