I have just discovered the forum! I love this game so much – 2012 is the first one I have bought. I think the next generation of Proteas are not always accurate in the game though, so this is my take on who to look at improving.
I am assuming the current SA team is:
Smith
Petersen
Amla
Kallis
De Villiers
Du Plessis
Duminy (Elgar as backup)
Peterson
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
If one analyses the Sunfoil Series for the last few years (the Franchise FC competition), it is possible to spot which players under the age of 28 have potential futures for the Proteas. ICC 2012 gets many of these players right, but some of them are terrible in the game, despite a great overall FC averages, great Sunfoil Series averages and even solid performances for SA “A”. There are many amateurs who do brilliantly in ICC 2012 – I urge the developers to use stats from the Sunfoil Series to determine FC ability. Using provincial averages is fine to a point – they can provide a guide in the same way that 2nd XI county averages can. Below is my list of SA players that have an international future in my opinion and on their Sunfoil performances:
Batsmen:
Stiaan van Zyl:
Averaged 61.18 with the bat in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series, he played in every match for the Cape Cobras apart from one when he was injured. His performances for SA “A” have been great and he has consistently performed over the last few seasons. His FC average is 43.29 with the bat (SR just over 49) and his part-time medium pace has bagged him 34 wickets @31.47.
Rilee Rossouw:
Averaged 48.5 with the bat in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. He averages 43.56 overall in FC matches at a healthy SR of over 63.
Quinton de Kock:
Billed to be the new de Villiers, de Kock averaged 46.58 in this season’s Sunfoil Series. After averaging above 60 in previous seasons, he still managed to perform admirably despite this season’s especially damp, bowler-friendly weather! At 20 he has the odd technical flaw, but in all formats he is a great prospect. He averages 55.7 with the bat in FC competitions at a rampant 85.69 strike rate. He is also a fantastic keeper, fielder and all-round athlete.
All-rounders
Chris Morris:
Averaged 16.00 with the ball this season in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. Having played in the shorter forms of the game for the Proteas, a Test call-up is not unlikely, especially when Kallis retires. He averages 34.28 with the bat and 23.21 with the ball.
Keshav Maharaj, bowler with potential to be classified allrounder:
A young slow-left arm bowler who bats competently, Maharaj averaged 9 with the ball after only a few matches. His FC average is 23.34 with the bat and 27.31 with the ball. His economy rate after 17 T20s is 5.39. You may think it is odd that I include such an inexperienced spinner on the list? There are not many quality spinners in South Africa in general, especially under the age of 28. Simon Harmer, Aaron Phangiso may perhaps compete with Maharaj for the Test side one day, but I think South Africa will look for the triple lock of spinners who bat a bit and control the run rate. Simon Harmer’s season resulted in a disappointing average of 42.42 and Phangiso did not play any first class matches for the Lions this season and does not have batting ability!
Ayabulela Gqamane, bowler with potential to be classified allrounder:
Averaged 14.16 with the ball for the Warriors in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series after playing in most of the matches. Gqamane averages 20.13 with the bat and 17.91 with the ball, so only just makes onto the all-rounder list as he is young and his batting should hopefully improve. With a bowling strike rate of 31.38 (27 this season), this swing bowler is a phenomenal bowling prospect for the Proteas.
Bowlers:
Kyle Abbott:
Averaged 15.36 for the Dolphins in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. His form resulted in him being called up to replace the injured Philander for the Proteas final test against Pakistan, where he took 9 wickets on debut, including 7-29 in the first innings. After the performance, Cricketarchive re-classified him as a fast-medium bowler, pending adjustment to fast bowler, as he consistently bowls in the mid 140kph zone. He is listed as a medium in Icc 2012 – could this be corrected for the next version? His FC batting average is 19.19 and bowling average 20.74.
Beuran Hendricks:
Averaged 17.74 this season in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. After net sessions with Donald, the left armer was described as a highly promising bowler, capable of swinging the ball at pace. He averages 6.69 with the bat and 20.78 with the ball in FC matches.
Hardus Viljoen (GC Viljoen):
Averaged 21.51 in this season’s Sunfoil Series. He played in T20s against New Zealand late in 2012. Viljoen bowls at an intimidating pace, and Cricketarchive have duly responded, re-classifying him as a fast not a fast-medium. His FC batting average is 16.3 and his bowling average is 26.3.
Calvin Savage:
Averaged 26.35 in this seasons’s Sunfoil Series. This young 20 year old also bowls at a terrific pace. He is certainly a decent prospect, especially as his action is so smooth, despite his height. He averages 18.88 with the bat and 26.35 with the ball in all FC competitions.
Lizaad Williams:
Averaged 21.42 in this season’s Sunfoil Series. His FC average is 8.28with the bat and 19.79 with the ball.
Marchant de Lange:
Missed the Sunfoil Series through injury, but in the T20 competition, his new, smoother action looks great and he generating more speed and bounce than previously!
In addition to these players, there are of course a number of fringe players over the age of 28 (Rudolph, Puttick, McKenzie, Birch, Tahir, Kleinveldt etc). Then there is also Parnell who has started to find form once again – who knows what will happen with him. What do you think about my list?
I am assuming the current SA team is:
Smith
Petersen
Amla
Kallis
De Villiers
Du Plessis
Duminy (Elgar as backup)
Peterson
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
If one analyses the Sunfoil Series for the last few years (the Franchise FC competition), it is possible to spot which players under the age of 28 have potential futures for the Proteas. ICC 2012 gets many of these players right, but some of them are terrible in the game, despite a great overall FC averages, great Sunfoil Series averages and even solid performances for SA “A”. There are many amateurs who do brilliantly in ICC 2012 – I urge the developers to use stats from the Sunfoil Series to determine FC ability. Using provincial averages is fine to a point – they can provide a guide in the same way that 2nd XI county averages can. Below is my list of SA players that have an international future in my opinion and on their Sunfoil performances:
Batsmen:
Stiaan van Zyl:
Averaged 61.18 with the bat in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series, he played in every match for the Cape Cobras apart from one when he was injured. His performances for SA “A” have been great and he has consistently performed over the last few seasons. His FC average is 43.29 with the bat (SR just over 49) and his part-time medium pace has bagged him 34 wickets @31.47.
Rilee Rossouw:
Averaged 48.5 with the bat in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. He averages 43.56 overall in FC matches at a healthy SR of over 63.
Quinton de Kock:
Billed to be the new de Villiers, de Kock averaged 46.58 in this season’s Sunfoil Series. After averaging above 60 in previous seasons, he still managed to perform admirably despite this season’s especially damp, bowler-friendly weather! At 20 he has the odd technical flaw, but in all formats he is a great prospect. He averages 55.7 with the bat in FC competitions at a rampant 85.69 strike rate. He is also a fantastic keeper, fielder and all-round athlete.
All-rounders
Chris Morris:
Averaged 16.00 with the ball this season in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. Having played in the shorter forms of the game for the Proteas, a Test call-up is not unlikely, especially when Kallis retires. He averages 34.28 with the bat and 23.21 with the ball.
Keshav Maharaj, bowler with potential to be classified allrounder:
A young slow-left arm bowler who bats competently, Maharaj averaged 9 with the ball after only a few matches. His FC average is 23.34 with the bat and 27.31 with the ball. His economy rate after 17 T20s is 5.39. You may think it is odd that I include such an inexperienced spinner on the list? There are not many quality spinners in South Africa in general, especially under the age of 28. Simon Harmer, Aaron Phangiso may perhaps compete with Maharaj for the Test side one day, but I think South Africa will look for the triple lock of spinners who bat a bit and control the run rate. Simon Harmer’s season resulted in a disappointing average of 42.42 and Phangiso did not play any first class matches for the Lions this season and does not have batting ability!
Ayabulela Gqamane, bowler with potential to be classified allrounder:
Averaged 14.16 with the ball for the Warriors in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series after playing in most of the matches. Gqamane averages 20.13 with the bat and 17.91 with the ball, so only just makes onto the all-rounder list as he is young and his batting should hopefully improve. With a bowling strike rate of 31.38 (27 this season), this swing bowler is a phenomenal bowling prospect for the Proteas.
Bowlers:
Kyle Abbott:
Averaged 15.36 for the Dolphins in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. His form resulted in him being called up to replace the injured Philander for the Proteas final test against Pakistan, where he took 9 wickets on debut, including 7-29 in the first innings. After the performance, Cricketarchive re-classified him as a fast-medium bowler, pending adjustment to fast bowler, as he consistently bowls in the mid 140kph zone. He is listed as a medium in Icc 2012 – could this be corrected for the next version? His FC batting average is 19.19 and bowling average 20.74.
Beuran Hendricks:
Averaged 17.74 this season in the 2012-2013 Sunfoil Series. After net sessions with Donald, the left armer was described as a highly promising bowler, capable of swinging the ball at pace. He averages 6.69 with the bat and 20.78 with the ball in FC matches.
Hardus Viljoen (GC Viljoen):
Averaged 21.51 in this season’s Sunfoil Series. He played in T20s against New Zealand late in 2012. Viljoen bowls at an intimidating pace, and Cricketarchive have duly responded, re-classifying him as a fast not a fast-medium. His FC batting average is 16.3 and his bowling average is 26.3.
Calvin Savage:
Averaged 26.35 in this seasons’s Sunfoil Series. This young 20 year old also bowls at a terrific pace. He is certainly a decent prospect, especially as his action is so smooth, despite his height. He averages 18.88 with the bat and 26.35 with the ball in all FC competitions.
Lizaad Williams:
Averaged 21.42 in this season’s Sunfoil Series. His FC average is 8.28with the bat and 19.79 with the ball.
Marchant de Lange:
Missed the Sunfoil Series through injury, but in the T20 competition, his new, smoother action looks great and he generating more speed and bounce than previously!
In addition to these players, there are of course a number of fringe players over the age of 28 (Rudolph, Puttick, McKenzie, Birch, Tahir, Kleinveldt etc). Then there is also Parnell who has started to find form once again – who knows what will happen with him. What do you think about my list?
Comment