Selection boss Zondi upbeat as side transitions well
WHEN Linda Zondi was appointed national selection convener in June 2015, there was almost greater scrutiny on the individual than on the teams he would help select.
And when South Africa suffered arguably their worst 12 months in international cricket since re-admission in Zondi’s first season in charge, the knives that were already out from the start were hauled out for sharpening.
The fact that key bowlers – integral to any Test side – were on the rehab tables and not out on the park during that period was largely overlooked. Often even ignored.
It was much the same with evaluating Zondi’s ability. Although not possessing the reputation of a Test player like his predecessor and fellow KwaZulu-Natalian Andrew Hudson, Zondi had served a solid apprenticeship on the Dolphins selection panel, chaired the SA U-19 World Cup-winning selection panel, and been a previous member of the national unit before being elevated to the head of the table.
Along with the return of most notably Vernon Philander from injury which has helped transform the Proteas’ fortunes in the Test arena, Zondi’s experience has certainly helped identify players to continue taking South African cricket forward.
“I am very happy with the progress of the Proteas. This was a team in transition not so long ago and plenty of work has been done by all to cover our bases,” Zondi said yesterday.
“We indentified areas and have made significant strides in those departments, namely the competition and variety we have in our spin department, while there is also growth in the number of bowling all-rounders we have now.
“Faf (du Plessis) also needs to be applauded for his leadership. Selection is a tricky business. We’re not always going to get it right 100%, but the processes are in place to be consistent.”
The past season has certainly not been without its challenges. Without taking into account the regular problems like injuries and loss of form that selectors have to contend with, Zondi and his panel were also deprived of valuable resources when a host of current and recent Proteas like Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw, Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas all signed Kolpak contracts midway through the season.
The ineligibility of Abbott and Rossouw would have caused a shake-up in the thought processes for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in England, but Zondi believes the recent One-Day Cup illustrated the depth of South Africa’s talent pool.
“Our Champions Trophy squad is quite settled. The team is ranked No 1 in the world in ODIs. There is plenty of experience in the one-day team. Under sometimes trying circumstances there has often been someone putting up their hand,” Zondi said.
“It’s always great to have good blend of youth and experience. The way guys, especially young players, have performed in the Momentum One-Day Cup gives up options. You look at a guy like (Aiden) Markram and the way he’s batting at the moment. There is plenty of talent in South Africa.”
Although the 2016/17 season is done, Zondi knows his job is far from over. The Proteas Test side is heavily concerned with the form of experienced batsmen like Stephen Cook and JP Duminy and many are wondering if they’ve reached their expiry date.
“The door isn’t closed on Stephen Cook at all. Absolutely not,” Zondi said. “The decision to use Theunis was also only a once-off (in the final Test against New Zealand). Theunis was the reserve batsman on tour and was given the opportunity but it’s not a long-term plan.
“Absolutely. It’s definitely a concern,” Zondi said of Duminy’s lack of form. “JP has a lot of experience and is one of our senior players. You can’t just go buy that. The England tour is a big tour and we don’t want to be going into the Test series with a lot of debutants and a lack of experience.” WAS that the start of the IPL I heard on my television yesterday? Dear lord, six weeks of Ravi Shastri and Danny Morrison screaming on their mics because someone hit a six.
The bombastic TV commentators aside, the IPL is what every cricket board dreams about. It’s a dream the Australian board and the West Indies board were actually able to implement successfully.
It’s a similar dream that Cricket South Africa and the England Cricket Board are hoping to make real – in the case of CSA at the end of this year and in England in 2020.
Cricket SA is in the midst of its preparation for what is for now being called the “Global T20 League”. The event will get a proper name in due course, no doubt with some big company’s title attached – at least that’s what CSA will hope.
Over 150 applications have come in to own a franchise – some heavy hitters from this country – and a large number from India. A shortlist of potential bidders will be drawn up next month and interviews conducted towards the end of May with shortlisted candidates.
Cricket SA will unveil the new team owners, the eight teams together with a group of eight “icon” players – who will be distributed to each of the new teams – at a special event in London. The tournament runs from the first week of November until December 16. In addition – an element that has yet to be made public – is whether the competition will be broadcast on “free to air TV” – in this country on either the SABC or e-tv. A significant part of what has made the IPL and Big Bash League so successful is the fact that matches are freely available on TV. That is not the case with domestic cricket in this country, and it’s critical that CSA resolve to have a portion of the tournament – at least 50% – shown live, for free.
This T20 event is a major play for Cricket SA who’ve been left behind since being among the pioneers of the T20 format back in the mid-2000s.
The franchise T20 model around city-based teams has proved a lucrative source of income in Australia and India and in a narrowing market – not to mention with the challenges that South Africa’s rocky economy keeps throwing up – it’s critical that the new tournament works.
There are massive marketing challenges – South African cricket supporters already battle with knowing where the Warriors and the Knights come from – and the fact the new tournament will make it the fourth T20 competition that will be played in South Africa.
It’s thus vital Cricket South Africa smooth out those processes.
The event certainly has the potential to become the jewel in the crown as far as domestic cricket is concerned, but there’s also a chance it could be an embarrassing nonevent, if South African supporters – already stretched thin – don’t take to it.