JP, Aiden selection headache simmers
Selectors will have to choose between different strategies
● As with any World Cup year, selection headaches rage for those who have to make tough decisions. One of those that’s cropped up unexpectedly during the ongoing Momentum 1-Day Cup is the Aiden Markram versus Jean-Paul Duminy debate.
Both are skilled batsmen who bring different batting expertise to the plate but at this juncture, it’s the weight of runs that counts the most.
Duminy, who made a 64-ball 62 for the Cape Cobras against the Highveld Lions on Thursday, has been sidelined by a shoulder injury that’s seen the likes of Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks ask unavoidable selection questions.
Markram’s ODI stock has expectedly fallen because of these two Highveld Lions players but the Test opener restated his limited overs credentials with contrasting but match-winning tons for the Titans against the Cape Cobras and the Warriors.
Former Dolphins and Proteas all-rounder Jon Kent said he was happy to have them both in the squad and in the playing 11 as the ongoing domestic competition will allow them to achieve vital form.
Turning 35 next month, this could be Duminy’s international swan song while Markram (24) has the future ahead of him.
“I’m happy to have JP and Aiden in the team because there’s still a number of Momentum 1-Day Cup games to be played. His form will come and he’ll come right. He did score a 50 on Thursday. With Aiden, he’s a top player in our system and it’s not like a gamble is being taken with him. He’s producing and he’ll do well when given the chance,” Kent said.
“There are some big calls that’ll have to be made as there are some players who are in the wilderness and have been told they’re not in the plans, but being a selector is a tricky job.”
Former Eastern Province and SA off-spinner Shafiek Abrahams, who also was once a national selector, said both players should be in the squad.
“It would be easy to leave Aiden out because of his summer form but the wickets weren’t good and his confidence was sapped. The same would apply for the likes of Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla. Markram should be good enough to be in the squad at best but JP is a must,” Abrahams said.
“My fear is that the selectors have gone for Markram for so long in the ODI side — how do they phase him back into the team? He’s scored runs now and he’ll probably get more. That’s a call they’re going to have to make.”
While the former internationals are clearly not in doubt as regards the calibre and capacity of the Titans tyro and the Cape Cobras veteran, the composition of the match-day 11s has left them fairly perplexed.
SA haven’t got past third gear against Sri Lanka but their all-rounder-packed middleorder faltered at SuperSport Park on Wednesday despite the handsome win.
The series moves to the slower coastal surfaces starting with today’s third ODI at Kingsmead.
Kent and Abrahams were in agreement that the all-rounder conundrum is coming at the cost of specialist batsmen. There were five in the second ODI.
“We haven’t settled on a team yet, which is why we find ourselves in this predicament. They also haven’t settled on an all-rounder with Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius and Chris Morris all seeing service. So maybe some all-rounders will have to be sacrificed with the focus being on specialist batsmen and bowlers,” Abrahams said.
Kent’s concern was testing inexperienced youngsters in a World Cup cauldron where he felt Duminy’s International Cricket Council tournament experience would come in handy even though finger spinners have been less effective in recent years. Duminy
took a World Cup hat-trick against Sri Lanka in one of the 2015 quarterfinals.
"It’s tough for guys like Wiaan Mulder because even though he’s talented, the World Cup isn’t a stage to learn your trade. I’d prefer someone who’s bashing the door down at domestic level. It’s better to pick someone along those lines rather. Mulder’s a good player and he’ll get his chance.
There are some big calls that’ll have to be made...
Jon Kent
Former Dolphins and Proteas all rounder