Ken Borland

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James asked:

Hi Ken, why did the Proteas” performance dip so dramatically in the 2nd and 3rd tests? Did they experiment too much, or is the lenghth of the tour taking its toll?

Ken answered:

Hi James
I presume you mean the 3rd & 4th ODIs?
I think there was some mental fatigue involved as well as perhaps some complacency after the big win in the 2nd game. We just didn’t bat well enough, and that was partly due to too much experimentation in the batting order too, I believe.

Peter asked:

Ken,the last ODI proves yet again(when under severe pressure) that we are not chokers and respond to pressure pretty well(Newlands test v Aussies)We are self destructors(the Qval and World Cup v NZ)when we become complacent and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when on top. Your thoughts please. .

Ken answered:

Hi Peter, I don’t think the World Cup defeat to New Zealand had anything to do with complacency, probably the opposite! We succumbed under pressure and expectation there. But yes, on other occasions we have self-destructed and there has been a hint of complacency. I just think some of the batsmen are so good that sometimes they fail to give their opposition enough respect.

zaheed asked:

Why is there no fixed batsman in the middle order,its keep changing

Ken answered:

Gary Kirsten has wanted to experiment, but I would be far happier if Kallis/Elgar and De Villiers are fixed at 3 and 4, then, depending on how many overs are left, 5,6 and 7 can shuffle.

Chris asked:

Hi,Ken
Waarom probeer boul Lonwabo nie oor die paaltjie in plas van linksom nie,as jy sien hoe skuins moet sy paaltjiewagter in sy aflewering gaan.Dit is om sy aflewerings af te wissel of hoe?

Ken answered:

Hi Chris
Vergewe my as ek in Engels skryf!
I think Lonwabo does go over the wicket a lot – he’s a left-hander remember so it will be the other side to Steyn etc.If he comes around the wicket, there’s the danger of him angling into the pads of the batsman. From over the wicket, he can bring the ball back into the right-hander as a surprise delivery.

 

graeme asked:

Hi Ken , Vernon Philander is #2 in test rankings , how come he is not selected for the ODI

Ken answered:

Hi Graeme
The feeling is that he’s a bit predictable for ODIs, needs to work more on slower balls and other variations. His great strength is putting the ball in the same place every time, which doesn’t work in modern-day limited-overs cricket.

robert tapiwa mandeya asked:

who is our #3 batsman when kallis is unavailable,,these guys have to serious & where is our petersen the gret open

Ken answered:

Well Dean Elgar was meant to be Kallis’s replacement, but I was disappointed to see him batting at 6 in one innings! I guess one could include Alviro Petersen either as an opener or in place of Graeme Smith. Hashim at 3 perhaps, but maybe 1,2 & 3 will all be too alike then?

Tshepo asked:

Hi Ken
Do you think AB made a mistake in a 3rd ODI when he chose to bat first because I think SA perform better when we field first.

Ken answered:

Hi Tshepo
No, if anything the pitch became slower & lower, with more turn. We just batted really badly after a good start!

Daniël asked:

Hi Ken

The ODI”s was a bit boring for me don”t know if is becaues of the high of the tests, don”t know if it is because of the 2 new balls, you”re thoughts? Secondly, Ricard Levi don”t we need him at the top in ODI”s just to get it going?

thank you!

Ken answered:

Hi Daniël
I think there was a bit of a hangover from the tests and yes, having two new balls in English conditions will keep the batsmen quieter.
I think Levi probably deserves a look opening the batting in ODIs.

Adrian asked:

Hi Ken do you think SA will still be a force to be reckon with after Kallis retires! And is AB is real solution to our keeper problems! It seems that the keeping is taking its toll on his batting! One fifty on this tour so far! To captain, to keep and to bat is a lot to do if you ask for consistency!

Ken answered:

Hi Adrian
What you say about AB is exactly what I’ve been saying for months! For potentially the best batsman in the world to score just one half-century the whole tour is very disappointing. AB should be a consistent match-winner with the bat for us, much like Amla.
There is no doubt Kallis will leave a massive hole when he retires. We’ve seen the difficulties in balancing the side in this series. But I believe we have the talent to still be a major force, it will just be tougher!

Mandlenkosi asked:

Who will captain the proteas in the T20 match against England

Ken answered:

AB de Villiers

KR asked:

GoodDay Ken,

Just one question…..

With all the experimentation going on in out one-day set-up.
Provided everyone is fit what would you say out best first 11 is in batting order please?

Ken answered:

Hello KR
I would go Smith (although maybe Levi should be looked at), Amla, Kallis, De Villiers, Du Plessis (deserves another chance), Duminy, A. Morkel, Peterson, Parnell or Tsotsobe depending on conditions, Steyn, M. Morkel

Barend asked:

Hi Ken.
Last year in the World cup SA also used a spinner to open the bowling,and just like the last England game it paid off. Is that because the pitches in the sub continent is similar to england”s? If not don”t you think SA should more gamble with that decision cause it seems the opening batsmen are strugling with the new ball spinning?

Ken answered:

Hi Barend
I think in their planning, nobody expected the pitches in England to be so uncharacteristically slow, low and turning. The decision to open with a spinner was a belated one, especially given England’s history against spin. It’s a good surprise tactic and we should keep using it from time-to-time.

mike asked:

Hi, Is it possible to get stumped of a free hit? if not can the keeper run you out of a free hit, in the fashion that prior got morkel out in the tests?

Ken answered:

Hi Mike
You can’t be stumped off a free hit, but you can be run out. Prior stumped Morkel because he wasn’t making any attempt at a run. That would be the key for a free hit as well, was the batsman attempting a run?

Tumelo asked:

Hi Ken

I think the team was not well balanced in the 1st 3 games played,with Parnell coming in at 7 and with the same type of pace bowlers in Parnell and Styne.My 2nd point is AB and Gary were a bit naive in the last odi by not sending AB in @3 i knw faf is not a finisher hence Dean and faf have to fight for that spot and Ontong, Farhaan and Albie for the no.7 spot

Ken answered:

Hi Tumelo
Yes, balance was an issue but more so the batting order. I agree, Parnell should not be as high as 7, but he and Steyn are very different bowlers, never mind the whole left-arm/right-arm thing!
I don’t mind AB not batting 3 if there’s a Kallis or Elgar there, but he must bat 4! He’s our best ODI batsman and needs to face enough overs. Elgar is not a finisher, he’s an accumulator, while Faf is less a finisher than a good guy to rotate the strike, take singles etc with the occasional boundary. For me, Albie is the obvious guy at 7, maybe Miller if we have enough bowling.

Philip asked:

Do you believe that Wayne Parnell is worthy of a place in the team?

Ken answered:

He’s certainly worth having in the squad. He’s been bowling better and obviously has potential as a batsman. Not sure if we can afford both him and Tsotsobe in the XI, but I wouldn’t discard either of them just yet.

kevin pillay asked:

Hi ken jest a bit worried wid the lack of a quality cover for kallis. We seam to have a lot of bawling allrounders but none of them can do the job kallis does at the top of the order. Is there someone in the domestic game that”s a batting allrounder n can play a similar (not same coz kallis is a legend) rowl to what he does. Coz I can”t see anyone putting the hand up an saying pick me I”m a top allrounder. Thanx ken

Ken answered:

Hi Kevin
Well we’re highly unlikely to ever find someone who can cover what Kallis does! But guys like Elgar, Duminy, Du Plessis can develop into genuine batting all-rounders. They’re probably the best available at the moment. As far as bowling all-rounders go, you’re looking at Albie Morkel, McLaren, Parnell. But everyone knew it would take two players to replace Kallis!

Abdullah asked:

Hi Ken,Dont you think Faf or Kallis should open the batting alongside Levi in the T20”s.Dont get me wrong Amla is world class but jus not in this Format

Ken answered:

Hi Abdullah
I think Hashim has proven conclusively that whenever someone says he can’t play a certain format he’ll prove them wrong! Plus he’s in such great form at the moment, it would be crazy not to use him. For me, Levi, Amla, Kallis is the way to go, although Kallis will have to be more explosive if we don’t lose early wickets, or drop down the order.

Victor asked:

Hi Ken, deducting from the 3rd and 4th ODI performance of our former skipper Gream Smith, don”t you think is the time he steps down because he”s costing us. Most successful teams win matches because of their good start and Smith in two matches he didn”t even make 50 runs. So I personally think is time Alviro comes back to the ODI setup as a opener to partner with Amla maybe going forward we can be a threat to many teams. What”s your say on this matter?

Ken answered:

Hi Victor
I think in difficult conditions, Graeme didn’t do too badly. He scored 52 in the 2nd ODI, and in 3 of the 4 completed games the opening partnership was more than 50 in good time. I think Alviro is too similar to Amla and if the selectors wanted to look at another option, perhaps Levi should have a go?

Gino Ruiters asked:

The series clearly showed that we need a big hitting all rounder at number 7. Albie”s the obvious choice, but who can really make that role their own keeping the 2015 world cup in mind?

Ken answered:

Albie is the obvious choice but is now adding frustrating injuries to a certain lack of consistency! The other option is a specialist batsman like David Miller, with Duminy and Du Plessis having to bowl more overs …

Jason asked:

Don”t you feel like our ODI middle order needs to be strengthed?

I feel like Faf Du Plessis has had more than enough chances and he hasn”t made a big impact in the batting department. I know his fielding is incredible.

I would definately play Jacques Rudolph in the ODI team and recall Dave Miller and give him a proper shot. I would also give Justin Ontong a proper go as he is such an improved cricketer compared to a few years ago.

Lastly Wayne Parnell is not an allrounder.He is a bowler who can bat a little bit…

What are your thoughts?

Ken answered:

You’ve mentioned bringing in Rudolph, Miller and Ontong, so who are the three players to drop out? Du Plessis, Duminy and ?
Faf has failed in his last 3 innings, but it’s the first time he’s failed for any length of time!
I don’t think Jacques Rudolph is suited to the middle-order, he’s an opening batsman in limited-overs cricket.
Parnell can become a bowling all-rounder, he has potential with the bat.

Lwazi Matiwane asked:

Why cant we try Justin Ontong on no.3 because Elgar has failed twice now.Your take

Ken answered:

Elgar only failed in his last innings. I don’t think Ontong’s really a number three, see him more as the busy player rotating the strike in the middle to late overs, probably at 5.

Werner asked:

Hi ken

Watching the tour off england is very exciting and i thing we are doing very well in England.Just one question.

Who is our finisher in the lower order when albi morkel are not playing

Ken answered:

Hi Werner
I would suggest Duminy is the man for the job, but why was he batting number three then?! But we certainly missed Albie …

phillip.bergh asked:

Am i correct in assuming that big V Philander is on a hat trick in the next test.

Ken answered:

Ha ha, yes he took 2 wickets in 2 balls to end the Lord’s test, but it won’t count as a hat-trick if he gets another wicket first ball of his next test.

Peter asked:

Ken thanks for your reply.World Cup vs NZ at 100 odd for 3 needing 4 an over,Kallis threw his wicket away and AB was needlessly run out. Only then came the severe pressure.

Ken answered:

Well I think AB’s wicket was down to pressure but yes, Kallis was out of the blue!

Ronald asked:

Hi Ken, we all know the middle order struggled this ODI series. All the relative “new” players that came in,I believe are guys with extreme talent…I would like to see them (same players)get at least another chance in the next ODI series and see what they can do then after their first experience for the Proteas. What is your feeling around choosing the same (relative) squad for next ODI series based on the outcome of the ENG ODI?

Ken answered:

Hi Ronald
Yes, I mostly agree with you. Kallis should come back, so not sure whether Elgar stays in the squad then or not. Graeme Smith might become an issue, in which case you might want to look at Levi.Plus hopefully Albie Morkel will be fit, otherwise someone like Miller might need to be called up.

Roberto asked:

Hi Ken
I just want to comment on the AB keeper issue. You said that he shouldn”t keep because that”s the reason (or could be) he didn”t perform in this series. I”m not sure about that, since he didn”t bat well every time we batted first (wich means he didn”t keep yet), and when we batted second he made a good score. I fully agree that he shouldn”t keep in tests, but ODI”s and T20”s I”m not too sure. Your thoughts on that?

Ken answered:

Hi Roberto, yeah I don’t think the issue of him keeping in limited-overs games is cut and dried yet. I see the value of him doing it, and maybe his quiet series had more to do with him not being settled at 4 where he should be! Your point about making runs batting second does have merit.

Johann asked:

Happy with performance yet not with that of Faf.

Why did they persist with him being totally out of form.

Ken answered:

They persisted with him because he has only failed in his last 3 innings! Before that he was doing a great job, and his bowling and fielding make him a very valuable limited-overs player.

Bongani M asked:

Well done to proteas for the fight back, still believe the balance of 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers is correct combination for Champions Trophy 2013 and WC in 2015 especilly with luck of having ABDV give us in wicketkeeper-batsman.

I”m worried with depht in our batting and combinations I tend to think we should standard batting order and everybody know his position and role clarity so that a player can be hold responsible for poor perfomance.
Too dependent on Amla too much when he does not score no-one seems to take responsibility what are your thoughts.

Bowling is perfoming well AD is doing good work.

Ken answered:

Yes Bongani, I would also like to see a settled batting order. I know Gary wants the batsmen to learn about playing different situations, but that will happen naturally because one day you’re 220-3 the next you’re 20-3! The players have obvious strengths and it’s not going to work trying to turn Elgar into a David Miller or JP Duminy into a Hashim Amla!

Thabo asked:

Hi Ken id love to know that everytime South Africa played in the ODI,have changed their bating order a number of times,is this to prepare for the 20-20 world cup of is this going to be an on going thing.THANKS

Ken answered:

Hi Thabo
It was to give the batsmen experience of playing in different situations, but I think this happens naturally in the game anyway. It was unsettling so hopefully we will settle on a batting order now.

yaseen asked:

I”m happy with the effort of our team but I think our batting in the middle order lacks experiance if we could make one change I believe we will be a better team that is dropping smith and putting kallis there in the opening spot an then we could add a batter like ontong at seven

Ken answered:

I don’t think Ontong at 7 is the answer. We need a more explosive hitter there, like an Albie Morkel or David Miller.
50 overs is a long time and, as Jonathan Trott showed for England, having a solid number 3 who can lay a platform is important. Kallis is one of the best!

Christian asked:

Hi Ken,

My question is a bit deviant from the topic at hand. What do you think needs to be done to promote cricket as a global sport? How do we expand it? Isn”t it counter productive if a future tours programme has already been arranged for the next 5-10 years? How are the “associate nations” supposed to develop if they cant get adequate chances to play against the “full members?” I know the Woolf report addressed this, but it looks like it has quietly been thrown in the trash can. What are your thoughts?

Ken answered:

Hi Christian
The FTP does obstruct a lot of progress in cricket, but it was also essential to ensure the lesser nations – New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe – get cricket against the top 4. There is a pathway of tournaments for the associate nations to progress, but only at ODI level. Ireland want test status and it will be interesting to see how that goes …

Siyabonga asked:

We had a good ODI series didn`t we? I mean despite that we had a chance to top all three formats of the game in terms of ranking.

My question is, our bowlers are picked in terms of their perfomance/form. Shouldn`t they do the same to batsmen. I feel like as much as we need batsmen who can get runs on the board, we also need people who can score runs regularly beside Amla, deVilliers and Smith??

Ken answered:

I actually think the ODI series was disappointing because, apart from the second and last games, we really didn’t bat well.
Batting has a lot to do with confidence and before we start dropping people, perhaps we should settle on their positions in the batting order first.

Sechaba asked:

Hey Ken….with the T20 World Cup in a short do u think this T20 series will be enough preparation?

Ken answered:

Hi Sechaba
It’s preparation value will be limited because conditions in England should be very different to Sri Lanka! I guess they can get some team spirit and momentum going, build confidence, but most of the prep will have to be done in Sri Lanka.

ashley asked:

Hi ken, what is your take on the absense of albie in this series as I felt #7 was one postion to high for parnell.the form of faf du plessis, do u think he will be under pressure to hold his spot going forward, as I am a huge fan. Thanks

Ken answered:

Hi Ashley
I think we missed Albie badly because his finishing power was lacking. 7 is definitely too high for Parnell at the moment.
Faf had a bad run in this series, but has done very well in his other 23 ODIs. I guess he will be under some pressure, but he deserves another chance, not least of all because of the great package he provides with his fielding and bowling too.

Bart asked:

Is Greame Smith rested for the T20s? Why is it so difficult to beat England in their own conditions? When they tour SA we usually beat them handsomely!

Ken answered:

Graeme is not in the T20 squad, either for England or the World T20.
The England team have obviously grown up in their conditions, they hone their techniques in county cricket and it is very different to playing in the sub-continent or even in South Africa/Australia. Swing and seam bowling plays a much larger role. So they will obviously be much harder to beat at home, like all teams.

Johan Kleynhans asked:

Hi Ken, looking at the current squad and the way they performed in England, witch I think was a huge succes, do you think this squad has the ability to break the hoodoo of doing well in an ICC event and then loosing it when it matters? We realy need a title and I hope the T20 WC is the one.

Ken answered:

Hi Johan
I think this year might be a little early for this team, it’s still getting settled. But you never know, we have world-class match-winners and maybe not having the expectation will do the trick!

Andy asked:

Hi Ken
We seem to persist with Parnell despite his inconsistency. Surely we must give Philander an opportunity in limited over cricket before he seeks the big money elsewhere.

Ken answered:

Hi Andy
I seriously doubt that Philander is going anywhere! He’s such an integral part of our test line-up. Philander needs more variety, slower balls etc to do well in limited-overs internationals.
Parnell has been inconsistent, but I thought his bowling has improved and he bowled well through the series.

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120907/Post_ODIseries_QA_with_Ken

 

The Springboks opened their Rugby Championship campaign with two lacklustre attacking showings, but now their defensive prowess will be under the spotlight when they take on Australia in Perth on Saturday.

Even though the Wallabies failed to open their account in their last outing, losing 22-0 to New Zealand, they are a side known for their brilliant backline play and they have regularly carved up the Springboks en route to a record-equalling four successive wins over the South Africans.

This is one game where the Springboks’ preoccupation with the gain-line battle could be a good thing.

The Wallabies rely on quick, front-foot ball and the disorganised defences that come with it but, as the All Blacks showed, the skills of their backs are nullified when they’re going backwards.

The Springboks will start the undermining of the Australian platform in the set-pieces.

While both sides have in-form scrums, with Australia boasting one of the best looseheads in world rugby in Benn Robinson as well as the experienced Ben Alexander at tighthead, a strong Springbok lineout, boosted by the presence of Duane Vermeulen at the back, will hopefully work in concert with a much-improved tactical kicking game to ensure the Wallabies have to try all their fancy stuff from inside their own territory. Australia’s kickers – Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Will Genia and Kurtley Beale – cannot match the distance Morne and Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and Zane Kirchner are capable of getting.

In fact, they often prefer the little grubber through under pressure and it’s a pity Pat Lambie won’t be at fullback to counter-attack off such opportunities.

Vermeulen, his previous international hopes ravaged by injury, makes his long-awaited Test debut on Saturday and the Western Province man is a frightening prospect at boiling point. He will have to spearhead a much more physical display from the pack if South Africa are to have any hope of claiming the inaugural Rugby Championship trophy.

But it’s all very well being physical; however, the ball-carriers have to be smart as well. Too much hard-earned front-foot ball was wasted against Argentina because the carrier just blindly ran into a gang-tackle, was put on the ground and then robbed of the ball.

While the Cape’s demand to throw every ball to the wings can only lead to trouble at international level, the offload seems to be a forgotten skill amongst the Springboks. It stands to reason that if three people are trying to gang-tackle the ball-carrier, there must be two gaps somewhere – and that’s where the ball should go, post-haste!

A titanic clash between two of the most exciting scrumhalves in Francois Hougaard and Genia has been dashed by Hougaard’s move to the wing, but hopefully the 24-year-old will still get the chance to go flying down the left.
Genia is the Wallabies’ attacking general and it will be a disaster for the Springboks if they give him and elusive flyhalf Cooper space to attack with front-foot ball.

Cooper is barely a factor with slow ball but South Africa also has to be vigilant that its team does not supply potent counter-attackers such as Beale, Digby Ioane, Dominic Shipperley and Adam Ashley-Cooper with poorly-directed or badly chased kicks.

Australia also has to cope with a raft of injuries. Captains have had a particularly bad run with both lock James Horwill and loose forward David Pocock ruled out.

Nathan Sharpe, playing his 108th Test, brings a wealth of experience and plenty of grunt to the second row, while Pocock’s replacement, Michael Hooper, is a top-class prospect and also a major factor at the breakdown.
Other key players out injured are late withdrawal Stephen Moore, James O’Connor, Pat McCabe and Wycliff Palu.

It all just increases the pressure on the Wallabies, who will be expected to win at home, and let’s not forget that there has been even more of a song and dance about their coach, Robbie Deans, than the discontent Heyneke Meyer has had to face.

Winning in Australia may be too much to expect from this new-look Springbok team – South Africa has only won four Tests since 1993 Down Under (three of them in Perth though) – but fans will hope to see a much more clinical performance from the side, as well as much better use of its own ball.And, vitally, stopping Australia from playing (much like Argentina did to them in Mendoza) will increase that pressure and might lead to crucial mistakes from the hosts.

http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-09-07-rugby-championship-time-to-bok-up

By their own admission, Cricket South Africa’s newest sponsors, Blue Label Telecoms, “have not really been out there” in the world of sport, which is surprising given that they are clearly passionate about it and have one of the most amazing collections of memorabilia you could hope to see.

The Blue Label head office in Sandton boasts a spectacular collection of cricket, motor racing, rugby, boxing, golf, tennis and cycling memorabilia that is a prominent feature of their first two floors.

CSA announced Blue Label as the new national team sponsors for T20 cricket from Saturday’s opening match against England through to the end of the Pakistan series in March in Sandton on Thursday.

“It’s a big step for Blue Label because we haven’t really been out there that much, although we’ve been behind South African sport for a long time,” CEO and co-founder Brett Levy said. “We have no doubt that we will complement the South African cricket brand.”

While the initial sponsorship is just a short-term deal, there is no doubt there is an outstanding fit between Blue Label – the leading provider of prepaid tokens and transactions in cellular communications, electricity, water and bus tickets, in developing economies such as South Africa, India, Mexcio and Nigeria – and twenty20 cricket and a longer term involvement in the sport is likely to be announced soon.

“The deal is short-term for now, but Blue Label have the first right of renewal and I’m sure the relationship will last longer than just until the end of the Pakistan series. If it’s a good fit, maybe they can take the whole space and move into domestic T20 as well,” CSA acting chief executive Jacques Faul said.

Blue Label themselves are in no doubt that they have much more to offer South African cricket.

“We view this as a long-term partnership, not a sponsorship, for many years to come. It’s easy just to give money, but it’s difficult to build a business together. But we are a company that’s about relationships, we touch about 21 million people’s lives every month, and we share a passion for people with Cricket South Africa. They say you are known by the company you keep and we are absolutely delighted to be with CSA,” Blue Label chief technical officer David Fraser said.

“In the next six months, we want to put together a long-term relationship once we make sure it works for both parties. It’s endless what we can do together and I can see this running indefinitely into the future,” Levy added.

Blue Label are big in India through their subsidiary company Oxigen and, with the South African cricket team also being very popular in the world’s second most populous country, the partnership could bloom explosive success.

With their larney near-field communications solutions technology, Blue Label are also hoping to “create a unique customer engagement model” with CSA’s “wonderful fan base”, according to Fraser.

Unfortunately for them, the ICC World T20 is not part of the deal because the game’s governing body disallowed their involvement due to a supposed clash with cellphone giants Reliance Mobile, who Blue Label supply airtime services to in India. But the proudly South African company should soon start getting substantial exposure in the global village with their logo prominently displayed on the Proteas’ T20 shirts in all other matches.

Faul agreed that the deal was yet another vote of confidence in CSA and their steps in the right direction after the Gerald Majola bonus scandal.

“It’s a very positive sign that corporate South Africa are looking more favourably at us. We want to move on and it’s great to have fantastic brands behind us that are so big in Africa and worldwide,” Faul said.

“The past is behind us and we’re starting fresh. This is a big endorsement of Cricket South Africa,” Levy agreed.

The deal is believed to be worth in the region of 12-15 million rand, although this value could double in coming years as Blue Label assist CSA in engaging more profitably with their fans.

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120906/New_sponsor_for_Proteas_T20_squad