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Ken Borland

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Mission accomplished & a positive tour 0

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Ken

“Mission Accomplished” and “a pretty positive tour”. These were the words of coach Gary Kirsten and captain Graeme Smith as the South African team arrived back from New Zealand on Wednesday.

“I’m very happy with the whole tour, it was mission accomplished. We knew it would be a tough challenge, New Zealand’s not an easy place to tour and they were in-form. We made a slow start in the first T20 but then hit our straps and the quality of our cricket was of a high standard,” Kirsten said.

Having wrestled the Black Caps to the mat, Smith said his team were confident they could beat both England and Australia on their home turf later this year.

“It was a pretty positive tour for us, we played a lot of cricket on the front foot. The players were able to grow relationships and styles and how they fit into the environment and the work ethic. They were all able to find their place in the squad and Gary and his management team offered us everything possible for success.

“I definitely think we can beat both England and Australia away. We have a lot of the same players who did it in 2008/9, but we have an extra edge now in terms of the way we think about the way we play and train, plus there’s the addition of players like Vernon Philander, Marchant de Lange and Lopsy Tsotsobe.

“But we know those two teams play very well at home and you’ve got to handle the pressure of big crowds and the media being against you. England will have played a lot of competitive cricket by the time we get there and it’s a tough place to win. So it’s a very big tour for us, but we’ve crossed that hurdle before and we know we can do it,” Smith said.

South Africa were dominant in the test series but bad weather and a disputed TV referral of a catch restricted them to just a 1-0 series win. The turning down of Alviro Petersen’s effort early on in Kane Williamson’s match-saving century on the final day of the third test was the last in a series of debatable decisions based on technology, but Smith said the controversies have not sown seeds of doubt in the players’ minds over the use of the Decision Review System (DRS).

“I did read a report that there were issues with the set-up of the cameras, which obviously isn’t ideal, and there has been a lot of skepticism about the last bit of the ball-tracking. But DRS has become an integral part of the game, it’s great for the fans and I can’t imagine playing without it.

“It was designed to take away the shocking decision and it’s done that. I’d like to see it play a prominent part in international cricket,” Smith said.

Apart from captaining the team with aplomb, Smith also brought tremendous value as an opening batsman in tricky conditions, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the series with 282 runs in three tests.

“After the Kimberley ODI against Sri Lanka when I scored a seventy and then moving on to my century at the Wanderers, I worked hard on my game before the tour. Then Morne Morkel cleaned me up in the first practice, which set me back a bit. But it was great to carry that form through the tests.

“I’m starting to feel that my game is back to normal now, I’m feeling more in control of my game,” Smith said.

For Kirsten, it is now time to look forward to the England tour starting on July 9.

“I am looking forward to the tour to the United Kingdom, that’s our next big one. We have lofty standards as a team and we made great progress in New Zealand. The tour taught us about our strengths and capabilities.

“The bowling unit was outstanding, they bowled with real intensity and proved that we have a world-class attack. And the batting got better through the tour as well.

“We now have some time off, but we’ll need to spend a fair amount of time planning and strategising for England. Graeme and I live in the same city, so we’ll be doing a lot of that in the coming weeks,” Kirsten said.

 

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120328/Mission_accomplished_and_a_positive_tour

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Smith comfortable with DRS 0

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Ken

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said on Wednesday that he was comfortable with television referrals and the umpire decision review system (DRS) playing a larger role in international cricket, despite recent criticism of the technology.

South Africa’s recent series in New Zealand was marred by criticism of the DRS, with the ball-tracking, hot-spot and Snicko components coming up with results that were seemingly at odds with what was seen live.

England, meanwhile, have been struggling to adapt to the system in tests against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, their crease-bound batsmen falling to record numbers of leg-before-wicket decisions via DRS.

“I did read a report that there were issues with the set-up of the cameras, which obviously isn’t ideal, and there has been a lot of skepticism about the last bit of the ball-tracking. But DRS has become an integral part of the game, it’s great for the fans and I can’t imagine playing without it,” Smith told a news conference at Johannesburg International Airport on Wednesday.

“It was designed to take away the shocking decision and it’s done that. I’d like to see it play a prominent part in international cricket,” Smith added.

South Africa won both the T20 and one-day international portions of their tour to New Zealand, before dominating the test series but being restricted to a 1-0 win due to bad weather. Smith said the results made him confident that his team could beat both England and Australia on their home turf later this year.

“I definitely think we can beat both England and Australia away. We have a lot of the same players who did it in 2008/9, but we have an extra edge now in terms of the way we think about the way we play and train, plus there’s the addition of players like Vernon Philander, Marchant de Lange and Lopsy Tsotsobe.

“But we know those two teams play very well at home and you’ve got to handle the pressure of big crowds and the media being against you. England will have played a lot of competitive cricket by the time we get there and it’s a tough place to win. So it’s a very big tour for us, but we’ve crossed that hurdle before and we know we can do it,” Smith said.

The burly left-hander led South Africa to a 2-1 series win in England in 2008 before they won the first two tests of their three-match series in Australia later that year.

Smith said that, while on tour for six weeks in New Zealand, the team had grown more accustomed to the leadership of former India coach Gary Kirsten, who took over as coach of his own country’s national team last June.

“The players were able to grow relationships and styles and how they fit into the environment and the work ethic. They were all able to find their place in the squad and Gary and his management team offered us everything possible for success,” Smith said.

It was a sentiment shared by Kirsten.

“It’s more important what the players learnt from me. It was nice to be on tour, a long way from home, and to connect well as a team. We have lofty standards as a team and I thought we made great progress. The tour taught us about our strengths and capabilities,” Kirsten said.

The former opening batsman singled out the bowling attack, which struck fear into the hearts of the Kiwis: ” I thought the bowling unit was outstanding, they bowled with real intensity and proved that they are a world-class attack. And the batting got better through the tour as well ,” Kirsten said.

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SA Olympic hopes boosted 0

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Ken

South Africa’s Olympic Games prospects were boosted on Friday as the Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) received over R80 million [9 million euro] from government and the National Lotteries Board (NLB) for preparations for London 2012.

Sascoc has previously complained that it has lived on scraps, leading to a decline in South Africa’s Olympic performance. Having won six medals in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, South Africa managed just a single medal – Khotso Mokoena’s long jump silver – in Beijing four years later.

Sports minister Fikile Mbalula handed over a cheque for R34 240 000 [3 980 000 euro] to Sascoc from the Department of Sports and Recreation at a breakfast function in Johannesburg on Friday, as a token of government’s support for the Olympic athletes.

“We are here today to offer our unwavering support to all our athletes who have qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games. We do this to show our undivided support for the operational excellence of our athletes who are busy preparing for the London Games. This amount is an attempt to boost the morale and readiness of our team,” Mbalula told an audience of Sascoc executives, heads of federations, athletes and media.

Mbalula also used the occasion as an opportunity to invite corporate South Africa to support the Olympic effort.

“We believe that government cannot do this alone. We need all South Africans, especially our private sector, to come on board and contribute towards the success of our team in the Olympic Games. We hope the investment we make today will encourage the private sector to do likewise,” he said.

NLB chairman Alfred Nevhutanda said that, as an entity of the state, the lottery would support Mbalula’s initiative to ensure a winning Olympic team and donate R47.5 million [5.5 million euro] to Sascoc.

This is a steep increase from the NLB’s previous allocations of R14 million [1.6 million euro] in 2009/10 and R17 million [1.97 million euro] in 2010/11.

“We are humbled by this support  that will help achieve our athletes’ dreams of being Olympians. Minister Mbalula has been fully behind Sascoc and our Olympic effort since he came into office. I trust we will deliver and I’m confident that we can bring home 12 medals,” Sascoc first vice-president Hajera Kajee said.

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Category Sascoc, Sport

New Zealand v South Africa Tests – SuperCricket Q&A 4

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Ken

Matthew Gardner asked:

Hi KenDale Steyn has not been at his best for quite a few games now. What do you think the problem is? Do you think it”s just a rhythm issue? Personally, I think he is not being used properly. I think he is a bowler who thrives on bowling lots of overs, and although he is a 145-150 kph bowler, he needs to bowl long (5 overs min.) spells to get into rhythm. These 4 over spells in tests and 2 or 3 overs in ODIs aren”t doing much for his rhythm in my opinion.What do you think needs to be done to get him back to his very best?

Thanks

Matthew

Ken answered:
Hi Matthew
Well first of all he needs to sort out that awful toe of his! That has got to be inhibiting him and/or affecting his rhythm.
But I tend to agree with you about him bowling lots of overs – which, if he’s not doing for the national team, he must then do domestically.
There is an increasing upswelling of opinion against the modern trend of physios & fitness trainers saying bowlers must rest. The bowlers of the past bowled more overs and will tell you the only way to get bowling-fit is by bowling!
Ivan asked:

Hi Ken.Just two things today.Firstly, I hear the NZ commentators keep talking about how Guptil struggles when he is fielding at slip, why do you think McCullum doesent field there he should find it easier being a keeper?

And secondly, why is it that there is such a major difference between Graeme Smith”s ODI form and Test form, I hear everyone say that he is just a Test player, but he has prefomed in ODI”s in the past?

Ken answered:
Hi Ivan
Yeah, the Kiwi commentators were rabbiting on about Guptill at slip … and then he took a blinder to get rid of Amla! I’m not sure why McCullum doesn’t field slip, perhaps he wants a break from being behind the stumps? But they’re both great outfielders.
Graeme has performed in the very recent ODI past! His last three innings have been 68, 125 & 9. I guess in Test cricket he has more time to get in and can afford some lack in fluency. Maybe he’s been forcing it a bit in ODIs?
Werner Schipper asked:
I still wish we could get JP Duminy into the starting line-up – and I know I”m not the only one.Do you see a space for him in a mature unit such as this, and if so, where? He adds so much balance to any side, as a great middle order run accumulator, probably one of the top 20 fielders in the world and a more than decent spinner.
It would be crazy not to give him a chance again.The dream for me would be to see Kallis opening, with an in-form Smith, then Amla, AB, Rudolph, Duminy.
Ken answered:
Test cricket is about specialists, not bits-and-pieces cricketers. It makes no sense to shuffle the batting order, making your prime batsman open, in order to accommodate someone because he can bowl a bit of off-spin! Duminy will just have to wait next in line for the number six spot behind Rudolph, and I’m sure he will still have a very successful Test career. As disappointing as Alviro Petersen was in Dunedin, he did make a century in his previous test!
GREG WYLDE asked:
With it looking like a green track, could SA go into the 2nd test with four seamers, and no spinner?
Ken answered:
I really doubt that it will be a green track! It was green two days beforee the test, but that’s normal: the groundsman will cut a lot of that grass off before the test, and the rest will brown off. So no change to the bowling attack … and don’t forget that Kallis is a fourth seamer anyway!
Dale asked:
Hi Ken,Firstly i have to say that i am proud of the boys and the way they played in the first test and they didnt stumble as one of the Supersport headlings suggested.

My question to you is everyone is going on about how Philander is going to struggle now that he is on flatter wickets, he runs out and gets 4 wickets in the first innings, why is it that the
SA media always need to over speculate things and always try and bring down or nit pick at a player when he is doing well instead of trying to predict the day he will fail?
Ken answered:
Hi Dale
They did play well in the first test, although their first-innings batting was definitely a stumble!
I think the media has only been supportive of Philander … although it would be remiss not to throw in a word of caution about players. The SA public has the tendency to over-hype somebody based on one or two performances & Philander’s first few tests were on very helpful pitches. Thankfully he has the skill to do well in flatter conditions as well!

 

Tak asked:
Hello Ken

AB has failed to score in the first test. The 2nd test is going to start tomorrow, right! Well don”t you think, he must bat at number 4 for test, Odi and t20? He should always take that position.

Thank you.
Ken answered:
Hi Tak
I don’t think the batting order had anything to do with AB’s quiet test. He was out to a good ball first up & scored 29 in the second innings. If he bats at four in tests, where do Kallis & Amla go?

 

Jonathan Naidoo asked:
I think it fair to say that Graham Smith is ”hated” as much as he is loved by SA cricket fans ( at least the ones that I know ) Do you think he cuts it as an opening bat considering that he chases anything and everything that has the slightest semblance of width ? If he pulls it off … great, but more often than not he”s back in the hut putting pressure on Amla and Kallis. Is he what we need at the top of the order ?
Ken answered:
A test average of 49.86 tells you that more often than not Graeme Smith “pulls it off” & that’s also taking into account that he’s been opening the batting in the toughest conditions in the world for openers (SA). Everyone plays a bad shot now and again and I think we can forgive Graeme for his first-innings shot. I think it’s pathetic to focus on that and not the wonderful, match-turning century he scored in the second innings! He was man of the match, you know?

 

mthobeli asked:
HI Ken

since you take over as s.a coach we improve and we get good result and i want say to you good job and i want see more of TSOTSOBE THANK YOU.
Ken answered:
Thank you … I’m just wondering when I’ll get my first pay-cheque for the great coaching job I’m doing!

 

Ismail asked:
Hi Ken. notwithstanding the CSA debacle, i feel that the current squad plus the potential we currently with our fringe players are a good sign of things to come. My view is that we probably have the best cricket team & are the envy of the world. I just hope that this potential is converted to actual victories in the coming years. Your thoughts please. Thanx for your time.
Ken answered:
Hi Ismail, there’s no doubt we have the playing talent to be the best in the world!

 

Brendan asked:
The Dale Steyn question can apply to Wayne Parnel as well. He has the talent and the skill needed to play for SA, no doubt but he”s always in the squad and never playing. Can”t he stay in the squad but play domestic games? Surely he needs to bowl himself into form instead of being thrown into an international game every few weeks? Everyone always says he”s never impressive but he”s never allowed to settle into a rhythm
Ken answered:
Yes – Parnell does need to get more game time with the Warriors. He’s not developing as fast as we’d hoped.

 

Zak asked:
Should we not replace Tahir with De Lange?
Ken answered:
And not have a spinner on a stodgy, flat pitch?! Tahir bowled the most overs in the NZ first innings (24), only conceded 55 runs and took the crucial wicket of McCullum. He did a good job, better than another fast bowler would have done.

 

Richard asked:
Y don”t the proteas play 2 spinners in their attack? Can”t Smith bowl anymore?
Ken answered:
I’m not sure we really need 2 spinners in New Zealand. Graeme bowls very seldom these days, I guess he’s a bit out of practice!

 

Richard asked:
Y dale styen does not bowl inswingers,he only takes most wickets by outswinger delivers.
Ken answered:
Dale’s stock ball is the away-swinger, which is more dangerous, especially when he pitches it on leg and hits off! Dale does have an inswinger, especially when the ball starts reversing, he just chooses to use it sparingly, as a surprise weapon if you like.

 

Laurence asked:
Hi Ken, how long do you think a slighly under par M Morkel can keep De Lange out of the test side? When M Morkel came onto the scene a few years back I thought he was an incredibly exciting prospect, do you think he has underperformed through his career (bat & ball) and if so what is the problem with this obviously talented player?
Ken answered:
Hi Laurence
I thought Morne bowled very well in the first test – his spell after lunch on the second day was outstanding and he deserved more success. He has underperformed in terms of consistency in the past, his “long levers” mean that his action can easily get out of synch and perhaps he lacked a bit of self-confidence. Having De Lange chasing him probably won’t do him any harm though! Morne has taken 21 wickets in his last 7 tests, which is not too bad.

 

Kobus Olwagen asked:
Why is Albie Morkel rated so high. in my view his stats are so below par that he does not belong in the ODI squad.When last did he have success with either ball or bat.
Just asking
Ken answered:
In his last game! He scored 41 in Auckland.
But yes, for a player of such talent, Albie should have better figures & should be performing more consistently. For some reason, the SA team can’t get the best out of him like the Chennai Super Kings do! Maybe he just needs the sort of backing MS Dhoni gives him …

 

Russell Longworth asked:
Hi Ken, for me Tahir has been disappointing.The best spin bowler is Johan Botha.He is the best captain around and can bat and field.Your thoughts
Ken answered:
Hi Russell
Johan Botha might be the best spin bowler in limited-overs cricket, but even that is debatable seeing as though the SA team prefer Peterson at the moment. Johan Botha, by his own admission, is not a test bowler!
Ivan asked:
Hi Ken.

Not really a question, just my personal opinion.

I really feel people should get of Graeme Smith”s back. He still preforms consistantly at test level, He is our second highest Test run scorer and he is still a good leader. And I can”t understand people questioning his tecnique all the time, it may not be pretty but he has scored more that 8000 test runs like that.
Ken answered:
Hi Ivan
Co-Sign!!

 

mohit sharma asked:
hi ken
well i might sound a bit negative in my comment but i dont think imran tahir is international class bowler..he can take wickets in county circuit but not in international matches..thats for sure..i think its better to give a chance to an off spinner considering that we have 3 right arm fast bowlers..so rough created by their footsteps can only be used offspinner….
Ken answered:
Hi Mohit
I think we need to give Tahir more time – he has taken 16 wickets in his first 6 tests, which isn’t too bad.
Just on the rough, a right-hand pace bowler bowling over the wicket will create rough outside the leg-stump of a right-handed batsman at the same end … perfect for a leg-spinner.

 

Greg asked:
Hi Ken
I am concerned that the flat pitches in New Zealand are not conducive to results. Any play lost and its a draw. The time is right to pick Marchant De Lange and pepper them with short pitched deliveries, even though the boundaries are very short square. What do you think?
Ken answered:
Hi Greg
Well it make sense for them to have flat pitches to try and nullify our pace attack. A drawn series would be a victory for New Zealand! But because of the flat pitches, we need a spinner and Steyn, Philander & Morkel are quite capable of doing the peppering! Unless it’s a real greentop, I don’t see space for De Lange at the moment.

 

Dion Pieterse asked:
I”ve seen a couple of pictures recently of an injury to Dale Steyn – his left toe to be more specific. It looked really painful. Interestingly enough though, there has been minimal reference to it in the press. Is there any indication of how bad this injury is and could it be the reason why Dale is not performing at his best? Many thanks. Regards Dion
Ken answered:
Hi Dion
I think it’s definitely affecting his performance, but it hasn’t been bad enough to actually stop him bowling. Hopefully he’ll be pain-free and back to his best in the second test!

 

Scott Duncan asked:
Hi Ken,

Any news on Steyn”s toe? Can”t see it healing in time, surely can”t play like that. De Lange rattled the Kiwi”s in the ODI”s and showed what he can do in Tests at Durban. Can we expect a straight swop for the 2nd Test between these two?
Ken answered:
Hi Scott
No news on Steyn’s toe yet … but isn’t it wonderful to know that if he can’t play, we’ve still got Marchant de Lange as back-up!

 

Brandon asked:
Hi. Dale Steyn”s problem for me appears to be one of rhythm. I don”t think the super short spells works for him (in one day and tests).

The man needs time in the middle but we are not providing that opportunity. Is he carrying an injury or are we just over-managing the man?
Ken answered:
Hi Brandon, I think you’re spot on. His knee is troubling him and I agree, he’s being over-managed! If he wasn’t going to be used in the T20 internationals, then he should have played some domestic cricket.

 

Aalok asked:
How long will it take till we get to see Quinton de Kock in the green and gold? He has been performing outstandingly well in the domestic t20 competitions.
Ken answered:
I guess the question is whether De Kock will play as a wicketkeeper/batsman or specialist batsman? He still has work to do to get his wicketkeeping up to international standard. There’s no doubt he’s a great talent, but I think a season or two of dominating in franchise four-day cricket (SuperSport Series) will do him a world of good.

 

Mthetheleli Lindwa asked:
Hi Ken
I just want to salute the boys for the they have been playing lately. All the players now seem to know that they have the responsibility in the pitch. Bowlers are doing great job even batesmen are also scoring runs. I am very happy for Smith and Ruldoph, Kallis, Mark Vendon, Phillander, Tsotsobe, Ab and Morkel brothers etc. Gary and Allan are doing a wonderful job.
Ken answered:
Hi Mthetheleli, agreed, nice to have such positive vibes out there!

 

Siyabonga asked:
With Mark Gillespie replacing Tim Southee in the New Zealand squad, how does that make their bowling department strong or else. Is Mark going to be a problem to the SA batsmen?
Ken answered:
Gillespie is a short, skiddy fast bowler who does swing it – especially reverse with the older ball. Southee has been so innocuous so it’s bound to be an improvement!

 

Brendan asked:
Hi Ken, I was wondering what your thoughts are on Dale Steyn at present. He”s still taking wickets and still bowling well but he doesn”t seem to be taking wickets as he did before. Is this because of him not bowling enough and being over managed and can”t settle into a rhythm, South Africa”s lack of test cricket or Vernon Philander taking so many wickets that Steyn doesn”t seem to have as many left to take? I know he”s not bowling poorly but he doesn”t look like he”s at his best at the moment
Ken answered:
Hi Brendan
I’m not sure all these periods of rest are doing him much good, but there’s no doubt his painful toe injury is also affecting him. Philander has been hogging the wickets lately, but who cares as long as we get all 10 as quickly as possible! And you’re right, it’s not as if Dale is bowling badly! Shows you what high standards we’ve expected from him!

 

Masixole Maxwell Ndala asked:
Does the draw with NZ affect our top rankings in test matches? I mean if we can win the remaining matches will still rise up??????
Ken answered:
We can only overtake England after the April 1 cut-off for the annual prizemoney. If we beat New Zealand 2-0 & England lose 2-0 to Sri Lanka, then South Africa will be number 1.

 

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120313/QA_Review_2nd_test_preview

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    Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

    The fruit of the Spirit are elements of the character of Christ and we should have the constant desire to become more and more like Christ in thought and deed. But what seems impossible for you becomes possible through Jesus. In him, we are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.



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