Okay so let's have a look at what can be taken away from this series.
The coach/selectors:
For me, Mark Boucher has been far from good enough here as the coach. I appreciate he may not have as much pull as other coaches around the world (due to this ridiculous system), but his plans seem overwhelmingly uninspiring. Charl Langaveldt and Justin Ontong should not be in their positions full stop, as they didn't have a particularly fledgling career themselves. I find it so hypocritical when I see a coach of their background giving advice to young players who have oodles more talent than they ever had. The system could have Alan Donald/Ntini as the bowling coach, Jacques Kallis as the batting coach (not some ridiculous consulting role), Johnny Rhodes as fielding coach and Paul Adams as the spin bowling coach. Gary Kisrsten or Kepler Wessels incharge of this side would make a big difference.
What has Victor Mpitsang done in his career to be in the position of head selector?? Embarrassing.
The team:
1 million times over this side could have had better selected players in the starting XI.
Centrally contracted Beaurin Hendricks
should be absolutely nowhere near this side. He bowls no more than 82mph, can't swing it, can't bat and seems to be ridiculously unimaginative when it comes to thinking outside the box. NANDRE BURGER should be playing.
Sisanda Magala has shown that he has pace but clearly is not fit for anything more than T20 cricket. I know he came back in that second game but Jesus! That over was so poor it didn't even deserve the be seen at club level. You can't have a player like that starting when you have Wiaan Muelder in the squad. What a talent he is! In fact, forget Muelder for a moment. GERALD COETZEE should have been playing in this series, if he was fit of course. He bowls in the mid 140's regularly and he hits a long long ball. Corbin Bosch or even Thando Ntini would have been a better selection than Magala. Atleast the latter two have age on their side and they are sharp!
Pite Van Biljion:
What is going on here, seriously?
My eyes hurt when I see his name in a South African squad, let alone a starting XI. I don't think I've ever seen a batter look more out of his depth than this man. He's rushed by pace, can't rotate the strike and sadly does not have age on his side. I'm not slating his person at all. I've heard he works hard and is a good team man, but when you have a gun like Kyle Verreyne in the squad sitting and not playing, questions need to be asked as to why he was ever even included. Not good enough and the selectors (what a joke) need to move on.
Wiaan Lubbe:
Slogger, at best. Not good enough and showed a complete disregard for his wicket which pissed me off. I don't think I saw a single off side shot. Move on CSA.
If you want a talented, young left handed batter, get De Zorzi in there or Ryan Rickleton. They are both so talented and hit the ball incredibly hard. In fact, De Zorzi could play a big part in the full ODI side he's that good.
South African cricket is not going to improve is the above players are involved. Period. They have a strong, functioning system and yet they manage to trip over the guns and select the duds. So incredibly dissaponting as this could have been a series where young players were involved, not FC stalwarts getting a deserved shot at national selection.
Keegan Peterson
De Zorzi
Thando Ntini
Gerald Coetzee
Jannaman Malan
Aiden Markram
Marco Jansen
Sipamla (tests)
Kyle Verreyne
Reynard Van Tonder
Names to either include now or in the next 12 months.