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Should Imran Tahir keep his spot in the Proteas line up?

I guess we will have to wait until the end of the current test match down under in Adelaide to make the final call, as he might have a chance to redeem himself on a ever increasing dry pitch, but so far its not looking good for Immie.

He does not bring the allround cricketing package to the team that you need at this level, so for him to earn his place he has to bowl out of his skin and take wickets galore and keep the batsmen guessing. But that has not happended yet, he has taken a nice wicket here and there, baffelled a few tail enders, but mainly his been a run rate liability giving the momentum the seemrers build up back to the batsmen.

Unfortunately there was no where to hide for him in this test as Kallis and Steyn could not contribute much after both pulled up with stiff hammies on day one yesterday, Kallis wont bowl again in this match too compound things, forcing Immie to bowl more overs than he would have. Warner, Clarke and Hussey did seem too mind this too much, as he basically was their personal bunny all day long. Kleinveld also bowled poorly at times and again had no ball problems, but he will be replaced by Philander or De Lange when they are fit(or fly another seemer from SA before the third test, Parnell/Lopsy/Morris/Viljoen all will do better than the out of shape Rory).

So what about Tahir?

Robbin Peterson is in the sqaud and will add far more value to the team. I am sure he will be more economical than Tahir and take wickets when the picth is cracked up, he is a one day specialst with a  decent economy and high strike rate, so why not give him a go? He will be more than handy as a tailend batsmen, plus he is a fantastic fielder with a competitive spirit. He is not all Protea fans favourite son, but he has done enough for the Proteas and Cobras to be picked ahead of Tahir and be given a propper run.

Tahir has too pull a rabit out of a hat in the second Ozzy innings, providing the Proteas get there, to have any chance of keeping his spot,

Beeno, on his performance in the Second Test, He has brought us nothing really and had alot of chances. I would go back to a more conservative Spinner that can bat.

Peterson or Johan Botha.

faf can stay in the side and can provide a leg spinning option. Duminy can come into the squad when he is well in the place of rudolph who also has had enough chances now, and provide some more cover in the spin department.

With a front line spinner like Peterson or Botha.

This will cover all spin issues, and will actually strentghen our batting lineup. Off course this is for the future with JP dumniy healthy again.

For the third test assuming Kallis is out as well I would go:

A Peterson

Smith

Amla

Rudolph

de Villiers

du Plessis

Tsolekile

R Peterson

Steyn

Kleinveldt

Morkel

 I would like AB to focus solely on his batting if Kallis is out. We will need him rested and not standing behind the wickets for long hours.

Ek I heard on the radio way to work Smith saying that Philander will be fit and that they were hoping Kallis could play but as a batsment only. Also I am told the WACA is a wicket for pacemen. I also hear that De lange has back problems?

Hence drop Rudolf and Tsolekile from you side?  Bowling attack of, Steyn, Morkel, Philander , Klienveldt and Pietersen looks fine to me. AB takes the gloves etc.

Yes but you still have a problem....Who will do the containment? Kallis can't bowl. You need a containing bowler, except if you expect Steyn to play that role but he puts in waaayy to much energy into his deliveries, he'll be exhausted. You need some balance. MacClaren maybe can do it. But I would still like to have a Spinner there even if the pitch doesn't allow it. Any pitch will give a stingy spinner something. Aus are batting way too fast. All pace attack no man not the way to go don't fall for that.

No here is what I posted - Bowling attack of, Steyn, Morkel, Philander , Klienveldt and Pietersen looks fine to me. AB takes the gloves etc. 4 seamers and a spinner - seems to me the best we can do. Then we have Philander and Pietersen strengthening the batting. 

Big question is Kallis

 Steyn, Morkel, Philander , Klienveldt and Pietersen ---- I posted something Rob houwing wrote, he has a point Replace with following:

Steyn, Morkel, Philander, McClaren and Pieterson ----- A better Batting prospect and Rory really doesn't offer that much more than Ryan on the bowling front.

As i have said I don't even want to consider Kallis for the Perth test. If someone is not 100% fit to play then don't start him, even if it is Jauques Kallis, It will have repercussions on the balance of the squad.