Thursday 16 April 2009

Albie's threat returns

His plan to keep him out of the Test side in the last match worked, albeit with a little assistance from a hypnotist. But Albie can keep Morne out of the team no longer, because Johan Botha's a bloody pie chucker.

South Africa have replaced Johan Botha and Wayne Parnell with Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini for the last ODI. The first makes sense, Parnell also makes sense. Time to give the kid a break, especially after that last match. This final ODI doesn't even matter at all, in any case. Graeme Smith still wants to win it, just to rub it in the Aussies' faces:

"If we can make it 8-2 over the summer that would be a pretty clearcut victory."
More clearcut than 7-3.

He also cites "taking the focus off him" as the reason for disclusing Botha from the side. THE FOCUS OFF HIS ELBOW. But then he slips up a little and reveals a little too much about team sentiment:

"Johan has been an integral part of the side, but there is still a very good spirit in the team. It's the same as with Herschelle [Gibbs]. He integrated back into the team very well."
Wonder if that's referring to Herschelle's failed match-fixing attempts or his alcohol problem.

"I is back to bowl more no balls!"

Still bad news for best friend Vaughn, however. He's not in the side, even for this most deadrubber of deadrubber matches. Someone give the kid a go.

3 comments:

Sara said...

Why are these SA selectors so obsessed with Morne God Dammit?? I hate this kid, yeah especially because of his No Balls!
Parnell's way better a bowler than him!

Amy said...

I think Morne's got heaps of talent. He's got plenty of natural ability but he definitely needs to work on his line and length. It's only his technique that's letting him down. I do hope he does well because there's real potential in him.

Having said that, Parnell's also an exciting prospect for the future of South African cricket.

Anonymous said...

Morne's a gun and mighty cute. He just needs time and games in order to hone his skills.