+- Cricket Windies (https://cricketwindies.com)
+-- Forum: Rally Around West Indies! (https://cricketwindies.com/forum-1.html)
+--- Forum: We don't like cricket. We love it. (https://cricketwindies.com/forum-2.html)
+--- Thread: South Africa pick uncapped Stephen Cook for fourth Test against England (/thread-28872.html)
South Africa pick uncapped Stephen Cook for fourth Test against England - dillinger10 - 01-19-2016
Quote:Uncapped opener Stephen Cook has been added to the South Africa squad for the fourth Test against England.
Cook made an unbeaten half-century against the tourists for South Africa A in a warmup match before the series and looks set to replace the out-of-form Stiaan van Zyl.
Van Zyl has made just 69 runs in five innings at the top of the order, while Cook has scored two centuries and a 76 in his last three matches for the Highveld Lions. The 33-year-old is the son of Jimmy Cook, who played three Tests for the Proteas.
“Stephen has been in excellent form this season and gives us another option at the top of the order,†said chief selector Linda Zondi.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/18/south-africa-pick-uncapped-stephen-cook-for-fourth-test-against-england-cricket
I am surprised it took South Africa this long to give Cook a call up. I thought he would have been given the chance to open with Elgar at the start of the series. Obviously, he is on the older side, but he has been South Africa's best opening batsman in domestic cricket. I have to imagine that will be it for van Zyl. He has had a real tough introduction to Test cricket and that will be hard for him to shake off.
A large part of South Africa's struggles over the last 12-months can be attributed to their batting. Over this period, they have a collective team average of just 23.74 - the lowest of all Test teams. Their bowling, even without Steyn, has still been very good, with a team bowling average of 31.88 - third best.
Outside of de Villiers, Amla and Elgar, there are too many uncertainties in their lineup. They could really do with du Plessis rediscovering his form of old, finding an opening partner for Elgar and hoping that Bavuma can continue to progress. Theunis de Bruyn is one youngster to keep an eye on. I think has a good chance of making his way into the Test side in the near future.
Re: South Africa pick uncapped Stephen Cook for fourth Test against England - mapoui - 01-19-2016
some company for the west indies down at the bottom ::confused::
sure! there is lots of room down here. Come on down! ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL::
:-[ :-[ :-[
:-[ :-[
:-[
Re: South Africa pick uncapped Stephen Cook for fourth Test against England - pwarbi - 01-19-2016
First test for Cook when the series is already lost is one way I guess of bringing him into the team with no pressure, but I would have thought he'd have wanted to contribute to trying to save the series and been played earlier.
He's obviously a talent and he deserves his chance, albeit a belated one.
Re: South Africa pick uncapped Stephen Cook for fourth Test against England - ketchim - 01-19-2016
Too many Cooks
Open batting in this final test :-[