Associate and Affiliate Thread

[Aislabie]

In the Provincial stuff, they tend to play as many youngsters as they can. That's why when players like Wian van Vuuren and Pikky Ya France play, they've got twenty-odd games to their name. It does mean a lot of losses, though.

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I'm not sure, I think he must be injured because he only recently belted a double-ton against Kenya.

He'd better not have retired - 'twould be awful.

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It's a thorny issue, because there will always be figures at the top who will resist the inclusion of such teams, saying it devalues the competition, yadda, yadda. I'd say it'd be quite the opposite though - you'd have more competition, more talent and a whole new market to corner.

 

[troll3y]

I had a lengthy post on the Namibian Quadrangular T20 tournament lined up, but I've been too busy to type prose. Here's the short version:

• I'm very surprised, but nevertheless very impressed, at all of Kenya's performances in the last week.
• I still can't get over how the Netherlands crashed to 172/5 in the warm-up against Kenya. Following live, and at 161/2 at the end of the 17th with Tom Cooper fairly settled, I was expecting a 200+ score even after losing Swart for 89 two overs prior. Ragheb Aga must have bowled magically.
• Namibia's Jason Davidson against the Netherlands: 3 for 7 from his four overs at 1.75. He could have won them that ODI.
• The Netherlands are doing alright now to be 131/2 after 13 with Tom Cooper fairly settl-- we've danced this tune before, haven't we? I will stick to my guns, though. I would love to see the three Associates finish 1, 2, and 3 in this tournament.

 

[troll3y]

oh, phew! Netherlands finish with 206/5. I reckon they can defend it, but by some freakish coincidence, the SA Emerging side made exactly the same score against the Oranje in the group game. The side batting first won that game, and I reckon it'll happen again.

With Namibia's impressive chase in their last group game, the final is a little harder to pick. It's close, but I can see the Namibians repeating their performance in that must-win game.

 

[Aislabie]

Well, I think the Dutch have been pretty shambolic, and a Dissection on that will be upcoming on my blog soon enough.

Kenya, though, look like they've found a strong nucleus of players. A batting lineup of Karim, Obanda, Ouma , Obuya , Mishra, Patel is pretty decent for an Associate. I reckon there's room in there for Seren Waters in longer (non-T20) formats, and I always thought David Obuya underachieved, but he's still young enough to make the most of his talent.

Anyway, here's my second Road to the World Twenty20 blog, strategically coinciding with the end of the Quadrangular

 

[Aislabie]

An in-depth look at the Netherlands.