Dein erstes Forum » and bowlers on the back foot im

No-one wanted to be South Africas Test captain more than AB de Villiers. He said so himself, here , more than two years ago when he was overlooked in favour of Hashim Amla as South Africa sought a new leader after a decade of Graeme Smith.Moving on was never going to be easy. Smith was an overarching presence, broad as a blue gum tree, under which a new leader would find it difficult to grow. Johan Botha sprouted briefly, leading South Africas T20 and ODI side when Smith was injured, but can you even name Smiths vice-captain? No? Its as though he didnt need one.Thats why when he was gone everyone was underprepared to be South Africas next Test captain, especially de Villiers. He had never led at any level before international. Not at school, where Faf du Plessis was preferred, not at domestic level, where he only spent a small amount of time before being promoted to the biggest stage, not at the IPL, even though Ray Jennings had initially pushed for de Villiers to take charge of Royal Challengers Bangalore. But de Villiers was the ODI captain and he probably thought that put him in a strong position to take over at Test level. In fact, it did the opposite.It took de Villiers so long to come to terms with the additional responsibility that South Africa had to relieve him of the wicket-keeping duties in short formats. Even then, he continued to rack up over-rate violations because he spent too much time having council meetings over what to do in the field. He did not display the tactical acumen of a Test captain and so even though Amla was reluctant, he was asked to do it instead.De Villiers probably did not intend to throw the proverbial tantrum in response and he may not even have realised he was doing it but he spent most of last summer making it clear he was not happy. He complained about overwork, he stressed that he would have to find ways to manage the packed schedule and, in the middle of that, when Amla stood down because he could not take the pressure any more, he temporarily took on the captaincy. Then, he gave South Africa his complete commitment. Little did he know, he would not be able to fulfil it.Since being named as permanent Test captain, de Villiers had not played a Test. He missed the New Zealand series in August because of an elbow injury which was aggravated at the Caribbean Premier League but he did not undergo surgery because he hoped conservative treatment would fix it. By the time Australia arrived for ODIs in October, de Villiers had not recovered and the knife was the only option. That would put him out of the Australia Tests but it was a sacrifice he had to make.In the meantime, South Africa had to find someone else and they could not go back to Amla. Their options were limited to two out of form batsmen - Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy - who had taken turns being dropped during the England series. With du Plessis already leading in the T20 format, they chose him. And the team chose him. And the critics chose him. And before long everyone was calling on du Plessis to stay on.He captained with a calmness that de Villiers never had. He had the confidence of his players, who rallied behind him so hard they even defended him against ball-tampering charges. He came good as a player, scoring a hundred in the series-win over New Zealand and another under pressure in Australia.The only complication was that de Villiers would one day come back and everyone from the convener of selectors, Linda Zondi, to the spearhead of the attack, Dale Steyn, endorsed his return to the captaincy. They did not leave room for what de Villiers had been going through in the interim.His elbow has not healed and will keep him out for at least another month. That means he would have missed three successive Test series and not just any three, the three South Africa are using to start climbing the rankings again. The team has moved on without him. Although it is difficult to imagine even momentarily considering leaving de Villiers out of an XI, it is also difficult to imagine where he would fit in at the moment, never mind as captain. And therein lies the next discussion.When will de Villiers play Test cricket for South Africa again? If all goes to plan, perhaps in the March series against New Zealand but who would he replace then? Duminy has been spoken of as the obvious choice because he does not consistently produce and there is also suggestion one of the openers may make way but there are problems with both solutions.South Africa have transformation targets to meet and Quinton de Kock - who is most likely to be moved up - has already said he does not want to open long-term. Thats a puzzle for another day and its not unthinkable that de Villiers will solve it himself, as he has done this time.For all his own desires, de Villiers would have seen that the team had progressed under du Plessis, he would have known that consistency is crucial to continued success and he would have understood what that meant for him, without having to be told. The truth is that no-one has professed their love for South Africa more than de Villiers and in stepping down, he proved that if you really love something, you can let it go.Riley Ridley Womens Jersey .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Anthony Miller Youth Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. http://www.bearsfootballpro.com/Authentic_Jim-McMahon_Bears_Jersey/ .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Mitchell Trubisky Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Tom Waddle Youth Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check.10R Ashwin (27 wickets at 17.77, 71 runs at 23.66)Three five-fors, two 10-wicket match hauls, another Man-of-the-Series award. Now the best player in four series in a row, Ashwin exploited the conditions beautifully, bowling with daring 7-2 fields at times, giving the batsmen no breathing space with his accuracy and using his guile when the pitch went quiet. He bowled long spells even though he began with a corn on the middle finger of his right hand. Also scored an invaluable 40 and 26 when India were in strife in the first innings of the first two Tests.9Ravindra Jadeja (14 wickets at 24.07, 129 runs at 64.5)Not as effective with the ball as he was against South Africa last year, but never let the pressure off from the other end as his economy rate of 2.34 shows. Ran through the tail once, which is important. Scored a crucial 42 to push India past 300 in Kanpur, was part of an important partnership with Wriddhiman Saha in Kolkata, and was exceptional as usual in the field.Wriddhiman Saha (112 runs at 112 , two dismissals)Quietly brilliant behind the stumps; dont be misled by just two dismissals. India attacked the stumps more than the edges, but his wicketkeeping stands out in how you cant immediately think of an error on pitches that are difficult to keep on. With the bat, Saha won India the Kolkata Test, scoring fifties in two crisis situations. The quietest member in the side is beginning to make telling contributions.Cheteshwar Pujara (373 runs at 74.6)Came into the series under immense pressure after being dropped in the West Indies but re-established himself as the backbone of the side with a little support from the coach Anil Kumble. Set up all of Indias three first-innings with a lowest of 41. Would have been disappointed he didnt convert any of those into a big hundred, but managed to seal that three-figure score as India set up their declaration in the second innings in Indore.8Bhuvneshwar Kumar (6 wickets at 12.66)Part of Indias horses-for-courses plan, was picked in the second Test for a green pitch. This was a track where New Zealand could have felt at home, but he ran through their batting with nagging accuracy to end up with his first five-for at home. Unfortunately he got injured again, but India would have likely played Umesh Yadav in Indore.Mohammed Shami (8 wickets at 30.37)Numbers dont do justice to Shamis contribution. New Zealand would have looked to target the quicks for relief, especially in a four-man attack, but Shami didnt allow them that luxury. Whenever India managed to get the ball reversing he took wickets, but when it didnt reverse he asked enough questions.7.5Ajinkya Rahane (347 runs at 69.4)Once again he came back from a disappointingg first Test to correct his mistakes and make meaningful contributions.dddddddddddd On a tough first day in Kolkata he scored 77 in partnership with Pujara, and then went on to make up for the disappointment of not getting a big score there by scoring 188 in Indore where he had to struggle against the short ball. Virat Kohli (309 runs at 51.5)Disappointing first three innings in the series, but followed a counterattacking 45 in crisis in the second innings of the Kolkata Test with a double-century full of discipline and restraint in Indore. As captain he refused to let play drift when New Zealand put together partnerships. He backed his team, never minded a tough word with the umpires on behalf of them, and always kept the crowds involved.Rohit Sharma (238 runs at 79.33)This series could be a turning point in Rohits Test career. He played a disappointing shot in the first innings in Kanpur, but with the confidence that he was going to be in the XI for some time, he came back with an excellent 82, after the team was at 43 for 4, to bat New Zealand out of the Kolkata Test. He played selflessly when pushing for declaration. One of the only three batsmen in the series to score at least one fifty in each Test.6.5M Vijay (186 runs at 31)Will be disappointed he didnt convert his two half-centuries but he was dismissed off good balls. Continues to be a solid opener for India and re-established his importance in the side after he too was dropped in the West Indies. Will not like the way he got out in Indore: extravagant flick in first innings and lazy running in the second.5KL Rahul (70 runs at 35)Sparkling presence at the top of the order in Kanpur, which put New Zealand bowlers on the back foot immediately. Failed to convert those two starts. Missed the rest of the series because of injury.4.5Gautam Gambhir (79 runs at 39.50)Handed a career lifeline with injuries to two openers, Gambhir played a Rahul-like role in Indore, albeit in easier conditions, scoring a quick 29 in the first innings and a fifty in the second. Will be interesting to see what India decide if both Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan are fit by the time the team for the England series is chosen.4Umesh Yadav (2 wickets at 62)Did better than the figures suggest. Wasnt quite the soft bowler you would expect as a batting side after the other three have put you under pressure. Was athletic in the field too.2Shikhar Dhawan (18 runs at 9)Played a poor shot on the first morning in Kolkata. Kept fighting with an injured hand in the second, but clearly he is not the first-choice Test opener anymore. ' ' '