South Africa all-rounder Farhaan Behardien calls time on his career

[Mamoon]

I have been watching cricket regularly since 1996 and I really do believe I haven't seen a more mediocre and poor batsman play for South Africa in any format than Behardien.

Apart from the fact that he has scored binary digits in his last few ODIs, he looks completely ruffled and unsettled on the pitch and his mode of dismissals are terrible. Can't handle pace at all and is all at sea at the slightest hint of swing.

Judging by his numbers at the domestic level, he averages in the early 30's in both FC and LA. his T20 record is decent though.

Domestic figures aren't everything but I have watched him many, many times because I really follow South African domestic cricket very closely.

de Kock has also struggled but judging by his domestic figures, he is a beast waiting to explode so you ought to be patient with such rough diamonds.

Another important factor is that Farhaan will soon be 30 and he is still technically very poor.

It is criminal to see players like van der Dussen, few other batsmen and an upcoming rookie like Bowes not being able to get a shot because of him.

 

[Justcrazy]

He is not international standard.

 

[Electron]

He looks like a mohalla chaap slogger like Afridi from what I have seen. But having said that, I do find him exciting.

 

[umerz]

I guess he scored some runs against us in ODIs few months ago

 

[Varun]

There's a word that begins with 'Q'. I gather that it is still unspoken practice whilst selecting the South African team, from South African cricket forums.

 

[Cricket-Pundit]

Yep, he is one of the worst batsman to play for SA

 

[Red Devil]

He's certainly up there

 

[CalculatedRisk]

The worst batsman destroyed the PAK bowling lineup a couple of times in the ODI series.

 

[King Amla 311*]

Farhaan will be good enough in T20's but don't think he makes the cut for ODI's

 

[Mamoon]

Is Farhaan Behardien the worst South African batsman ever?

There's a word that begins with 'Q'. I gather that it is still unspoken practice whilst selecting the South African team, from South African cricket forums.

So you believe it is still there?

 

[Mamoon]

Is Farhaan Behardien the worst South African batsman ever?

Farhaan will be good enough in T20's but don't think he makes the cut for ODI's

Actually there are a lot more deserving T20 players in the country.

 

[bill_123]

he has been pretty crap in his international career so far...he is a bit of a slogger...not a good one though from what I have watched of him...

 

[King Amla 311*]

Actually there are a lot more deserving T20 players in the country.

Let's see

 

[Varun]

So you believe it is still there?

Based on keyboard warriors, yes.

 

[Nuekboi]

Based on keyboard warriors, yes.

How can you trust these men!?!

 

[Mamoon]

Is Farhaan Behardien the worst South African batsman ever?

So the guy has scored 2 runs this series so far at an average of 1 )

Dead rubber coming up, big opportunity coming up. Presuming SL will rest the main bowlers.

 

[soso_killer]

Lol i love how the OP tries to look credible and make himself a South African cricket expert, he probably never even heard of Adam Bacher.

Anyway staying on topic i have not seen anything special with Berhadien, he looks rubbish.

 

[Mamoon]

Adam Bacher is a close call but he was a better player than this garbage.

But he was mentally very weak.

Secondly, I couldn't care less about the perennial chokers AKA South Africa. I don't need to show off by labeling myself a Choker expert. But admittedly, the South African domestic setup is my favorite in the world and I feel it is very under appreciated.

One major factor is the fact that I love South African grounds. It really is the best venue in the world and they excel in hosting ICC events.

But sadly, the host team doesn't do justice.

 

[salman24]

I wasn't a big fan of Justin Ontong as a player

 

[Amjid Javed]

I remember an opener they had called Gerhardus Liebenberg he was pretty awful batsmen he played 4 tests in the 98 tour to england and he just looked like a walking wicket every time he came out to bat.

 

[Jo_Don]

He's possibly our worst player ever with his gaping jaw

 

[Varun]

Apart from the fact that he has scored binary digits in his last few ODIs, he looks completely ruffled and unsettled on the pitch and his mode of dismissals are terrible.

Looks like he's continued the trend:

19.3
Lakmal to Behardien, OUT, the end of Behardien, will it be the end of his international career for a while? utterly uncomfortable in the middle, looking to slog that to the leg side, hit high on the bat and it loops to give mid-off a simple catch, 1 off 22 balls is truly awful
F Behardien c Mathews b Lakmal 1 (22b 0x4 0x6) SR: 4.54

 

[Jo_Don]

Looks like he's continued the trend:

Even worse this time, he used up 22 balls and then got out anyway. If they don't drop him after this then there's no hope...

 

[Mamoon]

1(22)

 

[Mamoon]

de Kock is not ready for sub continent yet.

 

[soso_killer]

1 of 22 thats rubbish
he's finished

 

[Eagle_Eye]

How about Levy? Everytime i seen him, he is a walking wicket.

 

[Mamoon]

Is Farhaan Behardien the worst South African batsman ever?

How about Levy? Everytime i seen him, he is a walking wicket.

He has played T20s only and scored a cracking hundred.

 

[Crazy_K]

From CI
Oh, for those who are complaining about Farhaan Behardien's 1 off 22 balls, two other batsmen have made worse: Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid made 1 off 23. Brian Lara has 1 off 22.

But seriously, I'm yet to come across any person that rates him

 

[N.B.K.Q-95]

Yes.

 

[ads101]

Drop him.

Best team would be:

1. Smith
2. Amla
3. Colin Ingram
4. AB de Villiers
5. Faf du Plessis
6. Duminy
7. Quinton de Knock
8. Botha
9. Steyn
10. Morkel
11. Tsotobe

 

[sam_ahm]

Yup, Farhaan looks clueless more often than not, Dean Elgar is a good prospect and should get a run.

Smith
Hashim
Elgar
ABD
Duminy
Miller
McLaren
Philander
Steyn
Morne
Tahir

should be the best RSA ODI side, Faf deserves a bit of a break!

 

[Nuekboi]

Drop him.

Best team would be:

1. Smith
2. Amla
3. Colin Ingram
4. AB de Villiers
5. Faf du Plessis
6. Duminy
7. Quinton de Knock
8. Botha
9. Steyn
10. Morkel
11. Tsotobe

Botha ran off to Australia didn't he?

also Quinton de Knock

 

[Varun]

also Quinton de Knock

Come again?

 

[Ims1]

He is as mediocre as 1 could get .

 

[ads101]

Come again?

Mistake on my part but I prefer this name, has more of a ring to it.

 

[ads101]

Botha ran off to Australia didn't he?

also Quinton de Knock

Botha's still available for international selection though.

 

[Gigii]

I think he had a good cameo in his debut, was that the meaningless one off game vs India?

I also think that SA have this method of having a test specialist team, and a one day and T20 specialist team, so the likes of McLaren, Miller, Ingram, Phagasio, Tsotsobe etc are earmarked as one day kind of players. And I think that's a pretty dangerous route to go down. Yes there'll be exceptions such as Amla, Kohli, Cook, Trott that can straddle all three formats even if they don't want to (Trott has one of the best T20 domestic records in the world and Cook has a T20 century) but for the most part, I think the vast majority of your test team should be in the one day team too.

 

[Mamoon]

Smith has been pretty ordinary in ODIs recently and secondly he is in the stage of his career where Test cricket is his priority and that is why he has given up ODI captaincy as well. I don't think he has much of a future in ODIs and it would be better if they move on from him.

 

[sam_ahm]

Smith has been pretty ordinary in ODIs recently and secondly he is in the stage of his career where Test cricket is his priority and that is why he has given up ODI captaincy as well. I don't think he has much of a future in ODIs and it would be better if they move on from him.

Smith is a proven performer and I think RSA should keep him till WC 2015, one reason why RSA have struggled lately in ODI's is perhaps AB's captaincy, Smith is a very good captain and at least it'll be good for AB if Graeme can be around to advice / help him till the World Cup.

 

[The Dark Corner]

It's a pretty poor ODI side. They need to get the combo right. I don't find Behardien exciting at all. Extremely mediocre player. He should be dropped.

 

[Executioner]

This guy is worse than local BD batsman

 

[Mamoon]

This guy is worse than local BD batsman

Probably.

I think Bangladesh's ODI batting has improved quite a bit but they remain minnows because of their hopeless bowling and fielding.

 

[Mamoon]

Smith is a proven performer and I think RSA should keep him till WC 2015, one reason why RSA have struggled lately in ODI's is perhaps AB's captaincy, Smith is a very good captain and at least it'll be good for AB if Graeme can be around to advice / help him till the World Cup.

That is true but if South Africa could unearth a young batsman who starts delivering in ODIs, it would do a lot of good for them in the long term. It will ease of the pressure from Smith in ODIs.

 

[waqar_ahmad]

Smith is a proven performer and I think RSA should keep him till WC 2015, one reason why RSA have struggled lately in ODI's is perhaps AB's captaincy, Smith is a very good captain and at least it'll be good for AB if Graeme can be around to advice / help him till the World Cup.

Sort of off topic, but appointing smith as captain was the best decision the SA board could have made. A 21 year old captain. Now how many boards can do that? Sometimes I wish pakistan can follow suit

 

[Varun]

Sort of off topic, but appointing smith as captain was the best decision the SA board could have made. A 21 year old captain. Now how many boards can do that? Sometimes I wish pakistan can follow suit

In hindsight I think they fluked it.

Because the same chaps have now appointed de Villiers as their skipper, and it's not too far out to suggest that he's the worst one going around at the moment.

 

[PakPrince]

lol i was thinking he is a bower or sth

 

[Mamoon]

It would have been a spectacle to watch him bat against Ajmal and Babar in UAE.

 

[PakGirl!]

^that would have been for a duration of,umm,say 2 mins?

 

[90MPH]

He played reasonably well against Pakistan in the ODI series just 6 months ago.

I don't think he's that bad as some are saying.

 

[Mamoon]

^that would have been for a duration of,umm,say 2 mins?

Probably

 

[Mamoon]

He played reasonably well against Pakistan in the ODI series just 6 months ago.

I don't think he's that bad as some are saying.

One of the many lulloos we made to look good.

He is a chief lulloo.

 

[90MPH]

I know we have made many lulloos look good.

But what basis are you saying he's so bad ??

Hes one of the better players of spin in the side, a very good fielder and a reasonable part time bowler.

He doesn't look elegant or very talented but he can play. A poor series doesn't mean he's the most awful ever for SA.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Last time i thought i had seen the worst RSA batsman, he ended up becoming the best in the world through sheer hard work.

 

[Mamoon]

I know we have made many lulloos look good.

But what basis are you saying he's so bad ??

Hes one of the better players of spin in the side, a very good fielder and a reasonable part time bowler.

He doesn't look elegant or very talented but he can play. A poor series doesn't mean he's the most awful ever for SA.

You seem to be the only guy that rates him.

 

[Mamoon]

Last time i thought i had seen the worst RSA batsman, he ended up becoming the best in the world through sheer hard work.

Good point

 

[Bhaijaan]

No seriously, does anyone remember how ugly Amla looked when he debuted? He was the weirdest batsman going around back then, even Dhoni seemed to have better technique.

 

[Mamoon]

No seriously, does anyone remember how ugly Amla looked when he debuted? He was the weirdest batsman going around back then, even Dhoni seemed to have better technique.

He still looks ugly and weird.

 

[Bhaijaan]

He still looks ugly and weird.

He's pretty compact nowdays compared to the total mess he was 8 years ago.

 

[90MPH]

You seem to be the only guy that rates him.

Actually I don't rate him that high at all but you can't back up any facts why you think he's so rubbish, apart from his unstylish technique and stance.

 

[Executioner]

Yea, Amla was worthless 7 years ago!

Even Mushfiq when he was 16 looked like a total clown. He has been consistant in the last 2 years as a batsman and keeping. His keeping was akmal-isque not 3 years ago

 

[Xoib]

He still looks ugly and weird.

technically he looks very compact though these days back then his technique would have not made him look out of place in a Pakistani tail.

 

[Mamoon]

Actually I don't rate him that high at all but you can't back up any facts why you think he's so rubbish, apart from his unstylish technique and stance.

This thread is based on my personal assessment and I think he's rubbish.

 

[Mamoon]

Yea, Amla was worthless 7 years ago!

Even Mushfiq when he was 16 looked like a total clown. He has been consistant in the last 2 years as a batsman and keeping. His keeping was akmal-isque not 3 years ago

The problem is that Behardien is already 30. There is a very remote possibility that a 30 year old dud will suddenly transform into a world class player.

Amla was 21 when he made his debut, and it wasn't till he was 25/26 that he truly hit his stride and became a world class player.

M Rahim is still 25 only.

 

[Executioner]

The problem is that Behardien is already 30. There is a very remote possibility that a 30 year old dud will suddenly transform into a world class player.

Amla was 21 when he made his debut, and it wasn't till he was 25/26 that he truly hit his stride and became a world class player.

M Rahim is still 25 only.

Well, I am quite aware of that.

I was not making any point of Farhaan, rather, I was talking about players that massively improved in recent times.

Farhaan, cant, and probably wont get any better from this point of time. But hey, Misbah and Dilshan has proved us wrong. Regardless, its a tough ask for a 30 year old to become a world class player overnight. Misbah had a good technique and the reason why it took him so long is simple-he started playing cricket at around 24 whilst Dilshan was not as horrendous with the bat while he did have some contribution in the bowling and fielding department. At one point of time, one felt that hafeez has become a better player but it was not to be

 

[hadi123]

he is decent

 

[Haroon786]

The last time I saw him bat, was hitting a cameo against us in the deciding ODI when we toured South Africa.

 

[PakistanKnight]

No seriously, does anyone remember how ugly Amla looked when he debuted? He was the weirdest batsman going around back then, even Dhoni seemed to have better technique.

Yep. I remember watching a clip of his batting earlier. His back used to be bent and he used to be very crouched and his backlift was very ugly. He wasn't as composed as he is now. He looks more calm,composed and relaxed at the crease now. His balance is also good.
But I have to say,his backlift and the swinging of the bat just when the bowler is going to bowl is still weird. It sort of looks like the bat is twirling in his hands.

 

[PakistanKnight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eCQ-J_rN98
Here is a clip when he was new to the scene.

 

[Mamoon]

Shocking batsman.

SA selectors must be smoking something good to select him in the first place, let alone in a tournament in Bangladesh considering how terrible he is against spin.

 

[doggy2020]

Miller gone

 

[doggy2020]

Bye bye SA

 

[leatherface58]

Behardien to be the next Steve Smith.

 

[zabalestmsm]

Is Farhaan Behardien the worst South African batsman ever?

Exactly. There r far better T20 players in RSA.

 

[Kianig89]

HE is SA's TTF

 

[IAJ]

It's about time he delivered, he has had more than enough chances to prove his worth.

 

[Sizzling Soul]

really he is really really bad,
africa have many more good players but dont know why...................

 

[Mamoon]

This guy continues to get picked for some reason.

Dreadful cricketer. South Africa got rid of the rubbish Petersen and now its time to wield the axe on this guy.

 

[Firebreaker]

I dont know how he can play in two WCs for a team like SA

 

[shah_1]

Why does he keep on getting selected? Him representing SA is a disgrace for South Africa cricket.