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SACA Celebrates Tony Irish on Receiving the Prestigious Tim May Medal of Honour

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) is proud to celebrate its founder and former CEO, Tony Irish, who received the…

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Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the SACA MVP overall rankings, identifying him as the most valuable player in the division across all formats.

Alder won the Overall Division 2 SACA MVP title with 360,805 points across 20 matches, providing a consistent baseline for his team. His slow left-arm orthodox bowling earned him 257,542 bowling points, while his contributions with the bat resulted in 65,262 batting points, comprising two half-centuries in the 4-Day Series, where he maintained an average of 35.22. Alder’s total was further supported by 11 winning points and 7 fielding points, marking him as the most statistically active performer in the division this summer.

Emanuel Motswiri of the Limpopo Impalas was named the 1-Day Cup SACA MVP in Division 2. In six matches, Motswiri accumulated 126,878 total MVP points through a campaign based on bowling performance, where he took 16 wickets at an average of 16.81 and an economy rate of 5.85. Motswiri also provided middle-order runs, scoring two half-centuries to earn 24,851 batting points, showcasing his ability to perform in the 50-over format.

The red-ball format of the division was led by all-rounder Ernest Kemm of the Eastern Storm, who won the 4-Day Series SACA MVP title with 309,037 points. Since moving to the Eastern Storm, Kemm has added value to the team environment as a senior player, and his impact is reflected in his second-place finish in the overall rankings with 341,536 points. He ended the season as the division’s leading wicket-taker with 40 wickets, including five five-wicket hauls.

The T20 Knockout MVP went to Alindile Mhletywa of the Eastern Cape Iinyathi, who topped the rankings with 101,912 MVP points after taking 15 wickets at an average of 12.08 during the Iinyathi T20 campaign.

Recognition of these performances is facilitated by the SACA MVP ranking system, which measures player impact in CSA’s domestic competitions. Administered by statistician Andrew Samson, the domestic SACA MVP algorithm provides a data-driven analysis of performance, awarding points for batting, bowling, and fielding metrics based on match context and oppositional strength. Match impact points are also awarded for team wins and Man of the Match performances, ensuring recognition is based on statistical impact and match contributions.

Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO, commented, “We would like to congratulate Liam, Ernest, Emanuel, and Alindile for winning the SACA MVP in their respective categories. It is a great achievement and an honour to be recognised as the most valuable player of the season. We wish all players a restful off-season after challenging themselves throughout the year.”

 

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ICC PLAYER OF THE MONTH NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the nominees for the inaugural ICC Player of the Month Awards which recognise and celebrate the best performances from both male and female cricketers across all forms of international cricket throughout the year. Fans have been treated to some sensational cricket during the month of January making the inaugural player of the month awards a highly competitive affair and they can now vote on www.icc-cricket.com for their favourite ICC Player of the Month (January).

About the ICC Men’s Player of the Month January Nominees:

Rishabh Pant played two Tests against Australia where he scored a 97 at Sydney to ensure a draw before an unbeaten 89 at Brisbane that led India to a historic series win against arch-rivals Australia. England Captain Joe Root played two Tests against Sri Lanka, where he scored a 228 and 186 and led his team to a 2-0 Test series victory. The third nominee in the category, Ireland’s Paul Stirling played two ODIs v UAE and three ODIs v Afghanistan, where he scored three centuries.

About ICC Women’s Player of the Month January Nominees:

Diana Baig of Pakistan played three ODIs and two T20Is against South Africa, where she led the wicket-takers with nine wickets in the three-match ODI series against South Africa. South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail also played three ODIs and two T20Is against Pakistan and took seven wickets in the victorious ODI series against Pakistan, before taking five wickets in the second T20I against the same opposition. Her compatriot all-rounder Marizanne Kapp who is the third nominee in the category played two ODIs and two T20Is against Pakistan where she made 115 runs at a strike rate of 110.57 and added three wickets in the ODI series against Pakistan.

The ICC Player of the Month voting process:

The three nominees for each of the categories are shortlisted based on on-field performances and overall achievements during the period of that month (the first to the last day of each calendar month).

This shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world. The ICC Voting Academy comprising prominent members of the cricket family including senior journalists, former players, and broadcasters and some members of the ICC Hall of Fame.

The Voting Academy will submit their votes by email and will retain a 90% share of the vote. Additionally, fans registered with the ICC will be able to vote via the ICC website once the shortlisted players are announced and will have a 10% share of the vote. Winners will be announced every second Monday of the month on the ICC’s digital channels.

Click here to vote

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BOKAKO AND BURGER BOWL SA EMERGING TO NARROW VICTORY

Tladi Bokako and Nandre Burger shared six wickets as South Africa Emerging held off a late fightback to secure a 28-run win over Sri Lanka Emerging and go 1-0 up in their two-match four-day series late on day four in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

The pair helped the hosts bowl out the tourists for 302, chasing a victory target of 331 at Senwes Park.

Burger claimed three for 38 in 16 overs and Bokako nabbed three for 70 in 21.1 overs – the away side dismissed in 94.1 overs.

It means the Sri Lankans will now need to win the second match starting later this week in order to earn a share of the series, although they were relatively easy winners in a Triangular One-Day competition that ended a week ago when they beat University Sports South Africa (USSA) in the Final.

Their slow start to this game ultimately proved costly after the hosts amassed 382 in the first innings thanks to Matthew Breetzke, with the reply being an under-par 241.

They then restricted Shukri Conrad’s side to just 189 in the second innings and appeared to be the favourites heading into the final day after reaching stumps on day three at 145 for one.

But the South Africans managed some early blows, particularly the first one that accounted for the set Minod Bhanuka 14 runs into the morning when Bokako had him caught behind by Sinethemba Qeshile for 89 (134 balls, 12 fours).

Captain Charith Asalanka (9) and Ashen Bandara (1) then followed as Bokako again struck, along with Marco Jansen (2/58), who got rid of the former, suddenly leaving the Asians on 173 for four.

Dayyaan Galiem (1/37) tilted things more in the hosts’ favour when he had the other key man, Pathum Nissanka (47), also edging to Qeshile.

And, when Burger trapped Kamindu Mendis (17) and Chamika Karunaratne (10) leg before wicket, the end looked near – Sri Lanka slipping to 214 for seven.

A 58-run eighth-wicket stand between Mohamed Shiraz (49) and Nishan Peiris (25) had helped their side roar back, but when the stand was eventually broken, the fast bowlers wrapped up the tail to give the South Africans a morale-boosting win.

The second and final match of the tour begins in Pretoria from Thursday.

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SA EMERGING READY FOR SRI LANKA 4-DAY SERIES

The South Africa Emerging team head into a two-match four-day series against their Sri Lanka counterparts in Potchefstroom on Thursday, keen to make amends for a disappointing one-day triangular series.

Shukri Conrad’s side has shown glimpses of what they can do through the tour thus far, with some outstanding individual performances from the likes of Janneman Malan and Raynard van Tonder with the bat and Thando Ntini with the ball.

But they have not really clicked as a collective and missed out on the final, won by the tourists against the University Sports South Africa (USSA) team on Sunday.

The hosts will now be looking to make amends against a Sri Lanka side that will be further strengthened by some reinforcements and they are wary of the challenge that awaits them at Senwes Park.

“They will be stronger because they have one or two experienced guys flying in for the series and that will make it tougher for us,” coach Conrad said. “I think this team that they brought here is closer to an ‘A’ side rather than an emerging team.”

Nonetheless, the SA coach says he welcomes the tougher competition. “That is something I am extremely comfortable with because it gives our players a great opportunity to test themselves,” he explained. “And if we don’t past the test, then there are still great learnings for everyone involved.

“I want us to be playing against top opposition and this is as good a chance as our players can ask for. All in all, I have every confidence that we can play a lot better in the series.”

The one-day leg of the tour was played in Pretoria having started in early July and the team will now be looking forward to a change of venue for the first four-dayer.

Conrad continued: “We arrived in Potch on Monday after having the weekend off and we’ve been preparing ourselves well so that we can hit the ground running on Thursday. We want to be competitive in these two games, and like I did in the one-day series, I’ll be hoping to give the entire squad a go in these longer games as well.”

Reflecting on that one-day series where the South Africans managed two wins in six, Conrad said it was a good learning curve for his charges.

“It was hugely disappointing to miss out on the final,” he added. “But that was not what the series was all about, it was also about development.

“We have guys that are working on their games here and we’re trying to take them in a certain direction. Especially on the batting front where we have players we are trying to guide, there’s a certain way we want them to play and to a large extent, there have been some winnings on that front.

“But yes, it is disappointing because you want to be playing in finals but, at the end of the day, we just weren’t good enough to do that.

“In saying that, I’m happy with where the group is at. We’re now moving to a different format and we have to make sure we’re really switched on for this week.”

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PROTEAS WOMEN LOOKING FORWARD TO WI TOUR

Proteas captain, Dané van Niekerk believes the West Indies tour will provide the perfect opportunity for senior players to showcase their experience in conditions unknown to the majority of the team. South Africa’s last tour to the Caribbean region was in 2012 and only four players remain from that squad.

The tour will comprise a three-match ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) One-Day International (ODI) and five-match T20 series. It will play a big role in the tourists’ plans to secure points towards direct qualification for the 2021 ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as well as solidify preparation for the first-ever stand-alone ICC Women’s World T20 also in the West Indies this November.

“I think this is going to be a tough and challenging tour,” the skipper commented. “It’s located in absolute paradise, of course, you won’t get to see more beautiful places when on a cricket tour, but when it comes down to the business of cricket, the West Indies will test the athlete in you like very few places will. The heat, the humidity, their very unique pitches, it all comes down to one package that is designed to demand a lot out of a player and it’s why I’m really looking forward to seeing what the seniors do when they are presented with this type of challenge.

The seniors Van Niekerk refers to are vice-captain Chloe Tryon, Mignon du Preez and Marizanne Kapp, while she believes the knowledgeable minds of Lizelle Lee, Masabata Klaas and Suné Luus will also play a big role in rallying up the predominantly young team.

“I’m going to look to them to help lead the youngsters and provide guidance in the changeroom,” she continued. “We have four players who have toured here and another handful of senior players who have played all over the world and know what it’s like to adapt to difficult conditions. We have been blessed with an exciting group of youngsters who are salivating at just the thought of getting started and we need to bottle that energy and distribute it wisely.”

The Proteas boast four graduates from the South African Emerging team whose performances in the last season made compelling arguments for selection. Saarah Smith, Tumi Sekhukhune, Robyn Searle and Faye Tunnicliffe are all exciting prospects for Van Niekerk.

“It’s really encouraging to see how much talent has come up in the last few years and that the CSA pipeline is developing some quality players,” she elaborated. “I’m looking forward to seeing what these girls do and the fact that each offers something different and unique to the team’s needs is even better. That, mixed with other young talents that we already have in Laura Wolvaardt, Riaisibe Ntozakhe and Zintle Mali is the stuff captains’ dreams are made of. It’s going to be a good headache for selectors when it comes to picking teams going forward.

“We have a lot to play for on this tour and I hope that the balance of youthful exuberance to experience will give us that ‘X-Factor’ that we’re looking for because West Indies as a team in home conditions is going to be a big challenge.”

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DE BRUYN PUTS DOWN MARKER WITH MAIDEN TEST CENTURY

Theunis de Bruyn put down his marker for an extended run in the Standard Bank Proteas Test team with his maiden Test century on the fourth and final day of the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Monday.

He was unable to prevent Sri Lanka from clinching the inevitable win by 199 runs and a 2-0 series victory but both he and Temba Bavuma will have gone a long way to restore credibility for South Africa’s ability to make runs on the sub-continent.

De Bruyn was eventually bowled, not offering a stroke, by Rangana Herath for 101 (232 balls, 12 fours) to be the eighth man out by which time the game was beyond saving but his fourth innings century will go down alongside other notable fourth innings centuries for the Proteas.

These include Jonty Rhodes unbeaten century in the first ever Test match between the Proteas and Sri Lanka at Morutuwa in 1993, Jacques Kallis’ maiden Test century at Melbourne in 1997, Faf du Plessis’ match-saving century at Adelaide in 2012, the centuries made by Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers in chasing down 414 for victory at Perth in 2008 and the centuries by De Villiers and Du Plessis that nearly brought about a record runs chase against India at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in 2013.

But, taking into account the struggle that foreign batsmen have on the sub-continent, De Bruyn’s innings has a special status.

De Bruyn and Bavuma both displayed excellent technique with their footwork and decisive use of the bat that largely took the bat/pad catch and lbw out of the equation.

This was De Bruyn’s debut Test match on the sub-continent while it was only Bavuma’s fifth, one of which was a virtual wash-out in Bangladesh, and they can both take a lot out of their performances looking ahead to the next visit to India.

Bavuma contributed the majority share (63 off 98 balls, 4 fours) to a partnership of 123 that was only six short of South Africa’s sixth-wicket partnership record against Sri Lanka.

Together they were responsible for the Proteas having easily their best batting session of the series with 109 runs being scored for the loss of 2 wickets in the morning session. The result was that the Proteas were able to make their highest fourth innings total ever on the sub-continent of 290.

The Proteas now have a few days to regroup ahead of the start of the five-match ODI Series in Dambulla on Sunday.

Sri Lanka opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne was the obvious choice as both Man of the Match and Man of the Series as his consistent batting in both matches as his 356 runs at an average of 118 was an essential difference between the two sides.

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MOMENTUM PROTEAS KEEP INDIA FROM SERIES WHITEWASH

India’s quest for a maiden bilateral series whitewash against South Africa was thwarted by the hosts with a resounding seven-wicket win in Potchefstroom. Laura Wolvaardt and Mignon du Preez, who both struck half-centuries, played protagonists in South Africa’s first win in the three-match series, aided by a brisk 41-run cameo from captain Dane van Niekerk and India’s sloppiness in the end overs of their 240-run defence.

Needing 63 off the last nine overs, and the fourth-wicket stand between du Preez and Niekerk worth only nine runs, Shikha Pandey dropped a Niekerk force at mid-off off the first ball of the 42nd over. Four balls later, legspinner Poonam Yadav gave herself a chance of picking up her second wicket and India a shot at sending back du Preez, only to be squandered by wicketkeeper Sushma Verma in the form of a missed stumping. When Poonam came back in the 44th to bowl her ninth over, she dropped a return catch off van Niekerk, who subsequently unleashed a flurry of drives and sweeps – some while falling on her knee – and peppered the square-leg boundary for quick runs. She totaled five fours in her unbeaten 30-ball innings, while routinely capitalising on overthrows from India in the back-end of the chase.

Van Niekerk’s ingenuity amounted to a 72-run stand with du Preez, who anchored the chase with an unbeaten 111-ball 90 that steered a 118-run third-wicket partnership with 18-year-old Wolvaardt. Coming into the game on the back of scores 9 and 21 in the previous two ODIs, Wolvaardt weathered the early loss of opening partner Lizelle Lee, and put on 41 runs with Andrie Steyn (30 off 53) en route to her 88-ball 59. In doing so, Wolvaardt became the youngest South African to notch up 1000 runs in ODI cricket. After Ekta Bisht removed Wolvaardt, du Preez kept the chase on track with plucky singles, including the one that sealed the chase with four balls to spare.

Out of the three changes made to India’s winning combination from the previous two matches, debutant Pooja Vastrakar, the teenage medium-pacer who came in for Jhulan Goswami, and Bisht, who replaced fellow left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, leaked 77 runs between them for a solitary wicket in their combined 18 overs. The other change – in the batting department – Mona Meshram, who came in for Punam Raut, pinched 11 in her 22-ball labour during an India innings that blew hot and cold in their 240-run effort.
While Smriti Mandhana, the Player of the Series, followed her 135 and 84 with a duck, captain Mithali Raj fell for a 24-ball 4 as both found themselves in the middle of a blistering opening burst from Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail, who topped and tailed her 9-1-30-4 with the wickets of Mandhana and tailender Bisht. Deepti Sharma, however, validated Raj’s decision to promote her to the opening role with a 112-ball 79. After van Niekerk brought Harmanpreet Kaur’s 35-ball 25 to an end, Deepti steadied India’s innings with an 83-run stand with Veda Krishnamurthy, becoming the youngest Indian to get to the 1000-run mark in women’s ODIs.

Krishnamurthy, meanwhile, added urgency to the innings with a quick-paced second straight fifty, before a run-a-ball 17 from Verma and 31-run blitz from Pandey hoisted India to 240 as the hosts bowled them out off the last ball of the innings, concluded by part-time bowler Chloe Tryon who took two wickets in her 10 overs.

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RABADA MOVES TO CAREER-BEST THIRD POSITION AMONG BOWLERS

South Africa pace bowler Kagiso Rabada has gained two slots to reach a career-best third position among bowlers in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings after his player of the match performance against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein which helped complete a 2-0 win in the two-Test series.

Rabada grabbed five wickets in each innings for an enviable match haul of 10 for 63 that helped his side to an innings and 254 runs victory. He made a notable improvement in the latest rankings, which also take into account the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai, which Sri Lanka won by 68 runs on Tuesday to clinch the series 2-0.

Rabada, a star of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup when his side won it in 2014, has overtaken spinners Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka and Ravichandran Ashwin of India and is now on 876 points, only eight points behind second-placed India spinner Ravindra Jadeja and 20 behind top-ranked James Anderson of England.

Rabada was not the only South Africa pace bowler to gain in the latest rankings as his new-ball partner Duanne Olivier (up nine places to a career-best 48th position), Wayne Parnell (up 10 places to 60th) and Andile Phehlukwayo (up 27 places to 93rd) have also moved up the rankings.

Captain Faf du Plessis and Aiden Markram, century-makers at Bloemfontein, are among the batsmen to gain. Du Plessis’s 135 not out has seen him move up two places to 14th position while Markram has gained 43 slots to reach a career-best 61st position after his knock of 143.

MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings (as on 11 October, after the South Africa v Bangladesh and Pakistan v Sri Lanka series)

Rank Team Points
1 India 125
2 South Africa 111
3 England 105
4 New Zealand 97
5 Australia 97
6 Sri Lanka 94
7 Pakistan 88
8 West Indies 75
9 Bangladesh 72
10 Zimbabwe 00

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RABADA LEADS PROTEAS TO EMPHATIC 333-RUN VICTORY

 

Kagiso Rabada  took on the responsibility of leading the attack in the absence of Morne Morkel in spectacular style as the Standard Bank Proteas thrashed Bangladesh by 333 runs with time and overs to spare on the final day of the first Sunfoil Test match at Senwes Park in Potchofstroom on Monday.

Rabada needed just 19 balls to blow away what was left of the Bangladesh top order with three wickets, including that of captain Mushfiqur Rahim to the third ball he send down.

For good measure Rabada also produced a bullet throw from the deep for a run out before Keshav Maharaj wrapped up what was left of the innings to finish with 7 wickets in the match. This gave him 50 wickets in only 12 Test matches to put him on the list of South Africa’s top performers to this landmark.

The Bangladesh innings lasted only 83 minutes as 7 wickets fell for 41 runs.

Only three of their batsmen reached double figures in this innings in a total of 90 all out. Maharaj finished with 4/25 and Rabada with 3/33.

Dean Elgar was named Sunfoil Man of the Match.

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DU PLESSIS TO MISS OPENING TEST

Standard Bank Proteas test captain, Faf du Plessis will miss the opening Test against England at Lord’s to remain with his wife after the birth of their first child. Dean Elgar will stand in as captain, leading South Africa for the first time.

Du Plessis will rejoin the squad later in the week to prepare for the second Test at Trent Bridge which begins on July 14.

In du Plessis’ absence, South Africa look set to pick Theunis de Bruyn ahead of newcomer Aiden Markram, who was included in the squad as cover for du Plessis. De Bruyn was preferred over Markram in the tour match at New Road last week, and made his debut in South Africa’s most recent Test against New Zealand after Stephen Cook was dropped from the opening berth. De Bruyn scored 12 runs in the match and selection convener Linda Zondi confirmed that when the batsman was reconsidered for a Test spot it would not be as an opener. This is, therefore, an opportunity to blood him in the middle order.

“Theunis played the one Test match in New Zealand. There’s been a sense of fairness to players,” Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, said. “We haven’t really discarded a player after one Test match, or two or three innings. At the moment he would be ahead in the pecking order, ahead of a guy like Aiden.”

Even if Markram is made to wait, South Africa will still have at least one newcomer to the XI come Thursday. Heino Kuhn is set to partner stand-in skipper Elgar at the top of the order which means half of South Africa’s top four will be fairly inexperienced. Hashim Amla, with 103 Test caps, will bat at No.3 with Temba Bavuma and JP Duminy at No.5 and 6 respectively.

South Africa can call on seniority in the bowling department, though. Vernon Philander was passed fit after sustaining an ankle injury during a county stint at Sussex. His availability was particularly pleasing to Domingo, who regards Philander as among the tougher prospects for batsmen.

“Vernon is a fantastic bowler for us. He is probably the hardest bowler to face in our side and when he is not there, we tend to struggle a little but because he gives us that control but also gives us the cutting edge if there is something in the wicket and also balances our side with his batting. He is a fantastic cricketer.”

Philander will form part of a three-pronged pack alongside Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel. Duanne Olivier, Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo are the reserves.

With the focus on the make-up of their own XI as they “try to find out what the best combination is,” as Domingo put it, South Africa have not spent too much time weighing up their opposition. Like South Africa, England are under a new captain in Joe Root – although his is a permanent appointment – and Domingo suggested his side would look to a test a top order which continues to be juggled around.

“We haven’t looked too closely at their side. Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, James Anderson are five seriously experienced players who are all match winners in their own right. They are a good side but they’ve also got some uncertainties,” Domingo said. “There’s a new opening batter in Keaton Jennings who has only played a handful of Tests and Gary Ballance has come back into the side. There are certain areas where they may be a little uncertain about that we want to expose.”

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FICA CONGRATULATES NEW ICC MEMBERS AND URGES ICC TO PRIORITISE STRUCTURE

The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) today congratulated Ireland and Afghanistan on achieving full membership of the ICC and Mr Imran Khawaja on election as deputy chairman of the ICC Board and responded to other reported outcomes of last week’s ICC meetings in London.

Ireland and Afghanistan

FICA congratulates Afghanistan and Ireland on becoming full members of the ICC.

“The promotion of Ireland and Afghanistan to full member status is welcomed by FICA and we look forward to more countries being able to take this step in the future as one aspect of the global expansion of the game,” said FICA Executive Chairman Tony Irish.

International Structure

FICA notes, from media reports, that there appears to be some progress made on Test match and ODI structures, but that there still appears to be no formal outcome on this.  FICA continues to urge the game to prioritise changes to the overall playing structure in order to achieve the most sustainable future for the game and for its players.

The player trends and the shifts in the games’ employment market, highlighted in previous FICA reports, have continued over the last twelve months and the game is becoming increasingly club based and fragmented, creating different markets for players.  The latest T20 league in South Africa, along with the proposed English league, are yet further indications of the clear direction of the game and that the alternative domestic T20 market for players will continue to grow.

“Because of the current playing structure of the game, players are being increasingly forced to choose between the traditional employment market involving international cricket and the more financially attractive new markets in domestic T20 leagues” said, Irish.

“The international game is being seriously challenged by these domestic leagues for time, resource, players and fans not only as a consequence of their attractive nature but also because of failing traditional structures.”

“Putting the best possible structures and context around international cricket is vital to improve the international cricket product, but it is also critical that such structure creates a situation where domestic T20 and international cricket can co-exist, and not compete.  I fear for the future of international cricket if this change doesn’t happen soon.”

FICA believes solutions to imbalances in the structure of the game in the shifting landscape can be found in some of the following:

  • a genuine global structure and scheduling framework for all three formats.
  • a balance between the traditional and new markets which promotes the best players being able to play in a balance of both.
  • a collaborative international approach which includes looking at scheduling windows and at how other sports balance club versus country conflicts.
  • a fit for purpose global regulatory framework agreed with and bought into by, the players.
  • a decreased focus on tinkering with micro issues and delivery mechanics which simply ‘plaster over’ some of the current failings.

Financial Model and Governance

FICA congratulates Mr Imran Khawaja on his election as deputy chairman of the ICC Board and welcomes the appointment of a representative of the Associate countries to this position.

FICA also welcomes a further step towards the unwinding of the ‘Big Three’ financial arrangements and a shift towards recognized principles of good governance and, notably, both the inclusion of a female independent director on the ICC and a more equalized voting system around its table.

“It is hoped that the fairer distribution of financial resources across the game will now be utilized in each country in such a way that it maintains the playing strength of that country.   It is also hoped that the governance changes at ICC will promote prioritization of the global interests of the game ahead of regional interests” concluded Irish.

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MOMENTUM PROTEAS WIN OPENING MATCH

The Momentum Proteas got their 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup campaign off to a winning start when they beat Pakistan by three wickets at Grace Road in Leicester on Sunday. This win marks the side’s highest-ever World Cup run chase after they were set a 207-run target by Sana Mir’s charges.

With Pakistan put in to bat first, Bibi Nahida represented a crucial presence at the crease as fellow opener Ayesha Zafar (nine) and then Javeria Wadood were all bowled by Marizanne Kapp and Moseline Daniels respectively for 43/2.

With just 20 runs managed inside the second 10 overs, it was looking like hard work for Pakistan.

But Bibi – who was dropped by Ayabonga Khaka on 26 – brought up her half-century off 75 balls to steady the ship. Her effort eventually ended when she was run out by Ismail but Pakistan boosted its total later on despite losing Sana Mir and Marina Iqbal off Ismail’s bowling in the final over.

The South Africa openers set about their business well early on with Lee bringing up 1 500 runs in ODI cricket with a six over mid-on before reaching her 10th ODI fifty in dramatic fashion as Sadia dropped a catch at long-on to concede four.

But when Lee and Wolvaardt – who brought up her fourth ODI fifty off 81 balls – were dismissed in the 26th and 31st overs respectively, panic seemed to spread through the South Africa team.

Trisha Chetty (11) was caught at midwicket by Javeria before the latter ran out Kapp (one), Chloe Tryon (three) was bowled by Sadia and captain Dane van Niekerk (two) was another run-out victim, this time by Nain, with four wickets lost for 19 runs.

Mignon du Preez then holed out to Asmavia Iqbal at deep midwicket but Ismail held her nerve.

Losing six wickets in 49 runs was not ideal, but Ismail made her biggest contribution in the game yet, smashing three boundaries in the second-last over to secure victory for her side.

Ismail said: “It’s really important to start tournaments like this on a positive note because it gives you momentum going into the next matches. The confidence boost from today’s game is going to take us a long way in this tournament, just that belief that we can pull off a win even when it looks as though we are down and out showed us that we are capable of more.

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RABADA TOPS ODI BOWLING RANKINGS

Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s 22-year-old pace sensation, has leapfrogged team-mate, Imran Tahir, to become the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world. The top-two one-day bowlers aside, South Africa go into the ICC Champions Trophy with four of the top-ten batsmen in the format as well, as per the latest update to the ICC rankings. AB de Villiers leads the charts, while Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla complete the quartet.

Rabada climbed four spots following the three-match ODI series against England, in which he was the leading wicket-taker with seven wickets at 21.71 – including 4 for 39 in the third game, which helped reduce England to 20 for 6 – and an economy rate of 5.42. Overall in 36 ODI innings since his debut in July 2015, he has 64 wickets at 24.90 and an economy rate of 5.13.

Amla and de Kock were the second and third top scorers in the series, and both move up in the rankings – de Kock from No. 6 to No. 4, and Amla from eleven to ten. De Villiers retained the No. 1 spot, while du Plessis and Tahir lost some ground on the table, falling to No. 2 and No. 6 respectively.

Top-10 ODI batsmen
1 AB de Villiers, 2 David Warner, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Quinton de Kock, 5 Joe Root, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Babar Azam and Martin Guptill, 9 Kane Williamson, 10 Hashim Amla

Top-10 ODI bowlers
1 Kagiso Rabada, 2 Imran Tahir, 3 Mitchell Starc, 4 Sunil Narine, 5 Josh Hazlewood, 6 Trent Boult, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Mohammad Nabi, 9 Shakib Al Hasan, 10 Mitchell Santner

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ISMAIL SET UP MOMENTUM PROTEAS VICTORY

Shabnim Ismail took her second ever five-wicket haul while Raisibe Ntozakhe took an excellent 3/8 on debut to set up a convincing, eight-wicket win for the Momentum Proteas in the first One-Day International of the Cricket South Africa Women’s Quadrangular series against Zimbabwe in Potchefstroom on Sunday. The series includes Ireland and India. 

Ismail took 5/25 in 8.5 overs, which included two maidens to have the visitors bundled out for 78 in 26.5 overs after they elected to bat first. Zimbabwean captain, Sharne Mayers top scored with 24 runs from 29 deliveries as the rest of her line-up visibly struggled to hold their own against the home side. The second-highest score was an unbeaten, 42 ball 13 from Josephine Nkomo, who did her best to keep her wicket intact but had no assistance from the rest of the lower order.

South Africa’s disappointment was with their bowling effort, they yielded 20 runs, including 15 wides.

Nevertheless, the hosts began well with the bat as they embarked on what they would feel would be an attainable run chase. They reached the required total with 230 balls to spare and, with the exception of the lost wickets of Laura Wolvaardt (28) and Lizelle Lee (21), did so with relative ease.

South Africa will face the old enemy, India in their next match on Tuesday, 09 May 2017.

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MULTIPLY TITANS WIN MOMENTUM ONE DAY CUP

Centuries from Multiply Titans’ openers Aiden Markram and Henry Davids handed Titans a 236 run victory over the Warriors in the final of the Momentum One Day Cup at SuperSport Park,  Centurion. A record opening stand of 212 propelled Titans to 425 for 5 – the highest total in the history of South African franchise cricket – before Warriors were bowled out in 31 overs.

Having elected to bat, Titans raced to 100 in 16.2 overs, as Markram picked up eight fours and two sixes to bring up his century off 96 balls. In the next 27 deliveries he faced, the 22-year-old cleared the boundary five more times and hit three more fours to bring up his second-highest score in the tournament (161), after his 183 against Lions in Johannesburg. Davids, who finished the competition as the leading run-scorer with 673 runs at 84.12, joined in the run-fest with a fluent 98-ball 114 – studded with 13 fours and four sixes – in what was his third century and sixth 50-plus knock in eight innings.

Once Warriors captain JJ Smuts broke the stand with Davids’ dismissal in the 30th over, wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen sustained the onslaught with a 50-ball 60, before Chris Morris plundered six sixes and a four to inflict a final burst with an unbeaten 47 off only 12 balls. Heino Kuhn and Morris added 52 for the sixth wicket in the final 2.2 overs, helping Titans post a total in excess of 400 for the third time this season.

Of the eight bowlers used by Warriors, Smuts was the only one to leak less than seven runs an over. Anrich Nortje took the bulk of the beating, conceding 62 in six overs despite having picked up two wickets.

The fate of Warriors’ massive chase depended heavily on strong starts from openers Smuts and Gihahn Cloete – the side’s top two scorers in the tournament. But an early strike from Morris (2 for 41) set them back, as he bowled Cloete (3) in the second over of the innings. Lungi Ngidi’s subsequent double-strike off successive overs accounted for Colin Ingram (1) and Smuts (13), reducing the opposition to 22 for 3 in the fifth over. While Warriors failed to recover thereon, only Jerry Nqolo (40) offered any resistance before falling to Markram (1 for 7), who was named the Player of the Match. Junior Dala further dented Warriors’ chances with two wickets, taking his tournament tally to 16. 

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PROTEAS WOMEN CRUSH BANGLADESH IN OPENING ODI

Momentum Proteas got their tune up to the World Cup qualifiers off in fine fashion as they crushed hosts Bangladesh by 86 runs in the opening One-Day International.

The Proteas womens team are in Bangladesh to play five ODIs before they head to Sri Lanka for the World Cup qualifiers. They would be delighted after their efforts in the first game.

South Africa were off to a superb start thanks to Lizelle Lee and Andreie Steyn, who combined to add 122 in 22.4 overs after being put in to bat. While Steyn was guarded in her approach, scoring slightly over a run every two balls, her partner Lee was in a mood to destroy. Lee smashed 87 off just 71 balls, a knock that included six fours and seven sixes, to blast her team into a dominating position.

After Lee was dismissed, Mignon du Preez took over, hitting a well-paced 62 to further South Africa’s stronghold. Marizanne Kapp added a few lusty blows towards the end as South Africa ended with 251 for 3 in their fifty overs.

Bangladesh’s top three batters – Sharmin Akther, Sanjida Islam and Fargana Hoque – added a combined 22 runs off 95 balls to leave their side on the backfoot.

At 56 for 4 in the 23rd over, Bangladesh were in danger of a massive loss until Nigar Sultana gave the hosts’ total some respectability as she kept the tourists at bay. Sultana hit 59 off 90 deliveries, ending the innings in some style with a flurry of boundaries as South Africa romped home to an 86-run win.

Sune Luus picked up three wickets to finish as South Africa’s most top bowler on the day, while captain Dane van Niekerk impressed with figures of 2 for 23 in her nine overs.

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ICC INTRODUCES CHANGES TO CODE OF CONDUCT

The International Cricket Council has introduced changes to the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, effective 22 September 2016.

There has been no change to the list of offences in the Code of Conduct, or the current penalty regime of warnings/fines/suspensions applicable to each offence, but players who have breached the Code will now also accumulate Demerit Points, which can see repeat offenders suspended. Demerit Points will remain with a player for two years, and all players will start with a zero balance from 22 September to coincide with the introduction of these changes.

The new ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel can be read here, with the changes confined to Article 7 of the Code.

The new DRS playing conditions relating to the LBW ‘Umpire’s Call” will also come into effect on 22 September, with the first match to be played under these regulations the ODI between South Africa and Ireland in Benoni on Sunday.

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BOUCHER APPOINTED AS MULTIPLY TITANS COACH

Mark Boucher has been appointed as coach of the Multiply Titans, winner of all three domestic titles the past two seasons. He will replace the successful Rob Walter, who recently left the Titans to join the Otago Volts as head coach.
Boucher’s Test career was terminated by default rather than by design as he was hit in the eye by a bail in a warm-up game on the tour to England in 2012. He was in the South African changing room for 14 years, representing the Proteas in 147 Tests and 295 One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
As a wicket-keeper he finished with a world-class record of 532 catches and 23 stumpings and established a career as one of the finest glove-men in the recent history of the game.
Boucher loved the scrap, the heat of the battle. He lived for the big moments of the game. When the chips were down, Boucher was at his best.
It was evident in the second Test of his career when he established a world-record 195-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Pat Symcox at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.
Boucher was orthodox as a batsman, and could hold his own against any fast-bowling attack, striking 5 515 test runs at an average of 30.30.
He was a free-flowing batsman who could play shots all around the park, and he didn’t mind the hostile chin music. In fact, he would regularly hook or pull dismissively for four.
Boucher lost the lens, the iris and the pupil of his left eye in that freak accident that terminated his cricketing career in 2012.
Since then, he has launched a conservation project in conjunction with South African Breweries, which aims to raise funds to register rhinos on a national DNA database so that they can be tracked down if poached.
“I am stoked by the opportunity to get back into domestic cricket. Upon my retirement, I realised I would not be able to play the game any longer, but to be involved in the capacity as coach of a domestic power house like the Multiply Titans is thrilling,” said Boucher.

“I would like to fully utilise the opportunity to develop the skills of the Titans squad even more. Rob has left behind an enormous legacy, and it willd be big boots to fill.

“But my challenge is to leave my own footprint and to make a seamless transition in association with a mature and enormously determined group of stars,” he added.

“We are privileged to gain the experience and the astute leadership and knowledge of one of the legends of South Africa as our senior coach,” said Jacques Faul, chief executive of the Multiply Titans.
“We believe it is the perfect fit. We naturally play an explosive brand of cricket. Boucher never shirked his responsibilities in the eye of the storm. He believed that the best form of defence was to attack. And he did so on countless occasions when the circumstances demanded defiance,” said Faul.
“He will be an asset to the Titans and we are looking at Boucher to entrench our position as a domestic cricketing leader on and off the field.”

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VILJOEN SIGNS WITH KENT

Hardus Viljoen, the South Africa fast bowler, has signed as Kent’s overseas player, to strengthen their attack for the last four Championship matches of the season. Kent are currently third in Division Two and pushing for the single promotion spot on offer.

Viljoen, 27, made his only Test appearance to date against England in January, taking the wicket of Alastair Cook with his first ball. The bizhub Highveld Lions player has recently been in action for South Africa A, playing in Townsville against Australia A and Harare against Zimbabwe A.

“I’m delighted to join Kent and experience county cricket,” Viljoen said. “I’ve just played a tri-series for South Africa A so I feel in good shape after a few weeks off. I’m looking forward to representing Kent and I will give it my all as it’s always been a dream to play county cricket.”

Kent’s leading wicket-taker in the Championship this year is Mitch Claydon, while only Matt Coles and Will Gidman – who has played one game on loan from Nottinghamshire – average less than 30. Viljoen takes over from his compatriot Kagiso Rabada, who had a spell with Kent in July. Tom Latham, the New Zealand opener, began the season as their overseas player.

With next year’s Championship featuring an eight-ten split between Divisions One and Two, only one team will go up this year. Kent are currently 24 points behind leaders Essex and one point behind second-placed Leicestershire.

Kent’s chairman of cricket, Graham Johnson, said: “We’ve carried a lot of injuries in the seam bowling department this summer. With four important games left in the campaign we wanted to give ourselves the best chance to build on the work done to get us into the current position to challenge for that one promotion spot. The experience and spark that Hardus can bring will be important in the run in.”

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WOLVAARDT HISTORIC INNINGS

Laura Wolvaardt became the youngest centurion, male or female, for South Africa in international cricket. The 17-year old opener struck a match-winning 105 against Ireland Women to wrap up a 67-run victory in Malahide.

Wolvaardt’s innings began with consecutive fours against Lewis in the fourth over. She had nine boundaries by the time she raised her fifty – off only 51 balls. Her 13th hit to the fence took her to 99 in the 37th over and a couple the next time she got on strike gave her a maiden ODI century. She was 233 days younger than the previous South African record-holder, Johmari Logtenberg of the 2007 women’s team, and a full two years younger than Graeme Pollock when men’s international cricket is taken into account. In women’s cricket, only India’s Mithali Raj has made a hundred at a younger age.

Wolvaardt’s innings was part of an opening partnership that added 192 runs. From the other end, experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Trisha Chetty contributed with 95. With a total of 260 to defend, legspinner Sune Luus picked up her second five-for in three matches to leave the Irish women with very little chance. She took two of the first four wickets to fall leaving the score at 75 for 4. Isobel Joyce and Kim Garth struck half-centuries each, but their efforts barely mattered in a match South Africa dominated. Ireland were bowled out for 193, with six single-digit scores.

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SACA STATEMENT ON CSA CORRUPTION FINDINGS

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) today responded to the Cricket South Africa (CSA) findings in its anti-corruption investigation.
“It will always be a sad day for the sport when players are found to have been involved in corruption”, said SACA chief executive Tony Irish.

“It’s important that where players are found to be guilty under the anti-corruption code that they are then appropriately punished and that the message goes out that cricket will not tolerate any form of corruption. In this regard I would like to commend the CSA investigators for conducting a thorough and professional investigation to date which has resulted in these severe punishments for guilty players.”
“Despite the shadow this casts over the game I think it’s also important to emphasise a few positives in all this. South African cricket has shown that it has measures in place to detect and uncover corruption, properly investigate it and then follow through with prosecution against those who are guilty. Players are properly educated, there is a highly competent anti-corruption unit and there’s a zero tolerance towards corruption.”
“Corruption is however a worldwide issue in cricket and needs to be fought everywhere and at every level. Because it has now been shown to exist in domestic competitions there needs to be a co-ordinated and concerted effort in every country. The players are at the heart of this fight and it’s virtually impossible to successfully defeat corruption unless players are prepared to come forward and help with that fight.

Fortunately this is what has happened in South Africa and I commend those players who came forward to report and to assist with this investigation. The vast majority of our cricketers in South Africa are clean and play the game hard and fair. Although players are obliged under the provisions of the code to report corrupt activity to the authorities it still takes a lot of courage for a player to actually do this.”
“SACA will continue to work with the players and with CSA to protect the integrity of the game.”

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SWD APPOINT MOLES AS HEAD COACH

Former Warwickshire batsman  has been put in charge of South African provincial team South Western Districts (SWD) for the next two seasons. Moles, who had coached New Zealand, Hong Kong, Scotland, Kenya and Afghanistan in the past, has a long-standing association with South African cricket, having spent five seasons playing at Griqualand-West in Kimberley and coaching Free State.

Moles was in charge of the Free State side, which included players such as Boeta Dippenaar, Nicky Boje and Morne van Wyk, in 1998 – before South Africa’s domestic system was franchised. Then, he coached at the highest domestic level in the country.

He has now accepted a post in the second tier of the structure. South Africa’s six franchises form the top level of domestic cricket, with the 13 provincial semi-professional sides making up a lower level. SWD, who are based in Oudtshoorn – 350 kilometres east of Cape Town – feed into the Cobras set-up and contain a rich basin of cricketing talent that Moles hopes to tap into.

“I have followed the structures and growth in SWD during the past decade and I firmly believe that there is a pool of exceptional talent in the Southern Cape,” Moles said.

In 2013, SWD were granted CSA affiliate status and they have continued to grow since then. Their home ground has received major upgrades, and this summer, they are one of the four hosts of the Africa T0 Cup, which will also be Moles’ first assignment. Last year, SWD missed out on a place in the playoffs after beating Gauteng and losing to Kenya by one run. However, they are hoping to improve on those performances this time around and challenge in the three-day and one-day cups as well.

“Andy has achieved great success at every level he has coached at and we expect that he will continue to achieve such success at SWD upon his appointment as our new head coach,” Rudy Claassen, the SWD president, said. “We believe that he has what it takes to get the best out of our players as he brings something special with him in that he has a proven track record, and hopefully his experience and expertise aids in SWD winning some silverware in the near future.”

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WISE SIGNS WITH SUSSEX

English county Sussex have announced the signing of South African all-rounder David Wiese for next week’s NatWest T20 Blast matches at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove.

The 31-year-old will be available for Sussex’s first two home matches, against Somerset on Wednesday, June 1 and Surrey on Friday June 3, filling in before the arrival of Bangladeshi left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League.

The seamer has featured regularly for South Africa’s T20I squad throughout 2015 and was part of South Africa’s 2016 World T20 squad. To date, he has played 20 T20 Internationals and six One-Day Internationals, having taken 33 wickets across the two formats.

His best international figures of five for 23 came against the West Indies in Durban last year.

Wiese, who is currently also in the IPL, playing with fellow Sussex star Chris Jordan for Royal Challengers Bangalore, said of his move to Hove: “I am really excited to be joining Sussex and taking part in the NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

“I have always wanted to play county cricket and from speaking to Chris Jordan here in the IPL and my discussions with Mark Davis I have heard a lot of very good things about the club.”

Sussex’s head coach, Mark Davis, told the county’s official website: “It’s great to have David joining us fresh from the IPL. He is an accomplished cricketer in T20, having played a key role for South Africa in the format.

“He can bowl at any stage of the innings, and is a hard-hitting batsman, which makes him a valuable cricketer and we look forward to him being an asset to us whilst he is here at Hove.”

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PROTEAS SLIP DOWN THE ICC TEST RANKINGS

Australia have opened up a six-point gap over India at the top of the ICC Test team rankings. This follows the annual update with the results from 2012/13 no longer included in the calculations and outcomes from the 2014/15 series weighted at 50 percent.

India now lead third-placed Pakistan by just one point. Pakistan have benefitted from the annual update as defeat against South Africa, 3-0, in 2012/13 no longer counts, while the 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka in 2014/15 has its weighting reduced to 50 percent.

The annual Test update has resulted in South Africa dropping from third position to sixth after conceding 17 points. This is due to South Africa’s victories over England, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan in 2012/13 all being dropped from the rankings calculations.

The annual update has also affected the West Indies, who have retained their eighth position but have dropped from 76 points to 65 points. This is because their victories over New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2012/13 have all been dropped from calculations.

The gap between the West Indies and ninth-ranked Bangladesh has been slashed from 29 points to just eight points.

With Sri Lanka and Pakistan set to visit England for three and four Tests respectively, Australia travelling to Sri Lanka in July for three Tests and South Africa hosting New Zealand in August for two Tests, the series outcomes may well result in significant movements on the team rankings.

 

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PLAYERS VOICE THEIR CONCERNS OVER DAY-NIGHT TEST MATCH

AB de Villiers, South Africa’s Test captain, has voiced concerns over the day-night match in Adelaide and has suggested that a few Australia players may also be reluctant to go ahead with the game.

The third Test of the series between Australia and South Africa has been allotted to Adelaide between November 24 and 28, according to the 2016-17 summer fixtures released by Cricket Australia, but there is no confirmation yet on whether this will be a day-night game. With the possibility of a No. 1 Test ranking at stake in the match, de Villiers said that that a day-night game could be “fundamental change” to the itinerary.

“At the moment, we are not too keen on playing in the proposed day-night Test match due to a few concerns that have come from a number of sources involved in the maiden Test played last year,” he told Independent Media. “We had a meeting with Steven Smith and some of the Australian players when they toured here earlier this year, and the consensus from our talks were that there are just too many unknowns. Players from both teams were reluctant to go ahead with it.

“South Africa and Australia have a great cricketing rivalry, and this is a series that we value. We could well be playing for an opportunity to regain the No.1 Test ranking, so playing a day-night match is a fundamental change to the itinerary.

The first ever day-night Test, between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide last year, was dominated by quick bowlers and ended in three days with a three-wicket win for the hosts. De Villiers raised doubts about the durability of the pink-ball used in the format, and said that alterations to the pitch, to reduce wear and tear on the ball, were also a significant factor.

“The pink ball has had some issues with how it responds to 80 overs of Test cricket and that is one of the key issues that we feel plays a big role in the success of the day-night Test,” De Villiers said. “The pitch also had to be ‘doctored’ to minimise the abrasive wear and tear to the pink ball, which seems to happen quicker than the red ball, and this is also an area we feel is a big factor in the run of play.”

De Villiers did not believe that a practice match could help his side adjust to the pink ball: “I don’t think it (warm-up game) will. I don’t think it’s something that you acclimatize to in one match and the intensity of an international cricket match also brings in other factors which are hard to replicate in a warm-up match.”

South Africa fast-bowler Dale Steyn, meanwhile, said he is keen to play a day-night Test in his career. “I don’t want to go through my whole career without playing a day-night game,” Steyn told cricket.com.au in Rajkot where he is playing the IPL . “How cool are they? I thought it looked awesome when New Zealand and Australia played one. It looked entertaining, there was a big crowd. The ball is pink – it’s something different. You want to test your skills with that whole thing and it’s very exciting.”

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DISAPPOINING FINISH FOR MOMENTUM PROTEAS

The Momentum Proteas bowed out of the World Twenty20 on a disappointing note after a poor batting collapse lead to a 10-run defeat against Sri Lanka in Bangalore on Monday.

In a televised match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the South Africans did a good job to restrict theSri Lankans to 114/7. Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus grabbed two wickets apiece, despite Chamari Atapattu’s inspiring captains knock of  52 (49 balls, 5 fours, 1 six).

Medium-pacer Kapp picked up 2/17 in her four overs, while spinner Luus, the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, managed 2/20 in three overs as the Proteas women restricted their opponents excellently.

The second highest scorer after the Sri Lankan skipper was Prasadani Weerakkody with 15. However, the South African women let themselves down badly. They failed to cash in on their prolific start handed to them by openers Dane van Niekerk (24 off 31 balls) and Trisha Chetty (26 off 25).

Instead they found themselves coming up short on 104/7 after poor batting saw them lose 3 wickets for 2 runs and then 7 for 52 in total. Van Niekerk and Chetty put on 50 together in nine overs, before the former was run-out by the Atapattu and Weerakkody combination.

Captain Mignon du Preez was out for a four-ball duck, when she was trapped leg before wicket by her opposite number Atapattu, while Chetty fell the same way to Eshani Kaushalya – the first three wickets falling within the space of seven balls. Unfortunately that knocked the stuffing out of the South Africans, with the next best scorer being Kapp with 14.

It was disappointingly the third loss in four games for the Momentum Proteas as they ended the competition placed fourth in Group A. Du Preez admitted the batting let South Africas down.

“We had a good start but we lost it in the middle order,” she said. “We have been struggling with our batting in the whole tournament. This is something we need to work on and come back stronger.

“We have a strong batting line-up, we knew we could chase down the runs. But that did not happen.”

 

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NAGPUR PITCH RECEIVES OFFICIAL WARNING

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Jamtha Stadium, Nagpur, has been given an official warning under the ICC Pitch Monitoring Process following the third Test between India and South Africa.

 

The sanction took into consideration the fact that there had been no concerns about the performance of the pitch after any of the other international matches played at this venue.

 

In reaching the verdict, the ICC agreed with the “poor” rating given to the pitch by Jeff Crowe, the match referee for the Nagpur Test played from 25-27 November, who observed that the pitch did not allow a fair contest between bat and the ball.

 

The finding was made by ICC General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, and ICC chief match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, after watching footage of the match, reviewing the post-match reports from Mr Crowe, and considering the response provided by the BCCI.

 

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PROTEAS STAY AT NUMBER 1

India has moved into second place in the ICC Test Championship table after winning the four-Test series against South Africa by 3-0.

The series result has helped Virat Kohli’s side gain 10 points, which has lifted it from 100 points to 110 points and ahead of Australia and Pakistan, which have slipped one place each to third and fourth, respectively.

Hashim Amla’s side has retained its number-one Test ranking but its lead at the top has been slashed from 16 points to just four points.

India has no more Test matches before the annual 1 April cut-off date, but third-ranked Australia will host eighth-ranked West Indies in a three-Test series from 10 December, sixth-ranked New Zealand will go head to head with seventh-ranked Sri Lanka also from 10 December, while fifth-ranked England will travel to South Africa for a four-Test series which will start in Durban on 26 December.

To finish as the number-one ranked Test side at the annual cut-off date, South Africa will have to, at least, draw the series with England. Its failure to do so, will result in it falling from the top pedestal and handing the number-one position to Australia (provided it wins the series against the West Indies by 3-0).

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NAGPUR PITCH RATED ‘POOR’

The Nagpur pitch used for the third Test between India and South Africa has been given a “poor” rating by the match referee, Jeff Crowe, in his report. The report has been submitted to the ICC, and the BCCI, which has been informed of the rating, will now have 14 days to respond.

The match finished inside three days, ending in an India victory, and there were several occasions of the ball misbehaving off the surface. Batsmen had to contend with variable turn, variable pace and variable bounce even on the first day of the game.

The match referee’s report, which included concerns raised by the match officials, will lead to a review of the Nagpur pitch’s performance. ICC’s General Manager of cricket Geoff Allardice and Chief Match Referee, Ranjan Madugalle will consider all the evidence, including studying video footage of the match, before reaching their decision on whether or not the pitch was poor and if so, whether a penalty should be imposed.

The penalty for a pitch that is called poor for the first time, as would be the case for Nagpur, can range from a warning and/or a fine of $15,000 with a directive to institute corrective measures.

The ICC’s pitch and outfield monitoring process in 2010 states that a pitch is said to be poor if it any of the following apply:

  • The pitch offers excessive seam movement at any stage of the match
  • The pitch displays excessive unevenness of bounce for any bowler at any stage of the match
  • The pitch offers excessive assistance to spin bowlers, especially early in the match
  • The pitch displays little or no seam movement or turn at any stage in the match together with no significant bounce or carry, thereby depriving the bowlers of a fair contest between bat and ball.

Thirty-three of the 40 wickets that fell were to spinners. South Africa, in their first innings, slumped to 12 for 5 and then 79 all out. Not a single batsman was able to score a fifty, which was a first for a Test in India.

The match narrative prompted strong criticism of the extent to which pitches have been made to suit spin but the Indian camp had been resolute in saying these are the conditions that should be expected in India. Captain Virat Kohli said it was up to the batsmen to adapt. Team director Ravi Shastri had said there was “nothing wrong with” the pitches in use for the series three days ago.

From the South African camp, their captain Hashim Amla had called the Nagpur pitch the toughest he has had in his 11-year Test career.

A senior BCCI official familiar with Indian pitches expressed surprise at the rating and even compared the Nagpur pitch to the Ashes Test earlier this summer at Trent Bridge. “Even that Test at Trent Bridge finished in two days, so I don’t know how this rating was arrived at,” the official said. He added that the Nagpur pitch had bounce, the ball was turning and seaming.

According to this official countries would keep doctoring pitches in the name of home advantage and that the best way to curb it is if the ICC appointed pitch inspectors for bilateral series. “The ICC should appoint five to six pitch inspectors, the itineraries are known well in advance. Send the inspectors well ahead of the series to various countries. Let them also study the pitches, understand the nature of the pitches and the local weather as such factors play a role. That is the only way to stop this [excess home advantage]”

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Amla drives South Africa after shaky start

On a track that is expected to be full of runs, and against arguably the mightiest batting line-up in the world, it was imperative that Pakistan’s bowlers made early breakthroughs. They did, three times in the morning session, but with the track easing out Hashim Amla added to the mountains of runs he has scored in recent years with an unbeaten half-century. Keeping him company at tea was JP Duminy, who made a brisk 36 in his first Test innings in over a year.

The new ball didn’t hoop around dramatically for the left-arm quicks but the returning Mohammad Irfan troubled the batsmen early on. Allied with a persistent offstump line, he got his typical extra bounce which led to a wicket in the third over itself as Alviro Petersen fell to a juggling catch at short leg.

Graeme Smith has had a long absence from top-flight cricket and it showed in his first international innings back. He was left searching for the ball outside off several times, there were a couple of streaky edged boundaries behind the wicket, after the second of which he nicked one through to the keeper.

It required the DRS for him to be given out, and luckily for Pakistan this was one of the most clear-cut decisions for a Hot Spot-less review system – there was a loud sound as the ball passed bat, and the bat was well away from the body. How well this review system will hold up for more complicated bat-pad chances, which are likely to crop up for the spinners as the match progresses, remains to be seen.

Another man returning from time away from cricket, Jacques Kallis, didn’t look as rusty as Smith, but he too didn’t make too many runs, inside-edging an incutter from Junaid to the keeper for 5. It wasn’t the biggest of crowds that showed up in Abu Dhabi, but they certainly found their voice when South Africa were dithering at 43 for 3.

Few sights are as reassuring for South Africa fans as seeing Amla in the middle. Amla also had his early problems, but then settled in, unfurling a cover drive which was the only intentional boundary of the first hour. He had a close run-out chance but otherwise he was getting ominously comfortable, rounding off the session with another of his eye-catching off drives for four.

With AB de Villiers also looking in good touch, Pakistan’s attack didn’t pose much of a threat after lunch. Amla and de Villiers were cruising in the second session when a dozy moment from de Villiers resulted in him losing his wicket. He looked to defend off the front foot and after an lbw appeal, he held the pose for the umpire. The ball rolled over towards slip, and the keeper Adnan Akmal signalled to Younis Khan to return the ball to the stumps. Adnan took the bails off and after many replays it was determined that de Villiers’ backfoot was just outside the crease.

Either side of that dismissal, South Africa were barely troubled and Pakistan would perhaps be reminded of what happened on the first day the previous time these two sides met in a Test in Abu Dhabi.

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