Telford Vice's Blog, page 13

New Zealand v South Africa too close to call

“Logistically things could have been more efficient. But the guys did enjoy the time to galavant in Dubai.” – Temba Bavuma on South Africa’s enforced trip to India’s home from home.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

IN an increasingly mealy-mouthed cricket world, Herschelle Gibbs isn’t often without a strong opinion on anything related to the game. But, on Tuesday, he paused, considered his verdict, and could manage only, “Not a lot to choose between those two.”

Gibbs was trying to lean this w...

What to do with 18 empty hours in Dubai? Ask South Africa …

“It’s not ideal for the body, but at least we had some time to get out and walk around and get loose.” – Heinrich Klaasen didn’t mind dashing to Dubai.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

WHAT would you do with 18 hours in Dubai? Go to the mall? To another mall? Still another? And, of course, get stuck in traffic between malls. What else is there to do in a place comprised of not much more than a collection of soulless shopping malls separated by perpetually snarled traffic?

That’s an uncharitab...

Dominant South Africa seal semi spot in win over abject England

“I haven’t played golf for a long time.” – Marco Jansen looks forward to South Africa’s trip to Dubai.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

KURT Darren probably doesn’t know it, but he was big in Karachi on Saturday. Darren, a purveyor of bouncy Afrikaans pop, was a loud and proud presence at the National Stadium as South Africa sent England packing from the Champions Trophy with a third defeat as well as their tails between their legs.

Two of Darren’s biggest treffers — hits — Loslappie (Ek Wil ...

South Africa still await true test

“I’ve reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame. I’m sad about that.” – Joss Buttler

Telford Vice / Cape Town

WELL, this is awkward. Previewing near the sharp end of tournaments can be tricky. This is one of those times.

If Australia beat Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday, the Aussies and South Africa are in the semifinals and the latter’s match against England in Karachi is a dead rubber. If the Afghans beat Australia, the South Africans still go through. Un...

Champions Trophy ball in India’s Dubai court, says Van der Dussen

“The pressure would be on them to get it right because they have all that knowledge.” – Rassie van der Dussen on India’s advantage.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

THE onus is on India to make the most of the privileges they enjoy — and which other teams don’t — at the Champions Trophy, Rassie van der Dussen told a press conference on Thursday.

“If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practise in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it’s def...

Fancy 400? Australia, South Africa ready to rock Rawalpindi …

 “Any Australian outfit who come together for an ICC event is always one you don’t take lightly.” – Temba Bavuma

Telford Vice / Cape Town

“WE might need to make 400 if we bat first,” Alex Carey said during a press conference in Rawalpindi on Monday, the day before Australia’s Champions Trophy match against South Africa. 

In Karachi on Friday, South Africa’s 315/6 was enough to beat Afghanistan by 107 runs. On Saturday in Lahore, England scored 351/5 — which was the tournament’s record...

Rickelton repletes record run rain

“Pakistan is renowned for good pitches, and when the dew sets in the ball skids on quite nicely as well. I guess the fundamentals are it’s batter friendly, but you still have to execute.” – Ryan Rickelton

Telford Vice / Cape Town

BOWLERS, look away now. Or at least be happy if you’re not playing in the Champions Trophy, which has already delivered a run glut of record proportions. 

Ryan Rickelton’s 103 in Karachi on Friday, when South Africa totalled 315/6 and dismissed Afghanistan fo...

Game one crunch looms for Afghans, South Africa

“As sportsmen our job is to play cricket. We don’t care what’s going on outside. We can only control the things in the ground so we focus on that. We just do the controllable things.” – Hashmatullah Shahidi on calls for teams to boycott playing against Afghanistan.  

Telford Vice / Cape Town

GROUP B’s first match, between Afghanistan and South Africa in Karachi on Friday, could be the biggest game on this side of the Champions Trophy draw. And that despite the fact that Australia and Eng...

South Africa look to Maharaj to keep bowling bases covered

“I’m still trying to bowl my best ball to create opportunity but probably with a more defensive field.” – Keshav Maharaj

Telford Vice / Cape Town

IT’S rare that South Africa go into a tournament without several of their best fast bowlers, but that is the lot of their Champions Trophy squad — who have pitched up in Pakistan without Anrich Nortjé, Gerald Coetzee and Nandré Burger, among others, because of injury.

South Africa’s game is built around pace bowling. Their batting is frequen...

Need runs? Bat in Pakistan …

“It could be a case of bringing the stumps more into play, or it could be forcing the batter to try and score in a certain area.” – Anton Roux, South Africa’s bowling coach, on surviving Pakistan’s placid pitches.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

THE Urdu word for runs translates as dour-ain. Expect to see many of them scored in the nine confirmed Champions Trophy matches that will be played in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi from Wednesday to March 1. The batting will be anything but dour.

Fr...