Telford Vice's Blog, page 23

The different worlds of South Africa and India

“We gave opportunities to new players in the last couple of series. We didn’t get the results we wanted, but there were a lot of learnings.” – Reeza Hendricks

Telford Vice / Cape Town

THE men’s T20 World Cup final in Barbados in June marked the start of journeys in opposite directions for the teams involved. Including that match, South Africa have lost five of their last six games in the format. India have won 10 of their last dozen T20Is and tied another.

Considering the gutsy cricke...

Rabada’s rollercoaster from Mohali to Chattogram

“We’re here to play and entertain. But players go through ups and downs. I don’t think people understand that. I’m not playing the sympathy card, but we go through a lot of emotions.” – Kagiso Rabada

Telford Vice / Cape Town

NINE years ago to the day on Friday, Faf du Plessis told a press conference in Mohali: “We are expecting the worst. We are expecting the ball to spin on day one.” It was four days before the start of a Test series that marked the end of a bright era for South Africa,...

Cricket’s shrinking world built on vast distances and multiple times zones

“We’re seeing that with other sides around the world having to field two different squads. We want to be in the same position and know that we’re strong enough to win on both fronts.” – Rob Walter

Telford Vice / Cape Town

WHEN South Africa’s squad for a men’s T20I series against India starting next week was announced on Thursday, South Africa went to tea on the third day of the second Test in Chattogram with six wickets to take, and a lead of 373, to win the series 2-0.

When Rob Walte...

South Africa’s Asian runs redemption

“The two guys you mentioned up front, Graeme and Neil Mack, were KES boys. They taught that to me at school; I was in the same school.” – Tony de Zorzi

Telford Vice / Cape Town

SEVEN hours and 12 minutes is long enough to drive from Delhi to Agra and see the Taj Mahal. But you couldn’t make a decent Dhal Makhani in that time. Not properly, anyway. You could fly from Boston to San Francisco, but not from Houston to Honolulu. These days, that’s barely long enough to play a T20.

On a goo...

De Zorzi, Stubbs return South Africa to batting success in Asia

“We’ve got KG, so he can just bowl. It’s going to be a graft.” – Tristan Stubbs on trying to win in Chattogram.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

SOUTH Africa have scored three or more centuries in consecutive men’s Tests on the same tour to Asia six times. Once, at Eden Gardens in November and December 1996, they made four in a single match. But, before Monday, they hadn’t done so since July 2014.

The honour roll for this feat groans with heavyweights including Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Gr...

Najmul Bangladesh’s latest nightmare, South Africa settled

“Hopefully we can start well again. It’s great to be able to start on the front foot.” – Aiden Markram

Telford Vice / Cape Town

TO this series’ list of notable newsmakers, add Najmul Hossain Shanto. Unlike the other two, Shakib Al Hasan and Chandika Hathurusinghe, Najmul is still on the scene. But maybe not for much longer in his current role.

Shakib withdrew from the squad six days before the start of the first Test in Mirpur, citing security concerns in the wake of his decision to j...

Bavuma elbowed out

“He’s our best Test batter, so, yes, it’s a setback.” – Shukri Conrad on Temba Bavuma’s forced withdrawal.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

TEMBA Bavuma’s elbow injury has ruled him out of the second men’s Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram, which starts on Tuesday. Aiden Markram, who led the visitors to victory by seven wickets in the first Test in Mirpur on Thursday, will retain the captaincy.

Bavuma hasn’t played since he hurt his left elbow as he dived to make his ground during an ODI ...

Rare Asian win keeps South Africa in hunt for WTC final

“I don’t think [winning in Asia is] something South Africans will ever take for granted. The biggest thing you take from it is the belief and the confidence that you actually can do well here as a team.” – Aiden Markram

Telford Vice / Cape Town

MORE than half of South Africa’s XI who beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Mirpur on Thursday have never been on the losing side in a men’s Test in Asia. The rest had never been part of a winning team in the subcontinent.

It is, of course, a t...

Verreynne sweeps from the soul

“Probably 90% of that innings was against spin, where things are happening quickly and you don’t have much time to reset.” – Kyle Verreynne

Telford Vice / Cape Town

GINGERS have no soul. Theories on the origins of this slur are varied. Redheaded men were burnt to death as offerings to the gods in ancient Egypt. Redheaded women suffered the same fate during witch trials in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. People from Ireland, the most redheaded country in the world, were targets for...

A pitch for all bowlers’ seasons

“Everyone in the back of their minds plays for milestones, and it was a relief. I’ll never forget it. It’s a special moment.” – Kagiso Rabada on taking 300 Test wickets. 

Telford Vice / Cape Town

YOU could have done anything in cricket on the Mirpur pitch on Monday. Except bat. Sixteen of the 19 who tried to do so were dismissed in the 81.1 overs bowled before bad light ended play on the opening day of Bangladesh’s men’s Test series against South Africa.

No-one was able to withstand m...