Telford Vice's Blog, page 4

Maharaj makes magic in all formats

“I was disappointed [to be left out], but I think the coaching staff felt a certain way. So it’s nice to put in a performance to show I can do it in the shorter formats.” – Keshav Maharaj

Telford Vice / Cape Town

A South Africa team that doesn’t include Keshav Maharaj is as rare as a sponsor’s logo on the front of the players’ shirts. Almost, anyway.

Measured from his debut in each format, Maharaj has played in 80.82% of South Africa’s Tests and 60% of their T20Is. But in only 43.75% ...

From the steps of St George’s Cathedral to the people of Gaza

The vigil at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town last week (Photo: Telford Vice).

The great and the good were there, among them Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman, courageous writer Megan Choritz and Zapiro, the rock star of cartoonists.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

A simple white cloth lays on a countertop near the back of the aisle at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town. On it is embroidered, in red letters, the Lord’s Prayer.

Fixed to the top lefthand corner of the cloth by a...

Benazzi’s try would have changed South Africa’s history

“I was born in Africa and I also suffered from racism. In my early years in France, I couldn’t get away from it. Racism is like a rape that touches your soul and marks you all your life.” – Abdelatief Benazzi

Telford Vice / Cape Town

TWO words to freeze the blood of South Africans of a certain mindset: Abdelatief Benazzi. Twenty years on, those words still unsettle and disturb us.

Twenty years on, Benazzi, speaking exclusively to Rapport from New Zealand, where he was for France’s tou...

Close again, but still no cigar for South Africa

“I just want us to show off a bit more. I live in Cape Town, and I get to see a lot of it there.” – Shukri Conrad

Telford Vice / Cape Town

FIRST Dewald Brevis was winning the deciding third T20I for South Africa at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns on Saturday. Then Mitchell Marsh was winning it for Australia. Then Kwena Maphaka, Kagiso Rabada and Corbin Bosch put South Africa back on top. Then Glenn Maxwell said get the hell out the way — I’m winning this.

And he did. Maxwell completed his ...

Up there David? Markram? Cazaly?

“You see the ball flying around and you’re like, ‘I’m not sure I want to be a bowler.’” – Aiden Markram

Telford Vice / Cape Town

TIM David’s 52-ball 83 lit up the first T20I. Dewald Brevis’ 125 not out off 56 shot the lights out in the second. But the circus has moved from Darwin in the Northern Territory — where both of those games were played — to Cairns in Queensland, and that might make all the difference.

The venue for the series’ deciding match comes with an interesting backstor...

Where Elon Musk ends and Dewald Brevis begins

“I’ve always believed that this is where I need to be and where I will be. Never ever have I doubted myself.” – Dewald Brevis

Telford Vice / Cape Town

THAT Dewald Brevis and Elon Musk were born in South Africa is a rare point of connection between them. Here’s another: they are rich men.

Of course, that needs qualification. At 22, Brevis has an estimated net worth of between USD2-million and USD3-million. Musk has been the wealthiest person in the world since November 2020, when he ov...

Maphaka’s gold not only in the chain around his neck

“I told him to let the umpires deal with umpiring, and that he must focus on his batting.” – Kwena Maphaka on his testy conversation with Tim David.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

KWENA Maphaka conceded fewer runs in Darwin on Sunday than the number of years he has been alive. The 19-year-old’s 4/20 wasn’t enough to drag South Africa to victory in the first T20I against Australia, but it did get him noticed.

Maphaka is now the youngest quick from an ICC full member to take four wickets in a...

T20I opening ripe for rewriting

“Maybe it looked better than what it felt like, but it wasn’t enough. I didn’t find my groove quickly enough to get the team over the line.” – Ryan Rickelton

Telford Vice / Cape Town

BEFORE Sunday, Travis Head had opened the batting in T20Is with seven players. His partner in Darwin’s inaugural T20I, Mitchell Marsh, had done the same with four. They have both launched the innings with David Warner and Jake Fraser-McGurk. But, despite opening 30 times between them, Head and Marsh had neve...

T20 evolves, even in Darwin

“It’s great having the experienced guys back, nice and refreshed as well. You can see they are raring to go.” – Shukri Conrad

Telford Vice / Cape Town

THE capital of the Northern Territory is called Darwin because John Clements Wickham, the captain of the Beagle — the British ship that turned up at the top bit of Australia in September 1839 — had served as first lieutenant on an earlier voyage of the same vessel.

Also aboard for that trip, which lasted from December 1831 to October 18...

Rickelton’s return to cricket … in Darwin

“I locked my cricket bag away and I travelled around South Africa.” – what Ryan Rickelton’s been doing since the WTC final.

Telford Vice / Cape Town

WHEN Ryan Rickelton imagined Australia, he probably thought of the MCG, kangaroos and Sydney Opera House. He probably didn’t think of Darwin.

But that’s where he is on his first trip Down Under. He will also be in Cairns and Mackay for the three T20Is and as many ODIs South Africa will play across 14 days, starting with the first T20I in ...