Telford Vice's Blog, page 9

Another shot at glory looms for South Africa

“Winning a World Cup has got so much behind it. There are so many cricket-playing nations there, all in one tournament. But being the No. 1 Test team in the world, it’s almost like the players value that more.” – Gary Kirsten

Telford Vice / London

WHAT would Gary Kirsten do? It’s not a question anyone involved in the WTC final between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s would or even should ask, but it’s fair game for the rest of us. And Kirsten is rarely placed to answer it.

His tri...

South Africa united for WTC final

“As a small boy you think about and want to be involved in Test cricket. And then you want to play against Australia and you want to play at Lord’s. And then suddenly it happens all at once.” – Piet Botha

Telford Vice / Arundel

A sense of something like summer prevailed as Dane Paterson bustled towards the bowling crease early on a sunny, juicy, almost warm afternoon in Arundel on Friday. The batter tapped the pitch and waited … tapped and waited … tapped and waited … and was soundly bea...

Test debuts loom for Brevis, Pretorius

Of the squad of WTC final squad of 15 only eight are in the 16 bound for Bulawayo.

Telford Vice / Arundel

DEWALD Brevis and Lhuan-dré Pretorius took a step closer to making their Test debuts when they were named in the squad to play two matches against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in the coming weeks. Also in the group — and also uncapped — are batter Lesego Senokwane, fast bowler Codi Yusuf, and off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen. Zubayr Hamza, meanwhile, is back in favour having last played a Test ...

Same place, different time as South Africa eye Lord’s prize

“The last thing you want to do is spend too much time on too many different things. You just let it unfold and trust your game.” – Ashwell Prince

Telford Vice / Arundel

CRICKET was different the last time South Africa went to Lord’s with their eyes on the prize of the Test mace. There was no WTC, much less the contrived confection of a final.

“Under Graeme’s leadership there were important Tests leading up to clinching the mace at Lord’s,” Ashwell Prince, South Africa’s batting coach,...

Arundel, where belief comes to be suspended

A man walks up to the food and drink kiosk and asks, “Do you have any sunshine?” The woman behind the counter replies, “No. But we do have sun-cream.”   

Telford Vice / Arundel

“WHAZZAT?” The Arundel steward, resplendently rumpled in his hi-vis vest, seemed surprised by the question. “Do I have a hot drink?” It seemed only right to ask considering he had explained that a hot drink could be found near the pavilion a hundred or so metres around a generous bend from the front gate where he ...

Juggling balls for a questionable final

“I think a final is probably the best way to do it, because unfortunately every team doesn’t get to play against all the other opposition an equal number of times.” – Ashwell Prince on the WTC format.

Telford Vice / Arundel

SOUTH Africa play with the Kookaburra ball. Australia play with the Kookaburra ball. But when those two men’s teams meet in the WTC final at Lord’s next week the ball will be a Dukes. Why?

Because the ICC said so. Probably as the ball used in England is the Dukes —...

Cocaine confirmed as Rabada’s drug

Rabada is the fifth cricketer among the 435 cases of South Africans from all codes to be nailed for drug use.

Telford Vice / Arundel

COCAINE has been confirmed as the drug Kagiso Rabada was caught using in January, which resulted in his month-long ban from this year’s IPL. 

The South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) recorded on its website on Tuesday that Rabada had tested positive for “benzoylecgonine, metabolite of cocaine”. News reports in May prompted the fast bowler ...

From Broad to Klaasen, through Conrad

“I’d be disappointed if it was because we didn’t have a conversation.” – Shukri Conrad on the theory that his South Africa first approach prompted Heinrich Klaasen’s international retirement.

Telford Vice / Arundel

NOT many people could be the dot connecting Stuart Broad with Heinrich Klaasen. Not many people are Shukri Conrad.

CSA said on Monday that Broad would “join” South Africa’s men’s squad on June 9 at Lord’s. “He will be working as a consultant for the day to help the team wit...

Footy, rugby prepare to step aside for cricket’s WTC final

How many Aussies know their men’s team will take on South Africa in the WTC final at Lord’s from June 11?

Telford Vice / Cape Town

AUSTRALIA is deep in the throes of footy season. How deep? The AFL’s 18 clubs have played 95 games spread across 11 rounds. There are another 14 rounds and 319 matches to go. Then the top eight sides will contest four weeks of playoffs before the final at the MCG on September 27.

Consequently, of the five leading sport stories on the Melbourne Age’s site o...

Would ICC inventor recognise decolonised cricket?

“Inter-rivalry within the Empire cannot fail to draw together our kinsmen who regard cricket as our national sport.” – Abe Bailey

Telford Vice / Cape Town

MODERN international cricket was shaped by a man born in a backwater who played only three first-class matches. He never scored more than eight in any of his five innings at that level — or more than 16 not out at any senior level — but he did take 11 first-class wickets at 18.27. 

“Inter-rivalry within the [British] Empire cannot f...