Category Archives: Sports News

Sport24.co.za | Proteas: Kolpak tremors still possible

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Cape Town – Exactly a year ago, on January 5, off-pitch events unusually seized the headlines upon completion of the traditional New Year Test match at Newlands.

Straight off aiding South Africa’s push to a four-day triumph over Sri Lanka by 282 runs, popular seamer Kyle Abbott confirmed in an emotional press conference that he was joining compatriot Rilee Rossouw – an established part of the Proteas’ limited-overs furniture – in quitting the international arena in favour of Kolpak deals with English county side Hampshire.

Both with plenty of years of top-tier cricketing activity potentially still ahead of them, Abbott had signed four-year terms and Rossouw a three-year contract, immediately cutting short their Proteas careers.

Whilst Abbott’s departure was accepted with slightly better sympathy by Cricket South Africa bosses, the younger Rossouw (27 at the time) earned a rocket from then national coach Russell Domingo, who said they had “invested massively” in the left-handed batsman and that he was “bitterly disappointed” by the revelation, and the manner of his defection.

Several other Proteas-capped performers, many of whom well worthy of representing a host of decent international teams to this day, are locked into Kolpak contracts – their ranks include Stiaan van Zyl, Simon Harmer, Rory Kleinveldt, Hardus Viljoen and Colin Ingram.

Most of those continue to ply their trades in the domestic franchise environment, although their ineligibility for national purposes has weakened the pool of options for both the Proteas and the SA ‘A’ sides; the latter have had some pretty rocky results of late.

The 2017/18 version of the New Year Test begins at Newlands on Friday, albeit in a slightly later slot than usual, between SA and India – so what price further Kolpak-related ripples this time?

Tony Irish, chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA), reminded Sport24 this week that (European Union-relevant) Kolpak deals were “still a possibility” for South African players.

The loophole will close when Britain leaves the EU, but that is only scheduled to occur in late March 2019, and the terms of departure remain under complex discussion in the meantime.

“As far as I am aware, (Kolpak contracts for cricketers) haven’t been affected by Brexit at this stage,” said Irish.

“(That option) is therefore still part of the alternative market for SA players, and it will be something for discussion in the new MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between CSA and SACA.”

There has inevitably been talk in the UK media of a “final flurry” of Kolpak deals in English cricket before Brexit kicks in, and a lot of South African enthusiasts will be nervous on that score right now – a time of the year when counties start getting their playing-staff ducks more firmly in a row for the new English season.

Although the rand has shown good resilience against major currencies of late, it remains not far off 17 to the pound, so UK contracts continue to offer very tempting security to fringe-status or slightly ageing Proteas players, especially.

During 2017, rumours remained rife in England of further SA Test stars taking the “Abbott” route in 2018, including 33-year-old, notably in-form paceman Morne Morkel, whose name has been linked with several counties including Kent and Warwickshire, and the considerably more youthful off-spinner Dane Piedt.

The 27-year-old boasts seven Test caps, but last played for the Proteas in August 2016 and has fallen a fair bit behind, in the spin pecking order, to incumbent front-liner Keshav Maharaj.

He has previously denied Kolpak suggestions in his case.

One favourable factor in the quest not to haemorrhage further SA players too quickly to county loyalties is that many established Proteas stars are contemplating a further stab at the so-elusive World Cup.

When Abbott and Rossouw quit the Proteas fold at this time last season, CWC 2019 (in England) was still some two and a half years away; now it is a year nearer and increasingly more attractive a target.

But the end, or significant slowing, of the Kolpak exodus?

It seems there are no guarantees … 

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing

 

Sport24.co.za | Philander back into the swing of things

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Cape Town – Vernon Philander says the first Test match against India starting at Newlands on Friday will ‘set the tone’ ahead of a busy summer of cricket for the Proteas Test squad.

The Proteas will follow the three-match Freedom Series against the No 1 ranked India with a four-match contest against Australia, which sets up one of the most challenging home season’s for the Test squad.

The all-rounder says he is relishing the prospect of making a return to his home ground after the latter part of his 2017 season was curtailed by injury.

READ: ‘Big Vern’ at No 7 for Proteas?

“I think it is a spectacular event every year to be down in Cape Town,” he said at Newlands on Wednesday.

“There are a lot of holiday-makers down here celebrating the festive season. To have a fully packed Newlands crowd, it doesn’t get better than that. Hopefully this one will be sold out, if not close to it. It will be a spectacular event, hopefully the cricket will keep the stakes up and set the tone for the rest of the summer.

“It is a big summer ahead, there is a lot of Test match cricket to be played,” he added.

“The guys will need to top up on their rehab and fitness work that needs to be done. If we can do that most of us will stay injury free but unfortunately injuries are part of the game, some of those things you can’t account for. We have to control the things that we can and hopefully we will have a Test summer with few injuries.”

Philander has played in all but one New Year’s Test match at Newlands since his debut in 2011, only missing out against England in 2016 due to injury.

He returns to a happy hunting ground, where he is bolstered by an exceptional bowling record of 38 wickets in seven matches with an impressive average of 18.

“For me it is about being the best that I can possibly be,” he said of his goals for the season.

“I want to contribute in every way that I can, be it taking wickets, scoring runs or getting the team across the line. For me it is about fitting in with what the team needs from me on a regular basis.”

READ: Philander: Proteas not playing against ‘names’

He says the squad is managing their expectations around the green-tinged pitch two days out of the match, and insists there are many factors that can play a role on how it behaves on Friday morning.

“There is a little bit of grass,” he said of the pitch. “Today and tomorrow will be hot so by the time the Test match starts it will be a little bit drier. The wicket changes quite quickly here, it also depends on the type of wind that blows here. By Friday morning it could be a different looking pitch.”

Play starts at 10:30 on Friday.

Sport24.co.za | Cape drought could result in slow Newlands pitch

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Cape Town – Cape Town’s worst drought in decades may take some of the sting out of the Newlands pitch for the first Test between South Africa and India, starting on Friday.

There was a covering of green grass on the match surface when both teams practised on Tuesday, bringing a smile to the face of South African coach Ottis Gibson.

But groundsman Evan Flint said the grass was thin and that the weather conditions had made it difficult to produce the seam-friendly surface which the home side would like.

There was some unseasonal light rain on Sunday and Monday – about four-and-half millimetres in total – but not enough to break the prolonged drought.

“It made conditions a bit quicker,” said Flint

Flint has had to use borehole water and has been restricted to watering the outfield only twice a week, which means the playing area is drier under the surface than usual.

“I think if the fast bowlers bowl well enough, there will be something in it for them,” said Flint. But he did not expect conditions would give a lot of assistance to South Africa’s pace attack.

“It depends on who adapts quicker on the day – it is not necessarily favouring anyone,” said Flint.

Sport24.co.za | Silva signs for Leicester to end long-running saga

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London – Portugal midfielder Adrien Silva says he tried to remain positive during a long saga which came to a happy end on Monday as he completed his move to Premier League side Leicester City.

The 28-year-old — capped 20 times and a member of the Portugal side that won Euro 2016 — has had to wait four months to complete the £22 million transfer from Sporting Lisbon.

The France-born midfielder has been in a state of limbo since his original transfer was not accepted because the paperwork was 14 seconds past the deadline in August — an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) failed.

“When you have a period like this, it’s very up and down,” Silva told Leicester’s in-house television station.

“You have to keep a positive mentality and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ve kept my mind focused on my job and what I love to do.”

Silva, who will have to sit out the Foxes match with Huddersfield Town on Monday because his registration was not completed in time, said he had been keeping fit depsite not having played all season.

“It’s been very frustrating, but now the difficult times are past me and I’m very happy to be close to my goal,” he said.

“I’ve been working hard every day to arrive at this moment and I’m in good shape.

“It’s been very important to keep training because it’s a long time not playing. There is nothing better than the game.”

Sport24.co.za | Endurance, intensity key against India – Morkel

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Cape Town – Proteas paceman Morne Morkel meanwhile feels that endurance will be the key for the home side as they seek twenty wickets against a quality India batting lineup.

Morkel, who starred in the Boxing Day Test against Zimbabwe said, “It’s going to be about that last session in the day when the ball is soft and conditions are tough.

“Majority of the runs in Test cricket are scored after tea time. So for us, it’s going to be if we have enough petrol in the tank to knock India over at the back end of the day.”

The paceman was not one to issue any threats to India and feels it best to focus on doing the basics correctly when they face the number one Test side in January.

Morkel commented: “For me, there is no personal sort of message, for us it’s important not to get involved in those sorts of things.

“If we are strong and we are fit and we get the results in the wickets column, it will make nice reading in the papers. 

“In the past, the build-up has always been great, the talk of the wickets, the talk of the bounce, we do have a slight advantage, but we still need to land the ball in the right areas, still need to bowl with intensity.”

The first Test gets underway on January 5 at Newlands in Cape Town.

Sport24.co.za | Mourinho highlights Klopp inconsistency over Van Dijk

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Manchester – Jose Mourinho has mischievously highlighted the changing view of Jurgen Klopp after his Liverpool counterpart spent £75 million to sign Southampton’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk this week.

The Manchester United manager cheekily suggested on Friday that if he were a member of the media, he would ask Klopp about his comments, 18 months ago, when the German claimed he would not want to spend huge amounts of money even if it were available to him.

At that time, Klopp was responding to a summer in which United were on the verge of breaking the world record by paying 89 million for Paul Pogba – a figure “only” 14 million more than Liverpool spent this week to land van Dijk.

“You know, I think the one that speaks about it in a specific way has to be Jurgen,” said Mourinho ahead of Southampton’s trip to Old Trafford on Saturday.

“And if I was one of you I would ask him about his comments about one year ago.

“But I’m not speaking specifically about that case because in Liverpool they do what they want to do and I am nobody to comment on what they do.

“The reality is that if they think that the player is the right player for them and they really want the player they pay this amount or they don’t have the player because that is the way the market is at that time.”

Mischievous as Mourinho’s comments were, the United manager did concede that he has far pressing concerns closer to home with the form of his star striker Romelu Lukaku.

After opening his United career with 11 goals in 10 games, Lukaku has scored just four times in his last 19 but has, nevertheless, been required to play every minute of his club’s Premier League campaign due to the continued fitness struggles of fellow striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Worse than that, Lukaku has been involved in errors in his own penalty area in recent weeks that have led to goals for Manchester City and Burnley – an indication, according to Mourinho, of possible fatigue.

But the United manager steadfastly refuses to criticise the Belgian striker, not least because he admits that he is unable to offer him any sort of rest in the foreseeable future.

Mourinho said: “First of all, people don’t have to be grateful to Romelu, I have to be – not you, not the supporters, not the pundits – I have to be.

“The other day, I said 19 matches in the Premier League; now I say 20 matches in the Premier League, 90 minutes.

“I think for a striker, any player, that’s absolutely incredible. But if you are a central defender, a holding midfield player, where you can control your energy, positional play, you can resist, survive.

“But for a striker to play 20 matches in the Premier League, 90 minutes, I have to be grateful for his personality and his character.

“Is he unlucky in our box in recent matches? He was in the picture, he was not a direct influence but he was in the picture in some of the last goals we conceded.

“Is that a consequence of a player that really needs a little rest, or is it just a consequence of the moment?

“The guy is fantastic for me and for the team and gives absolutely everything and I’ve no criticism. But no, I cannot rest him.”

Mourinho tried to partner Lukaku and Ibrahimovic in the same starting line-up in Tuesday’s draw with Burnley, only to abandon the experiment at half-time with United trailing 2-0. And he admitted that with both stars struggling for form at present, he will not be able to pair them in the near future.

He said: “It can happen but I think to happen, they need both to be in their best moment and they are not.”

Sport24.co.za | India sweat on Dhawan’s fitness for Newlands

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Cape Town – India face a nervous wait to discover if opener Shikhar Dhawan will be fit for the first Test against South Africa, starting January 5 at Newlands.

READ: India ready to make it ‘tough’ for Proteas batsmen

According to India Today, Dhawan picked up an ankle injury and was seen with it heavily strapped on Wednesday.

“Dhawan’s ankle is being assessed. The physio is yet to give any report to the national selectors. As of now, he is travelling with the team,” a senior BCCI official told the Press Trust of India.

“However, it can’t be ascertained whether he will be available for the first Test match or not.”

Virat Kohli and his charges departed for South Africa on Wednesday evening.

India have never won a Test series in South Africa having lost five times and drawn once.

Following the Test series, the two teams will play in six ODIs and three T20I matches.

India’s Test squad for South Africa:

Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, K. L. Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumra

India’s tour fixtures in South Africa:

January 5-9 – 1st Test, Newlands

January 13-17 – 2nd Test, Centurion

January 24-28 – 3rd Test, Wanderers

February 1 – 1st ODI, Kingsmead (D/N)

February 4 – 2nd ODI, Centurion

February 7 – 3rd ODI, Newlands (D/N)

February 10 – 4th ODI, Wanderers (D/N)

February 13 – 5th ODI, St. George’s Park (D/N)

February 16 – 6th ODI, Centurion (D/N)

February 18 – 1st T20I, Wanderers

February 21 – 2nd T20I, Centurion (D/N)

February 24 – 3rd T20I, Newlands (D/N)

Sport24.co.za | Fiery Morkel leaves Zimbabwe on the ropes

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Port Elizabeth – Zimbabwe were forced to follow on after being bowled out for 68 on the second day of their one-off day-night Test against South Africa at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

LIVE: Proteas v Zimbabwe, Day 2

South Africa led by 241 runs on the first innings.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel was the main destroyer, taking five for 21. Kagiso Rabada and Andile Phehlukwayo took two wickets each.

Nightwatchman Kyle Jarvis was the top score for Zimbabwe, making 23.

Morkel, who took the first three wickets under floodlights on Tuesday, when Zimbabwe were left floundering on 30 for four, again made the first breakthroughs.

With his seventh ball of the morning, Morkel bowled left-hander Rory Burl for 16, beating the batsman for pace with a ball angled in from around the wicket.

Four balls later he had Sikandar Raza caught behind after softening him up with a vicious bouncer.

South Africa were again without wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who suffered a low grade hamstring strain while batting on Monday. De Kock was ruled out of the rest of the match, with captain AB de Villiers keeping wicket.

Sport24.co.za | Virus rules Faf out, AB to skipper Proteas v Zimbabwe

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Cape Town – Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the day/night Test against Zimbabwe starting at St George’s Park on Tuesday.

Du Plessis developed a viral infection this week which delayed his return to full fitness following lower back and shoulder injuries.

AB de Villiers has been appointed as the stand-in captain for the one-off match.

Proteas team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee explained Du Plessis’s withdrawal: “Faf has been making steady progress from the respective back and shoulder injuries and until last week was on track to make a comeback in this match. He developed a respiratory tract infection which delayed his recovery this week, and subsequently made it difficult for him to make a full recovery in time for the match. He will continue to receive treatment and rehab from our physiotherapist, Craig Govender, and we are hopeful he will recover in time to lead the team for the first Test match against India starting in Cape Town on January 5.”

Commenting on the captaincy appointment, National Selection Panel Convenor, Linda Zondi said: “It is unfortunate that Faf is missing out due to injury but we would rather take the precaution ahead of a busy summer of cricket at home. AB has captained South Africa in both the limited-overs and Test formats and his experience and expertise will be invaluable for this first Test match of the season. This is a one-off appointment and we thank AB for accepting the decision at such short notice.”

Sport24.co.za | Maketa a trump card for Proteas in PE Test

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Cape Town – The Proteas will rely on the vast local knowledge of assistant coach, Malibongwe Maketa, as they prepare for the day-night Test match against Zimbabwe starting at St George’s Park on Tuesday.

Maketa, who has been involved at the Eastern Cape franchise since 2013 until his recent appointment to the national team, says he is fortunate to be able to provide key insight into the expected conditions for the inaugural day-night fixture.

“It has been a blessing for me that my first game involved is at my home ground,” he said in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

“At least I will get to share some of my experiences with the guys on how to go about getting a result at this ground. In saying that, a lot of the players have played a few Test matches at the ground so they have good knowledge of what is expected. With it being a pink ball Test we are venturing into the unknown, we are looking forward to building a database on how to go about playing pink ball Tests.”

The one-off match may feature a series of firsts for South African cricket, but it will also be Maketa’s first assignment as assistant coach of the Proteas, a role he has taken to with ease following similar roles with the Warriors and the Titans.

“Fortunately for me I had been assistant coach for a few years down the line before I got the Warriors job,” the former Warriors head coach said. “ It will take a bit of an adjustment, I am aware that I have to drive someone else’s vision, I am comfortable with doing that and I look forward to it.”

This is the Proteas’ first four-day Test match, and along with the day-night elements, presents different challenges and opportunities around achieving a result. Maketa says the squad will not be placing too much emphasis on the uncontrollable elements, and will be focusing on executing the basics throughout each session of play.

“A lot of people are focused on the twilight period and how difficult it is, but they forget about the other two sessions which are also important and are played during the day,” he explained. “ For us it will be about doing the basics well and making sure that we are winning sessions. Before that we will want to make sure we are winning half the sessions (each hour) and building on that to get a result.”

Play is scheduled to start at 13h30 local time.

Proteas Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (WSB Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (WSB Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Multiply Titans), Theunis de Bruyn (VKB Knights), AB de Villiers (Multiply Titans), Dean Elgar (Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans), Duanne Olivier (VKB Knights), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Vernon Philander (WSB Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions), Dale Steyn (Multiply Titans).