Wednesday, 3 February, 2016
SA And EnglAnd tArgEt Short-form gAinS i
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N an act of typically perverse scheduling, the limited-overs leg of England’s tour of South Africa includes five ODIs and just two T20Is, despite the fact that the World Twenty20 is looming in barely a month’s time, and both sides would doubtless benefit from a bit more sprint training in the intervening weeks. Nevertheless, such is the crossover between the shortened formats in this day and age that the 50-over showdowns, which get underway in Bloemfontein tomorrow, still retain a relevance to both teams. If South Africa’s imperative is to cultivate that winning feeling after a chastening Test series, then England want only to carry on where they left off in a riotous finish to their tour of the UAE before Christmas. Eoin Morgan’s England are an unrecognisable outfit from the onepaced shambles that bombed out of the World Cup in Australia almost exactly 12 months ago. They bat without fear, they field like panthers and their bowlers - if still a touch raw in the post-Anderson and Broad era (al-
beit that the latter has been drafted back into the squad after a glut of injuries) - have shown promise that augurs well for the challenges to come. No-one would pretend that England are a finished product, but with Andrew Strauss, the ECB’s new director of cricket, preaching a more openminded attitude to white-ball cricket, their squad has a focus that has been lacking in one-day cricket almost since the dawn of the format. Adil Rashid and David Willey even arrive in South
Africa with their horizons broadened by successful stints in Australia’s Big Bash, which would have been an unthinkably progressive move in England’s not-at-all-distant past. Whether England are yet good enough to beat South Africa on home soil is a moot point, however. South Africa’s recent tour of India was a disaster in almost every facet, yet they still proved strong enough to muscle their way to a 3-2 ODI victory. This time last year, AB de Villiers was
slamming a 31-ball century to trounce West Indies at Johannesburg, and after ducks in each of his last three Test innings, the only way for South Africa’s captain, surely, is up. Alex Hales endured a torrid Test baptism in the recent series against South Africa. His technique and temperament received equally searching examinations and both were found wanting, as he struggled to 136 runs at 17.00 in four matches. However, a return to the shorter formats may be just what his game needs - a chance to see ball, hit ball, and worry rather less about the consequences of the wrong shot at the wrong time. The concern, however, may be the knockon effect of his struggles on the tour so far. As his opening partner, Jason Roy, told last week, confidence is everything for a one-day opening batsman. Hales hasn’t displayed much of that in recent times. Hashim Amla’s stunning return to form in the latter stages of the Test series was a reminder of how quickly a change of scene or circumstances can transform a player’s fortunes. Amla’s match-saving double century in Cape Town was made possible by the decision he had made earlier in the match.
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mcmanus sidelined indefinitely for Knights SportS DeSk Newcastle Knights wing James McManus will not take part in the upcoming NRL season following medical advice. McManus has not played since leaving the field after sustaining a concussion just six minutes into the 52-6 defeat to the South Sydney Rabbitohs on July 25. The 30-year-old, who has made three appearances for New South Wales in State of Origin during his career, had been rumoured to be set to retire as a result. However, he has instead decided to take an indefinite break from the game in order to assess his options. “I need rest and time to work through my options,” McManus said in a statement. “This has been a difficult time and I certainly appreciate everyone’s support.” McManus made his debut for the Knights in 2007 and has commenced work with the club’s commercial team.
Son’s arrival could keep tony Parker out of rio olympics
‘the batsman should not be leaving the crease’ SportS DeSk Sanjay Manjrekar, one of the commentators at the World Cup, did not fully sympathise with Zimbabwe: “I didn’t watch the game. But I think Mankading should be looked at like any other dismissal. The batsman should not be leaving the crease before the ball is released. Simple. If he does he pays the price for it. Not the bowler’s fault.” New Zealand coach Bob Carter did not hold back in his criticism of West Indies: “Was the bowler actually in his delivery stride in the first place? He just ran through and knocked the stumps over, I don’t think he was ever going to bowl the ball. I was surprised that the umpires called for it to be reviewed. I thought they may choose to say, ‘No, the ball has to be bowled and it’s not out.’ And the final thing was I thought it was too tight to call. I think the batsman should have got the benefit of the doubt once it went to the third umpire. I wasn’t convinced that it should have been actually given out. “I don’t think Mankading should be a part of the game at all. I think if you are in the spirit of the game then
why would you end up like this? There was two runs to win, you are playing and Under-19 World Cup, games are being beamed all around the world and to see that type of thing happen was very unsportsmanlike. “Anyway the Zimbabwe player wasn’t looking like he was trying to get advantage. If he was out, he was only just out. And I think he may not have been out anyway. So it wasn’t as if he was a metre down the pitch. It didn’t look like he was trying to take advantage.” Pakistan’s manager Zakir Khan: “The spirit of cricket says that you should give a warning to the batsman. But technically he is out if he left the crease. As a gentleman you should give a warning that’s what the spirit of cricket teaches you. “It happened once in the 1987 World Cup too between West Indies and Pakistan when Abdul Qadir won us the match. Courtney Walsh was bowling the last over and he chose to give a warning [to Saleem Jaffer]. Pakistan will always remember Walsh for that gesture and the gentleman’s spirit he showed. “For the Under-19 players this is the age and time to learn about the
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spirit of cricket. When it comes to the technical situation the batsman is out but the spirit of cricket teaches you to be fair and square.” Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop, who was in the commentary box during the controversial finish: “It’s not something I would have probably done but I think we have to leave all the emotion aside. Historically there’s been a bad connotation to mankading. The law has been adjusted and it is in the law books and
people talk about the spirit of the game. “Is sledging part of spirit of the game? A batsman at the non-striker’s end stealing a couple of yards - this didn’t happen here, it was just an inch or two, if so much - a batsman backing up a couple of feet down the track off the last ball to win a game, let’s say, in a World Cup, is that within the spirit of the game? So those are the questions we have to ask. If the law is there, that was within the law.”
Fatherhood might take precedence over a shot at an Olympic medal for Tony Parker. The Spurs star announced Monday on his radio show in France that his wife is due to give birth to the couple’s second son in late July. That would put the child’s arrival between the Olympic qualifying tournament early in the month and the start of the Rio Olympics in early August. “It will not be easy timing,” he said on RMC, via L’Equipe. “It is a very complicated schedule.” France will have to win its qualifying tournament July 5-10 in Manila to advance to Rio. Should Parker and his countrymen make it through, Olympic preliminaries would begin Aug. 6. Parker averaged 15.7 points per game at the London Olympics four years ago, but France was eliminated by Spain in the quarterfinals.
CSA AnnounCeS women’S SquAdS for englAnd tour SportS DeSk Mignon du Preez will lead 15-member ODI and T20I squads, after Cricket South Africa announced the women’s sides that will take on England at home later this month. South Africa are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is between February 7 and February 21, with the ODI matches forming part of the ICC Women’s Championship, the qualification tournament for the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup in England. The T20 games will be played as joint double-headers, alongside the men’s T20I between Australia and South Africa. South Africa last played an international match nearly 12 months ago, while they last hosted an international series in 2013. “It is almost a year since our last fixture in the ICC Women’s Championship,” Hilton Moreeng, South Africa’s coach, said. “Our last tour at home was against Sri Lanka in 2013, where we did very well. Our preparation for the upcoming tour has been very good and the players are very excited, firstly to represent their country and second, to play against England.
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“It won’t be an easy tour, due to the quality that the England team possess, but our players are confident and ready to take up the challenge. We still have everything to play for and both teams stand a good chance to improve on the current Championship standings. “Playing in front of home crowds will be exciting and, at the same time motivating for the players to do well.” South Africa are currently fourth in the Women’s Championship, with England in fifth position. South Africa ODI squad: Mignon du Preez (captain), Trisha Chetty, Laura Wolfvaardt, Andrie Steyn, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Lizelle Lee, Dinesha Devnarain, Chloe Tyron, Sune Luus, Shabnim Ismail, Masabatha Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Matshipi Marcia Letasoalo, Sinalo Jafta South Africa T20 squad: Mignon du Preez (captain), Trisha Chetty, Lara Goodall, Moseline Daniels, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Dinesha Devnarain, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Shabnim Ismail, Masabatha Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Matshipi Marcia Letsoalo, Lizelle Lee, Yolani Fourie