Latest News – Sanjay's Cricket World

Friedel de Wet has once again sucumbed to a serious back injury.

Friedel de Wet lacked his normal pace and zip during the 3rd test at Newlands. What was initially managed with pain killing injections to get him through the Newlands test has now been revealed as a stress fracture of his lower back. An injury de Wet has battled with previously.

South African coach Mickey Arthur said, “Friedel won’t be training with us this week and, sadly, it’s the long-term problem with his back again. You have to feel for him, it happened in the fifth over of the first innings in Cape Town, but he came in and gave it his all with injections and a serious back injury for another 20-odd overs. You have to admire him for that and it speaks volumes for him.”

de Wet now faces a lengthy rehabilitation period after enduring some prolonged rest. The question I’d ask the South African selectors is, “Was it a good decision to pick a bowler who hadn’t had a lot of recent bowling given his previous injuries?” I’d suggest not.

Whilst de Wet looked like he had something to offer in the 2nd innings at Centurion, surely now his age and injuries will count against him. It may be a blessing in disguise for the South African selectors who really need to give some new players the opportunity to become part of the South African pace attack.

First cab off the ranks looks to be Wayne Parnell who offers variety being a left-armer, and a bowler who can genuinely swing the ball. What I like most is he is always in the game and hs a knack of picking up wickets.

Speaking about Wayne Parnell, Mickey Arthur said “Wayne is a huge talent, he bowls with pace, is a decent batsman and a good fielder. He has a real chance of playing because of his pace – we said we wanted three strike bowlers and Wayne could be one of them. Although he’s very young in terms of first-class cricket, he will mature and I’m very happy to have him on board.”

Parnell has the ability to develop into a quality all-rounder. Someone needs to step up soon as Jacques Kallis won’t be around forever, and we’ve already seen how important quality all-rounders are to the balance of a side.

The English have hit back at South Africa for suggesting they tampered with the ball in the 3rd cricket test at Newlands.

In no way am I suggesting it influenced the course of the match, but it was clearly evident on the tv footage that first Sturat Broad with his boot and studs, and then James Anderson trying to run his fingers down the seam were trying to “roughen” the ball in order to get reverse swing.

Former English Captain Micheal Vaughn said on Thursday that England had been lucky to escape any punishment.  They were lucky to get away without an official reprimand, or even a ban because there was no doubt in my mind that they were trying to change the condition of the ball. Anderson is a lucky man, I don’t think anyone could have argued if he had been asked to sit out the next match, but the ICC has brushed the whole thing aside because they don’t want any controversy.”

Vaughan also accused the ICC of double-standards, saying is a side such as Pakistan were involved things would have been different. “If Shoaib Akhtar or Mohammad Asif had been pictured using their fingers on the ball, there would have been uproar.”

I totally agree. The English are in with the old boys club. The fact that no formal complaint was issued by South Africa meant the ICC closed the matter. Forget the fact England were trying to cheat!

Meanwhile another former English captain, Michael Atherton said the two English bowlers were victims of “trial by television”. Well duh, the evidence was plain to see!
He questioned the Proteas actions in bringing up the issue but not following through. “Ball tampering is a serious allegation in cricket and if you make it, as South Africa effectively did by publicly raising their ‘concerns’ about the state of the ball, you had better be damn sure of your facts.”

Considering Atherton was fined for carrying dirt in his pocket, and then rubbing it into the ball whilst playing South Africa at Lords, I would suggest he is not one to talk! He was a cheat, and anything he says doesn’t cut it with me.
Current English captain Andrew Strauss said he believed South Africa’s claims were “malicious”. Strauss said “We’re not particularly happy about it and I strongly refute the allegations.”

I believe the English are simply trying to deflect the attention away from their ill-disciplined behaviour. I don;t think they’ll be stupid enough to try it again anytime soon, but the ICC should punish them for cheating!

England drew the 3rd test against South Africa at Newlands to ensure they cannot lose the series.

England started the day at 132/3, and the morning session was fairly even. South Africa would have been happy to have snared 2 wickets to have England at 179/5 and in the box seat.

However Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell determinedly stuck to their task and frustrated the South African fast bowlers for 57.3 overs (almost 2 sessions) and ensured the last 4 batsmen only had to survive the last hour.

Crucially they survived the new ball which was probably the key to their draw. Dale Steyn bowled really well to the 2 right handers but just had no luck. Unfortunately he had minimal backup, and England only had to see him off.

After 20 overs in the last session, Graeme Smith turned to JP Duminy who made the breakthrough and English wickets started to fall. Eventually the last pair had to see off 17 deliveries in a thrilling finish.

The Proteas only have themselves to blame. They had 2 centurions during the match who both played tremendously important innings to set up a victory. However the bowling attack once again looked impotent. Having 140 overs in the 4th innings of a test match, with a target of 466, you have to back yourself to win.

Other than Steyn, we don’t have anyone who consistently asks enough questions of the batsmen. Steyn was poor to the left handers coming around the wicket and bowling wide of off stump. He really needs to concentrate on a straighter line and get the English batsmen playing.

Morne Morkel got 5 wickets in the first innings, but until he can bowl fuller deliveries and get the batsmen trying to drive, I can’t see him getting to many more 5 wicket bags. Friedel de Wet had a back injury, perhaps he was a little underdone? And Paul Harris has looked quite pedestrian this series.

Moving to the Wanderers, the best South Africa can hope for is a drawn series. No matter how many runs we score, if we can’t take 20 wickets, we’ll be staring down the barrel of a series defeat.

The morning session went to plan for South Africa who captured 2 English wickets.

After surviving the first few overs, James Anderson eventually had to go due to a strange dismissal. The introduction of Paul Harris produced the magi as Anderson bottom edged a delivery into his foot, which ended up travelling to leg gully where Ashwell Prince took a stunning diving catch.

Then Dale Steyn removed Jonathan Trott with a beauty. A full ball that nipped back to crash into the top of off stump. I don;t know why he doesn’t attack the stumps more often rather than persisting with the channel outside off.

England finished the session at 179/5.

Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell are the not out batsmen.

Freidel de Wet may have a back injury which may limit the South African bowling attack. The new ball is due 1 over after lunch. South Africa will be wanting at least 2 wickets during the second session and Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel will probably be entrusted with the new ball.

It promises to be another intruiging session with both sides still hoping to get the result they want. I’d favour South Africa, but if Bell and COllingwood can survive most of the second session, England could just sneak home.

England finished at 132/3 at stumps on day 4 of the third test against South Africa in Cape Town,needing to survive day 5 to save this game.

South Africa had resumed their innings at 312/2, and while they made steady progress, they perhaps couldn’t accelerate as they would’ve liked with so many wickets in hand. The new ball for England helped their cause, but South Africa weren’t as positive as they might have been.

Graeme Smith couldn’t get the double century as he was out for 183, ad possibly the one batsmen who could have decimated the English attack. Jacques Kallis hung around to add a further 26 to his overnight total of 20, and South Africa lost their momentum.

AB de Villiers and JP Duminy were steady (it was nice to see Duminy get some runs after 2 consecutive golden ducks!), and eventually the declaration came soon after lunch.

England had a total of 466 to win, in 141 overs.

Once again South Africa started poorly with the new ball. They need to make the English openers play more, and whilst there were some chances, Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook looked fairly untroubled in posting a century opening stand.

The pressure started to shift back to South Africa after tea as suddenly one may even have considered a record run chase may have been on the cards.

But South Africa had a superb final hour, picking up both openers, and then Dale Steyn claimed the prized wicket of dangerman Kevin Pietersen for just 6.

James Anderson came in as nightwatchman, and together with Jonathan Trott, saw England to the close.

England need another 334 to win the match, while South Africa need seven wickets. Realistically there are only 2 results, a South African win or a draw. A second new ball will be avilable in the second session. South Africa do have a habit of struggling with the tail, so they’ll want early wickets to give them confidence to wrap this game up and keep the series alive!

Stuart Broad could be in trouble for trying to tamper with the ball in the 3rd test at Newlands.

The South Africans have raised concerns with ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama over the state of the ball after Stuart Broad was caught on tv “standing on the ball.”

Broad was bowling the 15th over of the South African innings at a time England desperately needed a breakthrough and stopped a defensive shot from Hashim Amla by using his boot. That was possibly fair enough, but tv footage clearly shows Broad then stepping on the ball, trying to apply pressure with his studs after it had been stopped.

At the end of the day’s press conference England coach Andy Flower said he hadn’t heard about any ball tampering allegations. “The umpires or match referee haven’t said anything to us about that. That’s the first I’ve heard of it so I can’t really comment.”

When told Broad had allegedly stepped on the ball Flower said, “I think over the years we have seen a lot of tall fast bowlers stop balls with their feet so I don’t see anything sinister in it all.”

I find it unlikely that Flower was unaware of the incident considering he had been sitting in front of monitors and laptops. Later in the day he indicated to his players that a tv referral had been too high after viewing it on a tv monitor. How could he not have seen the many replays of Stuart Broad then?

The issue is also not whether Stuart Broad managed to actually achieve reverse swing (the idea behind trying to scuff or damage one side of the ball). The issue is what Broad tried to achieve and his intention.

Broad’s on field behaviour has been the subject of controversy already this series, and Indian great Sunil Gavaskar has alredy claimed that Broad escapes punishment because his father (Chris Broad) is an ICC match referee. I’d suggest they seriously need to have a father-son talk soon!

Graeme Smith dominated day 3 to leave South Africa in a dominant position in the 3rd cricket test against England at Newlands.

Earlier South Africa cleaned up the English tail without too much damage. They were helped by Morne Morkel claiming the dangerous Graeme Swann and James Anderson in the first over of the day.

Matt Prior then threatened to get plenty of quick runs as he took the offensive approach to the South African bowlers. Eventually his luck run out and England ended up all out for 273, a deficit of just 18 runs.

Morne Morkel ended up with a 5 wicket bag. I had questioned when he was ever likely to get one, but he bowled well this innings and was duly rewarded. If he can remain consistent with line and length, he’ll reap these sorts of rewards more often.

The South African innings once again started poorly with Ashwell Prince out for 15. Questions must now be asked, is Prince the answer to South Africa’s opening position. I suggest not. Hashim Amla could quite easily open, but i’m not convinced he has the technique to be persevered with. Imraan Khan could always get a recall.

Graeme Smith and Amla then set about rebuilding the innings, and their dominant approach reaped the rewards. After seeing off the new ball, the hot weather ensured there are no demons in the pitch and England were made to toil hard in the field.

Their stand was worth 230, the first century stand of the match. It could well be match defining. Unfortunately Amla was dismissed for 95, 5 runs shorts of what would have been a well deserved century.

Graeme Smith continued to dominate however and whilst he had a few chances, he ended the day on a majestic 162 not out. With Jacques Kallis with him on 20 not out, both batsmen will look to see off the new ball (due first thing) and continue to cash in. Smith has his third double hundred against England insight, whilst if Kallis survives the new ball, he too has a chance of 2 hundreds for the match as his technique of playing straight should bring dividends on this wicket.

I look forward to plenty more runs and some individual milestones!

Day 2 of the 3rd cricket test between South Africa and England at Newlands ended with the match firmly in the balance.

Resuming on 279/6, South Africa produced a dismal batting effort lasting just 17 balls for the addition of 12 measly runs whilst losing 4 wickets!

James Anderson was the chief destroyer, and will he was aided with a new ball and not the easiest batting conditions early on, South Africa lost a golden opportunity. Jacques Kallis for the umpteenth time in his career could not press on, on the morning after scoring a century. In fact he lasted only 1 delivery and yet another opportunity to build a big hundred went begging.

The South African tail then folded dismally giving the advantage to England. Considering how tough the Proteas find it to wrap up the tail of their opposition, the South Africans will be mightily disappointed they couldn’t produce better themselves.

However as they’ve often done, they struck early. Morne Morkel removing the dangerous Andrew Strauss in the first over of the English innings. Surprisingly Dale Steyn was not given the new ball. I’m not sure why the number 1 fast bowler in the ICC test rankings would bowl first change, but he snared 2 quick wickets including the prized Kevin Pietersen for a duck to leave England reeling at 36/3.

The South African fast bowlers couldn’t gain the uper hand however and the match continued the ebb and flow of much of the series. South Africa bowled tighter as a unit, drying up runs and prepared to build pressure.

It kept them in touch and they’ll be happy to have England finish at 241/7, maintaining a lead of 50 runs.

The challenge for South Africa on day 3 is to do to the English tail what England did to them on the second morning. The ball is only 2 overs old, and conditions will be testing for the first half hour or so.

After that the wicket should be good for batting and if they can see off the new ball they can cash in and build a large lead to put pressure on England in the fourth innings. England will hope their tail can frustrate South Africa and eek out a lead to give them a numerical and psychological advantage.

After the second day’s play Jacques Kallis outlined the plan South Africa had to win the game. He said history has shown the Newlands pitch is always difficult to bat on in the morning, especially against the new ball.

“If we can knock over their tail they way they did to us this morning and then get through the new ball, then we’ll feel we are on top of the game. The guys are pretty upbeat in the change-room right now.”

Kallis said South Africa would like to give England a target of 300 plus to win the Test.

“It’s going to be very tough chasing down anything more than 300 on this wicket. It’s going to be tough to get there, but the guys are up for a fight, and we know we have to win this Test.”

Day 3 should see one side gain an advantage. The match is in the balance and there for someone to stand up and produce a match-winning performance. Who wants to win this one?

Iconic Proteas fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has denied rumours he has signed to play county cricket in England.

It had been rumoured that Ntini had signed a pre-contract as a Kolpak player for English County Middlesex.

However a spokesperson for Ntini told Sapa on Monday that the veteran paceman was not contemplating a Kolpak contract because he believed his Test career was not over.

Ntini said “I believe I have more Test cricket ahead of me. I am going to concentrate on getting back into the Test team.”

It is great to still see plenty of fight left in this great warrior. As a South African icon and hero to millions, South Africans of all ages will be inspired by Ntini regaining his test spot.

The last time Ntini was dropped from the South African teamwas for the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne in 2001/2002. He came back even stronger from that experience, so I hope the same can happen again!

Jacques Kallis produced a defiant innings on his home ground at Newlands to ensure South Africa remain a chance in the 3rd test.

England won a crucial toss and had the use of humid conditions and a mottled coloured pitch after some early rain. Batting was always going to be difficult first up, and James Anderson produced a great first spell, claiming Ashwell Prince with a swinging delivery in the first over. Graeme Onions then caught the edge of Graeme Smith’s bat in the next over, but Graeme Swann spilt an easy catch.

South Africa were in early trouble, and Smith and Amla steadied the ship temporarily. I was pleased to see Smith trying to plat positively as it’s the only way to put pressure back on the bowlers.

Amla went LBW as again he got caught trying to play around a delivery because his feet move accross the pitch. Smith and Kallis too the Proteas to lunch, but Smith went almost straight after the resumption.

de Villiers looked quite scratchy and got out to a poor shot to short mid-wicket and JP Duminy got a second consecutive golden duck, although he was unlucky to receive a great ball first up from Graeme Swann who got nice turn and bounce.

Kallis remained the rock of the South African innings and together with another fighter in Mark Boucher produced an important 6th wicket partnership after the Proteas were 127/5. South Africa were in trouble again when  Boucher left at 216/6, but Dale Steyn batted well to support Kallis.

At 279/6 the match is firmly in the balance. The new ball is only 3 overs old, and could hold the key. If England strike early they will have the advantage, but if Kallis and Steyn can see off the new ball, they could get South Africa above 350.

Days 2 and 3 will be good for batting, so South Africa need as many runs as possible otherwise a repeat of Durban could eventuate.

King Kallis holds the key. His 33rd test Century was a splendid innings. He always looked in control, well balanced and put the bad balls away.

English fast bowler James Anderson said Kallis was one of the most difficult batsmen in Test cricket to bowl to. “He’s very focussed when he bats.  The lateness that he plays the ball is incredible – even when the ball’s reversing, he can pick it, which makes it hard for the bowler.”

Kallis now moves into 5th place on the all time centurymakers list, behind Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara (34), Ricky Ponting (39) and Sachin Tendulkar (43). Unfortunately he has often come out to bat in a similar position and struggles to get going again on a second day of batting. If he can see off the new ball and get himself ‘in’ again, that elusive double century may just come to fruition.

There wouldn’t be a better ground for Kallis to achieve it on. He averages 70 at Newlands, and this was his thrid consecutive century against the English at this ground. I can’t wait for day 2, there has never been a better chance for Kallis to cash in and get his first double hundred!