Simon Harmer will return to the Proteas Test set-up for the outbound tour to New Zealand, more than six years after the 32-year-old player last turned out for the national team.

The last time the off-spinner appeared for the Proteas was against India in November 2015.

He was set to be joined by Lutho Sipamla, Cricket SA revealed on Wedneesday, in a squad of 17 that departs for the two-match series next month.

In a move to minimise Covid-19 risk, both fixtures, which will form part of the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, will now take place at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Harmer returns due to the absence of George Linde, who is not available because he is getting married.

Prenelan Subrayen is also not available for selection, due to a groin injury, though CSA said he was making good progress in his rehabilitation.

Harmer made a big splash by taking seven wickets on Test debut against the West Indies in January 2015 in Cape Town, and he went on to play four more matches, returning 20 wickets in eight innings at an average of 29.40.

Representing the Titans this season, he holds second place in the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series’ top wicket takers log, behind the Lions’ Duanne Olivier (28 wickets), with 27 wickets in eight innings at an average of 21.40.

Olivier’s Lions teammate, Sipamla, has been making his own 4-Day Domestic Series waves this season, returning 16 wickets in six innings, including best match bowling figures of 7/39 at an average of 16.56 and economy of 3.73. The 23-year-old made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2020 and has two Test matches under his belt with 10 wickets to his name.

The remainder of the Dean Elgar-led squad holds no surprises and will see the welcome return of Kagiso Rabada, who was rested for the recently concluded ODI series against India.

“Our Test team has been successful under the strong leadership of Dean Elgar and his deputy, Temba Bavuma, and have returned good results in recent times. We are confident that they will continue in the same vein as they head off to New Zealand,” said CSA convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang.

“The inclusions of Simon (Harmer) and Lutho (Sipamla) reaffirm our intentions as a (selection) panel to reward excellence on the field, and the pair have let their work speak on their behalf this past season.”

Proteas Test squad

Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne

South Africa have made it through to the quarterfinals of the U-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, but they are going to have to be at their best to avoid elimination as they take on one of the most impressive teams in the competition, England, at North Sound, Antigua on Wednesday.

With Dewald Brevis stealing the limelight in the first couple of games, it was encouraging to see the other junior Proteas batters start to come to the party in the win over Ireland, which was basically a knockout fixture.

ALSO READ: Cricket award winners Malan, Lee pick their best knocks of 2021

Brevis still made 96, but there was also a tremendous century by captain George van Heerden and some brilliant late hitting by all-rounders Mickey Copeland and Andile Simelane.

But South Africa are going to need to repeat a similar batting effort in the playoff clash starting at 4pm (SA time) on Wednesday, against a stronger England attack that is led by a potent left-arm paceman in Joshua Boyden, while leggie Rehan Ahmed will test their abilities against spin.

ALSO READ: Proteas ODI team in dominant form, but some questions remain

While the rampant Brevis is the leading run-scorer in the tournament so far with 265 in three innings, England captain Tom Prest has roared to 251 runs.

He generally bats No 3 for England and South Africa have two ferocious fast bowlers in Liam Alder and Matthew Boast, who will want to get Prest in against the swinging new ball.

England, of course, are able to throw some serious cash at their U-19 programme, but what the South Africans lack in rands, they have been making up for in enthusiasm.

Proteas ladies opening batter Lizelle Lee was duly rewarded for a fantastic season when she was crowned ICC Women’s One Day International (ODI) Cricketer of the Year in the 2021 ICC awards.

The award came hot on the heels of Proteas break out star Janneman Malan being named men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year a day earlier.

Lee was in immense form over the season, as the right-hander smashed 632 runs in the 50-over format during 2021, averaging at a brilliant 90.28 in 11 games.

That featured five half-centuries and an unbeaten ton as she was a major contributor in helping South Africa move up to second on the ICC Women’s ODI Rankings.

ALSO READ: Proteas star Lizelle Lee named ICC ODI cricketer of the year

“I have no words to be honest with you, I didn’t expect this. I think it’s a privilege just to be nominated and this award could have gone to anyone, so I am very privileged and honoured to be given this award,” said Lee.

“It means a lot to me. It’s a massive honour and winning the ICC ODI cricketer of the year award is amazing. There are a lot of people who have played a role in this, not only on the field. My family has been my number one supporter, my parents and my wife have been amazing.

“I also have to give credit to our coaching staff and teammates, if it wasn’t for them I honestly wouldn’t even be able to play, so credit to all of them.”

Lee managed to play a number of sparkling innings over the year, with her unbeaten 132 off 131 balls against India in Lucknow a particular stand out as it helped the Proteas to a six-run victory to take a 2-1 series lead before they wrapped up the historic series win in the next game.

“An innings to look back on is a tough one, there were a few that stood out for me, maybe not always scoring a hundred. But my one (century) in India and the one (91no) against West Indies in West Indies, that was really tough and was probably one of the best because it was a hard fought game,” admitted Lee.

Her magnificent form has also seen her retain her number one ranked batter in the world spot and she will play an integral role in any success for the Proteas ladies as they head into the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup starting in March.

Malan is Emerging Cricketer

For Malan, who enjoyed a fantastic year on the ODI front, scoring two centuries, including the fourth highest score by a South African in an ODI of 177 against Ireland, and two half centuries in his eight innings, it was just reward for a trying year.

“It is a privilege to be named the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year. I would like to thank my family, my support system, and my team for the opportunity,” said Malan.

“My favourite innings of the year came in Sri Lanka where I had to bat the full 50 overs, whilst I was cramping. It was personally a big innings for me to keep batting and fight through the pain and be in a position to help my team win the game.” 

South Africa’s stunning 3-0 whitewash of India has answered many questions surrounding the ODI squad.

Five batting places are secure with Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan entrenched as the opening pair, Temba Bavuma averaging 51 in the No 3 position, Rassie van der Dussen being the master of the middle-order and David Miller showing the value of his finishing experience in the nail-biting final ODI.

In terms of the bowling, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi remain crucial in the middle-overs and seamers Lungi Ngidi and Andile Phehlukwayo both had fine series’ with the ball, keeping the batsmen guessing with their range of skills.

Bavuma has also unequivocally shown he is the right man to lead the team.

So what questions remain for the Proteas ODI side?

Has Aiden Markram done enough to stay in the starting XI?

There is no other obvious candidate for the ‘JP Duminy role’ of batting in the top six and being able to bowl a few tidy overs of spin, so it’s a straight choice – keep Aiden Markram and have that sixth bowler, or drop him and have just five bowlers and possibly a more consistent batsman.

But Markram did a fine job with the ball, conceding just 5.00 runs per over in 17 overs and taking a couple of wickets.

There were also encouraging signs with the bat in the way he stayed with Rassie van der Dussen to help steer the Proteas to victory in the second ODI with a confident 37 not out. He was batting with good positive intent in the last game as well, before being caught on the boundary.

Should Marco Jansen be a regular part of the starting XI?

The left-arm quick enjoyed a brilliant maiden Test series and was immediately thrown into the first ODI, where he bowled nine wicketless overs for 49 runs, lacking the consistency he had shown with the red ball.

The 21-year-old is clearly an outstanding talent, but maybe we should all take a breath and not burden him with a big workload right now in white-ball cricket as well.

While he brings useful variety to the seam attack, the Proteas still have Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi in that department.

What is Sisanda Magala’s future?

Captain Bavuma made a plea after the series that Sisanda Magala does not receive half-hearted backing but that the selectors “suck everything they can out of what he offers”.

A perennial poor starter – those nerves need to be managed somehow – Magala however showed promise when he bowled in the middle overs and at the death. He fairly thuds the ball into the pitch, hitting the bat hard with steep bounce, and he can also go full blockhole when required.

The Proteas may have found the sort of skilful old-ball bowler they have been looking for.

Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi was named player of the year by the International Cricket Council on Monday, with England captain Joe Root selected as the outstanding Test cricketer in 2021.

Afridi’s 78 wickets in 36 internationals across different formats secured him the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, with best bowling figures of 6-51 in a Test match against the West Indies.

He claimed 47 wickets in only nine Tests at an impressive average of 17.06 and took seven wickets in six matches during Pakistan’s run to the semi-final of the Twenty20 World Cup.

ALSO READ: Proteas star Lizelle Lee named ICC ODI cricketer of the year

“In 2021 our team performed really well and we won some very good matches,” the 21-year-old said.

“I had many good performances including five-fors in Tests but the most memorable one for me would be the one we won against India (he took three wickets against them at the T20 World Cup),” he added.

“It was a historical match and matches with India draw a big audience.”

Root picked up the award for men’s Test player of the year after scoring 1,708 runs in 15 matches in 2021.

His tally is the third-highest total on record in a calendar year, with only former Pakistan player Mohammad Yousuf and West Indies great Viv Richards ahead of him.

Root registered two double centuries and a further four hundreds, including three in successive Tests against India during England’s home series.

“I am incredibly proud to receive this award,” said the 31-year-old, only the second Englishman to win the accolade after Alastair Cook in 2011.

“I am very humbled to be in the same breath as a number of wonderful players around the world and it means a huge amount.”

Despite Root’s personal achievements, England had a poor year in Test cricket, winning just four out of their 15 matches.

They lost the Ashes in Australia — where Root failed to score a century — and also lost series against India and New Zealand.

India’s Smriti Mandhana won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC women’s cricketer of the year.

If Temba Bavuma received any advice from his predecessors as Proteas captain it was probably to beware of the suits and the victorious skipper said after his team’s ODI series whitewash of India that one of the hardest parts of his job has been managing the off-field distractions.

The Cricket South Africa board’s antipathy towards their players came to a head on the eve of the ODI series when they charged head coach Mark Boucher with gross misconduct, due to allegations made by the Social Justice and Nation-Building report that more than 20 years ago the record-breaking wicketkeeper sang a team song that contained racial slurs.

This after the Proteas had pulled off a remarkable Test series win over India, knocking them off the No 1 ranking. The tremendous fight the team has been showing, and their clear growth in terms of skills and composure, make it clear that it must be a happy changeroom and a healthy environment, which is now seemingly under attack from their own board.

“It has not been easy, to be honest,” Bavuma said after completing the 3-0 win with a thrilling four-run victory at Newlands. “There have been a lot of dynamics that need to be managed.

“The big thing is to try and keep the cricket as the main focus. It’s been a really challenging time for the players and management, because we’ve been under a lot of scrutiny.

“So I’ve had to manage the conversations we’re having and ensure that our energies are 100% towards performance. It’s been a challenge, but a privilege as well, and I’ve enjoyed it,” Bavuma said.

ALSO READ: Victorious Proteas have ‘turned the corner,’ says Boucher

A dominant batting display by the Proteas, who for so long struggled in that department, saw Bavuma call his fellow batsmen a “revelation”.

“The batting unit has really been a revelation for us. Before we were scoring fifties and sixties and then finding a way to get out. But the coach gave us a challenge to start making hundreds.

“We scored three of them and we now have five guys averaging more than 40 in ODIs, which gives us a lot of confidence. It’s a formidable batting line-up,” Bavuma said.

Apart from topping the Test series averages against India recently (73.66), Bavuma also averaged 51 in the ODIs. Clearly the captaincy has agreed with him.

“It seems to have had a knock-on effect in my own performance. I enjoy the thinking side, the tactical side, and maybe that has made me a bit more clearer on what I want to do.

“I’m always thinking about the situations, how to counter, and maybe that’s why my form came back. For me, it means a lot to look back on the series and I know I contributed significantly.

“It makes it even better and to convincingly beat an Indian team of that calibre and pedigree speaks a lot to my captaincy.

“It’s still early days in my captaincy career though, I’ll take the acknowledgement but I definitely won’t get ahead of myself,” Bavuma said.

Brendan Taylor, a former captain of the Zimbabwe national team, revealed Monday in a tweet he took cocaine, a $15 000 bribe from an Indian businessman to fix matches, and that he faces a multiple-year ban from international cricket.

“The ICC (International Cricket Council) are taking the decision to impose a multi-year ban on my international cricketing career,” tweeted the national great, adding he did not fix any match.

The 35-year-old batsman said in October 2019 he was invited by an Indian businessman to discuss “sponsorships and the potential launch of a T20 competition in Zimbabwe and was advised that I would be paid USD$15 000 (R230 000) for the journey”.

The invitation came when the team had not received salaries for six months and there were concerns the country would not be able to continue playing internationally.

He said he was a “little wary” but undertook the trip all the same.

During drinks on the last night, he was offered cocaine which the businessman and his colleagues were taking and said he “foolishly took the bait”.

“The following morning, the same men entered my hotel room and showed me a video taken of me the night before doing cocaine and told me that if I did not spot fix at international matches for them, the video would be released to the public,” he said.

He said he was “cornered” and handed a $15 000 deposit to fix matches. He took the cash so that he could fly out.

It took him four months to report the offence to the ICC.

“I acknowledge this was too long of a time but I thought I could protect everyone and in particular, my family,” he said.

ALSO READ: Proteas coach Mark Boucher charged over racism allegations

He said he was ready and will “humbly” accept the ICC decision with the “hope that my story will be used as a means of encouragement for cricketers to report any illicit approaches as early as possible”.

But he stressed he never fixed any matches.

Taylor — who resigned as the Zimbabwe captain late last year — said he will check into a rehab centre.

Taylor ended his Zimbabwe career — which spanned 17 years — as their second highest run scorer in One Day International cricket including a national record 11 centuries in 205 appearances.

He was equally effectve in the Test arena amassing six centuries in 34 matches, five behind national record holder Andy Flower.

England captain Joe Root was Monday named men’s Test player of the year by the International Cricket Council after scoring 1,708 runs in 15 matches in 2021.

Root’s tally is the third-highest total on record in a calendar year, with only former Pakistan player Mohammad Yousuf and West Indies great Viv Richards ahead of him.

Root registered two double centuries and a further four hundreds, including three in successive Tests against India during England’s home series.

ALSO READ: Proteas star Lizelle Lee named named ICC ODI cricketer of the year

“I am incredibly proud to receive this award,” said the 31-year-old, only the second Englishman to win the accolade after Alastair Cook in 2011.

“I am very humbled to be in the same breath as a number of wonderful players around the world and it means a huge amount.”

He added: “If there was one hundred that really sticks out it would probably be at Chennai against India, the first Test match of that series (he scored 218).

“With it being my 100th game it is something that will live long in the memory.”

Despite Root’s personal achievements, England had a poor year in Test cricket, winning just four out of their 15 matches.

They lost the Ashes in Australia — where Root failed to score a century — and also lost series against India and New Zealand.

New Zealand bowler Kyle Jamieson, Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne and India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin were the other nominees for the award.

India’s Smriti Mandhana won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC women’s cricketer of the year.

She scored 855 runs in 22 internationals at an average of 38.86, with one century and five half-centuries.

India’s cricket pundits on Monday called for changes in the team after South Africa’s one-day series whitewash following Virat Kohli’s exit as skipper.

India lost their third and final ODI by four runs in Cape Town to end a disappointing tour that also saw the tourists lose the Test series 2-1.

Quinton de Kock’s 124 set up a tense win in the final 50-over match, which followed two emphatic victories for the hosts.

ALSO READ: Proteas win Newlands thriller, take series against India 3-0

“Huge for South Africa. Huge. And very well played. Proper post-mortem for India now,” commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote on Twitter.

KL Rahul captained the ODI side in the absence of white-ball leader Rohit Sharma, who missed out due to injury.

Kohli, who quit as Test skipper after the South Africa series loss, was the top scorer with 65.

Deepak Chahar, a pace bowler who bats in the middle order, hit a gritty 54 in India’s chase of 288 but got out with the team needing 10 runs to win, and the remaining two batters soon departed.

ALSO READ: Victorious Proteas have ‘turned the corner’, says Boucher

“What’s lacking about this particular Indian outfit is the batters that they have in the team, none of them chip in with three-four overs of bowling,” former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

“That’s got to be the quest for India with their 50-overs team. If they can’t find an obvious sixth bowling option…you have got (to have) pure batters who walk in to the team and can chip in with some bowling.”

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar had backed Chahar’s inclusion in the XI after the first two losses, saying veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who went wicketless in two matches and gave away too many runs, has lost his sting.

ALSO READ: Proteas star Lizelle Lee named ICC ODI cricketer of the year

Gavaskar had also told TV channel India Today that captain Rahul “had run out of ideas” during opposition partnerships in the first two ODIs.

But cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said the losses could help the team reinvent itself. 

“Losing… allows you to take bold decisions,” he said.

“India’s white-ball cricket template needs a makeover… this could very well be the beginning of the new approach.”

Proteas women’s opening batter Lizelle Lee has been named the ICC Women’s One-Day International (ODI) Cricketer of the Year in the 2021 ICC Awards.

The right-hander smashed 632 runs in the 50-over format during 2021, averaging an impressive 90.28 in 11 games, with five half-centuries and an unbeaten ton as she helped South Africa to second in the ICC Women’s ODI Rankings.

Lee’s undefeated 132 off 131 balls (16 fours, 2 sixes) against India in Lucknow in March last year was undoubtedly the highlight of the year for the 29-year-old, with the knock propelling the Proteas to a six-run victory to take a 2-1 series lead before the team wrapped up the historic series win in the next game.

Her magnificent year has also seen her remain as the number one ranked batter in Women’s ODI cricket, leading Australia’s Alyssa Healy, and Mithali Raj from India ahead of the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup hosted in New Zealand between 04 March – 03 April.

“We will take a lot of confidence from beating one of the top sides in the world with our first XI not in place,” Proteas coach Mark Boucher said after his team completed an astonishing 3-0 series whitewash of India with a thrilling four-run win at Newlands on Sunday.

Even without pace spearheads Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, and with ace spinner Tabraiz Shamsi sitting out the last game, South Africa dominated the ODI series in conditions that were more suited to the Indian team, following their memorable Test series triumph.

ALSO READ: Proteas win Newlands thriller, take series against India 3-0

“There has been a great progression in the field, both on the field and off, in terms of the environment – it’s a happy changeroom and the results show that,” Boucher said.

“I believe we turned the corner a while ago. Before that we gave lots of players opportunities and we are reaping the rewards now. When players are injured or sitting out, the guys are coming through.

“I like the look and balance of our batting, they did really well, we are getting hundreds and it is a powerful top six. We have a couple of all-rounders who have put in solid performances.

“In terms of our fast bowlers, Anrich and KG still have to come back, Marco Jansen has a lot of potential and Lungi Ngidi did a fantastic job leading from the front. And we have world-class spinners,” Boucher added.

One of the biggest positives from the series for Boucher was the way India, renowned both for playing spin and their own slow bowlers, were outplayed by both the Proteas batters and their spinners, Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram, whose selection for the sixth bowler role paid off.

ALSO READ: Family man Keegan Petersen opens up about being Proteas’ new star

“We’ve put a lot of hard work into playing in subcontinental conditions and the heatwave in the Western Cape meant the pitches played a bit like that.

“We played spin really well in Sri Lanka and we have a good batch of spin bowlers now, with Aiden doing a good job too. So I’m not surprised we did so well.

“That’s the big positive for me – the way we played spin and the way we bowled it. From a spin perspective, we outplayed and outbowled India,” Boucher said.

The Proteas once again did the country proud with another gutsy win as they sealed an incredible 3-0 ODI series win over India, following the remarkable triumph in the Tests, by winning the third and final match by four runs at Newlands on Sunday.

Despite Quinton de Kock’s thrilling century, South Africa were left defending a moderate total of 287 and there were times when India looked well on track for victory.

But the Proteas attack, without Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, kept fighting back and ultimately clinched the game in the final over. Defending just six runs, Dwaine Pretorius conceded a single and then dismissed last man Yuzvendra Chahal (2), skying a cutter into the covers.

Although Lungi Ngidi removed Indian captain Lokesh Rahul for 9 in the fifth over, Shikhar Dhawan, with a free-scoring, uncomplicated 61 off 73 balls, and Virat Kohli, with a typically feisty 65 off 84 deliveries, provided a great platform for the chase with their second-wicket partnership of 98 off 112 balls.

Andile Phehlukwayo’s golden arm turned the game, however, when he removed both Dhawan and Rishabh Pant, who charged down the pitch to his first ball and sliced it to deep cover, in the same over.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled a superb spell of 10 overs for 39 runs in the middle overs and, in his last over, he gained reward with the massive wicket of Kohli, who was undone by sharp turn and bounce.

Shreyas Iyer (26) and Suryakumar Yadav (39 off 32) threatened, but the admirable Proteas attack kept chipping away. Iyer was very well caught by Phehlukwayo at deep backward square-leg as Sisanda Magala dug the ball hard into the pitch, and Yadav was fooled by a cutter from Dwaine Pretorius.

But Deepak Chahar blasted 54 off just 34 deliveries and South Africa really had to show their mettle at the death.

Some calamitous late overs left India needing just 21 off the last four overs. The explosive Chahar eventually fell when an Ngidi (10-0-58-3) slower ball saw him skying a catch into the covers, Pretorius taking the tester very well. Phehlukwayo (7-0-40-3) removed Jasprit Bumrah (12) in the next over and the experienced Pretorius then ensured South Africa kept their cool in the final over.

De Kock, returning to international action after missing the Test series, was scratchy in the first ODI and batted fluently in the second game, but he was sublime on Sunday. Continuing his wonderful record both at Newlands and against India, he stroked 124 off 130 balls and there were plenty of gorgeous shots to drool over. Today was the day the true genius of the left-hander came out and he was supreme in both the straight-bat and the cross-batted strokes.

India had won the toss and a bit of early moisture provided them with some swing and South Africa slipped to 70/3 in the 13^th over. But De Kock found the perfect partner in the unflustered and in-form Rassie van der Dussen (52).

The pair added 144 at just about a run-a-ball as Van der Dussen notched another determined half-century, marked by excellent shot-selection and composure under pressure.

But both in batsman fell in successive overs and the Proteas needed a solid partnership of 40 between David Miller (39) and Pretorius (20) to get them a total which they were able to defend thanks to a never-say-die attitude they showed in the field.

Former captain Quinton de Kock hit a sparkling century for South Africa in the third one-day international against India at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.

De Kock, who handed over the white ball captaincy last March to Temba Bavuma, made 124 off 130 balls as South Africa, seeking a clean sweep in the three-match series, scored 287 all out after being sent in to bat.

Indian captain KL Rahul said his decision to bowl first on a blazingly hot day was based on the likelihood that there would be early assistance for his bowlers on a “sticky” pitch.

There were early challenges for the batsmen and South Africa were 70 for three before De Kock was joined by Rassie van der Dussen (52) in a fourth-wicket stand of 144.

Later there was turn and bounce for India’s spin bowlers but De Kock was in superb form, hitting 12 fours and two sixes before being caught at deep midwicket off Jasprit Bumrah.

Van der Dussen was caught in the deep in the next over and the innings lost momentum despite a hard-hit 39 by David Miller.

Prasidh Krishna, one of four changes in the Indian team, took three for 59 while Bumrah and Deepak Chahar took two wickets each.

Rahul said the changes were a combination of “niggles” and wanting to give other players opportunities.

Suryakumar Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Deepak Chahar and Krishna came into the Indian team in place of Venkatesh Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

South Africa made only one change, with seam bowling all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius replacing left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

India won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third and final One Day International against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.

South Africa are 2-0 up in the series and will lift the trophy after Sunday’s match, irrespective of the result. The Proteas won the first two ODIs which were played in Paarl last week.

All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius has come into the South Africa team for spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, while India have made four changes to their side, with the series lost.

South Africa also won the three-match Test series earlier this month.

You know you have made an impression on the cricket field when AB de Villiers tweets about how excited he is to watch you bat, Ravi Shastri says you remind him of his childhood hero and Ian Chappell wonders why you weren’t playing Test cricket earlier.

Keegan Petersen was so impressive in South Africa’s Test triumph over India, taking the Man of the Series award for his 276 runs at an average of 46, scoring 41 more runs than anyone else, that the world has taken notice of the new number three’s performance against the top-ranked side.

De Villiers said, “Keegan Petersen CAN play! I’m very excited with the composure, skill and technique I’ve seen against one of the best attacks in the world.”

Shastri, India’s former captain and the coach who made them a dominant force before he stepped down last year, called Petersen “a great world player in the making. My childhood hero Gundappa Viswanath comes to mind.”

Viswanath played 91 Tests for India and scored 6,080 runs at an average of 41.93 between 1969 and 1983. He was a wristy stylist who was at his best when the conditions were at their toughest.

Former Australian captain Chappell, in his column for CricInfo, wondered where Petersen has been all this time. “He has all the requirements of a Test No 3, including a wide range of shots that he is prepared to play, plus a solid defence. So why is he only playing now?” he asked.

Out of the public eye, Petersen’s new-found fame has led to him being swamped with well-wishers, especially in his home town of Paarl, where he went with his family after the Test series.

‘Whirlwind’

“I don’t think my phone has ever been as busy as it has been for the last few days,” Petersen told The Citizen. “To have such legends talking about you, anything they say is really nice.

“It’s been a bit of a star-struck few days. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. My whole family and friends came to see me in Paarl, but I’m not complaining.

“It is their honour too. I am a product of my community and I owe a lot to them,” Petersen said.

Educated at New Orleans Secondary School, Petersen popped into his old school last week as the guest of honour to welcome the new pupils. It’s a close-knit school, well-known for its family values as much as the many sports stars they have produced.

And, in terms of his life outside of cricket, Petersen makes it clear that family is his priority.

Dad Dirkie

“All my time outside of cricket goes to my family, my wife and three kids – two boys and a girl – because I’m away enough with cricket,” Petersen said.

“We enjoy watching movies, Netflix, having a braai or potjiekos. I’m not very outgoing but we enjoy going to the beach.”

Speaking of family, Petersen credits his father, Dirkie, as having been the major influence on his cricketing career. Currently a teacher at New Orleans SS, Petersen senior was a talented all-round sportsman playing fullback for the SA Tertiary Institutes rugby team and cricket for Paarl, alongside Adrian Kuiper and Marais Erasmus.

“He’s always been there through my career and probably knows my game better than I do,” Petersen junior said. “I don’t think he can throw anymore because he’s thrown me so many balls.

“I’m so grateful to him. He was a wicketkeeper/batsman, a decent player, but I only watched him at the back end of his career in club cricket.”

The 28-year-old Petersen said there were plenty of nerves to get over during the Test series against India. But he’s the sort of character who is comfortable pushing himself and rising to challenges.

He was a prolific scorer for Boland after making his debut for them in 2011/12, but struggled to gain a regular starting place in a powerful Cape Cobras batting line-up. So he moved to Bloemfontein for greater opportunity and flourished for the Knights. Last season he moved to the Dolphins – “to upskill myself in a new challenge on turning pitches” – and helped them to the four-day title.

Those butterflies were flying in perfect formation by the end of the Test series as any questions over Petersen’s place in the Proteas team were firmly erased.

Helping set up South Africa’s series-clinching victory over India in the second ODI in a sweltering Paarl on Friday did not come cheap for opening batsman Janneman Malan, who described his condition as being “critical but stable”.

On a day when the temperature reached 41 degrees, Malan batted for two-and-a-half hours, scoring 91 off 108 balls and top-scoring as the Proteas chased down 288 with seven wickets and 11 balls to spare to complete remarkable back-to-back series wins over one of the superpowers of world cricket.

Malan put on 132 for the first wicket with Quinton de Kock, who blazed a quickfire 78, before solid 30s by Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen saw South Africa cruise to victory.

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“It was way hotter than in the first ODI and it was always going to be a challenge for the body, but that’s what we work on our conditioning for. I feel critical but stable,” Malan, who cuts a rugged figure, said after the game.

His cricket brain was clearly as sharp as ever because he not only played a beautifully-judged innings for the situation, but also identified the two key areas where South Africa have had the edge over India in this series.

When India hammered the Proteas 5-1 in the 2018 ODI series here, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal took 33 cheap wickets between them.

This time it has been Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj and even Markram who have had the wood over the Indian batsmen.

ALSO READ: South Africa’s T20 World Cup Group 2 opponents named

“We’ve handled their total overs of spin better than they have handled our overs of spin, and that has been a big confidence boost for us,” Malan said.

“Our playing and use of spin has been coming along for a couple of years now. We’ve been working really hard to improve and have better plans, especially when the pitches are slow and it’s spinning.

“So we are using our sweeps, making sure they are well-executed to get the percentages our way.

“The other key thing has been partnerships. We made them work for every run and our bowlers kept getting wickets.

“We’re very proud that we had a century partnership and then two fifty-run ones. Those are really good signs.”

A top-class batting display by South Africa carried them to an exceptional seven-wicket victory and another series triumph over a much-vaunted Indian team in the second ODI at Boland Park in Paarl on Friday.

Chasing a testing 288 for victory, a target which has never been achieved in the second innings in ODIs at Paarl, the Proteas began superbly with a commanding opening stand of 132 off 136 deliveries between Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan.

De Kock was in a rush, racing to a tremendous 78 off 66 balls with an array of great strokes that brought him seven fours and three sixes. He did not bat beyond the 22nd over, missing a low full toss and falling lbw to Shardul Thakur, but he had given South Africa a fantastic platform.

ALSO READ: South Africa’s T20 World Cup Group 2 opponents named

Malan batted on as he and captain Temba Bavuma rammed home the advantage with a second-wicket stand of 80 at better than a run-a-ball.

Malan’s composed innings of 91 off 108 deliveries came to an end when he was bowled off his arm by a Jasprit Bumrah off-cutter, but it was another classy knock from a 25-year-old who has made such a great start to his ODI career that he has now scored 758 runs in his first 12 innings.

There was a slight wobble when Bavuma was caught-and-bowled by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who posed a consistent risk, for 35 in the next over. South Africa still needed 74 runs off 86 balls.

But a typically calm Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram, who both finished on 37 not out, took the Proteas home with 11 balls to spare. It was a morale-boosting return to form for Markram.

India, having won the toss and batted on a sweltering day, were off to a quick start as Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan (29) added 63 off 73 deliveries. Off-spinner Markram made the breakthrough as Dhawan was well-caught by Sisanda Magala, who had endured a torrid time with the new ball, at deep midwicket.

In the next over, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed the vital wicket of Virat Kohli for a duck, beaten in the flight and chipping a catch to cover.

South Africa’s fielding had not been particularly sharp up till then and it then fell apart as four catches were dropped and an easy run out, in the early stages of the third-wicket partnership between Rahul and Rishabh Pant, was farcically botched.

ALSO READ: Proteas coach Mark Boucher charged over racism allegations

But the tenacity of this South African team came to the fore as they put those horrors behind them.

Magala returned with an admirable second spell and removed Rahul for 55 and South Africa again struck in the following over as Pant, who had played brilliantly in scoring a fiery 85 off 71 balls, holed out off Tabraiz Shamsi.

De Kock took another brilliant leg-side stumping standing up to Andile Phehlukwayo to dismiss Venkatesh Iyer for 22 and although Thakur (40) and Ravichandran Ashwin (25) added 48 in the last six-and-a-half overs, the Proteas would have been relieved to not be chasing more than 300 based on how badly they had fielded.

It was spin which once again turned the tide with Maharaj (9-0-52-1), Shamsi (9-0-57-2) and Markram (8-0-34-1) all doing excellent jobs. Lungi Ngidi, although wicketless, was the best of the seamers, while Phehlukwayo also did well.

Rishabh Pant made a hard-hit 85 to spearhead India’s bid to square the series in the second one-day international against South Africa at Boland Park in Paarl on Friday.

India, who lost the first match by 31 runs at the same venue on Wednesday, made 287 for six after captain KL Rahul won the toss and decided to bat.

The left-handed Pant made batting look easy on a slow pitch, striking the ball to all parts of the ground and on several occasions taking one hand off his bat as he hit the ball.

Pant hit ten fours and two sixes in a 71-ball innings.

Rahul made 55 off 79 balls and shared a third-wicket partnership of 115 with Pant.

But Rahul was dropped twice and the stand should have been broken after the pair had added only six runs when an easy run-out opportunity was botched with both batsmen at the same end of the pitch.

Shardul Thakur (40 not out) and Ravichandran Ashwin (25 not out) scored freely in an unbeaten seventh-wicket stand of 48 in the last six overs as the bowlers wilted in heat which reached 40C (104 degrees Fahrenheit) towards the end of the innings.

India won the toss and chose to bat first against South Africa in the second One Day International at Boland Park in Paarl on Friday.

South Africa, who batted first in the first ODI on Wednesday, lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning that game. Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen hit centuries to help their side go one up.

The third and final ODI will be played at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.

South Africa have made one change to their team, bringing in bowler Sisanda Magala for Marco Jansen.

India, meanwhile, are unchanged from the first ODI.

India and Pakistan will lock horns in a blockbuster T20 World Cup group clash for the second year running after the fixtures for the October-November 2022 tournament in Australia were announced on Friday.

The arch-rivals will lock horns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23, a day after Australia begin their title defence against New Zealand in Sydney — a repeat of the 2021 final in Dubai where Aaron Finch’s team won their maiden crown.

The 16-nation tournament will begin on October 16 with Sri Lanka facing Namibia in Geelong — one of seven venues as Australia hosts for the first time.

“Our planning was ultra-detailed last time and knowing what the groups look like nine months out is really helpful because it can help your level of detail in that planning phase more and more,” Finch said.

“It’s a tough group though, and when you throw in qualifiers like the West Indies and Sri Lanka, you’ve got to play really well to get out of that group stage.”

The top two teams from both Group A and Group B in the preliminary first round will join the automatically qualified nations in the Super 12 stage.

England, New Zealand, Australia and Afghanistan have been drawn together in Group 1. 

India, Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh are clubbed in Group 2.

The spotlight will be on the Group 2 India-Pakistan contest at the MCG, with the two in recent years only meeting in multi-nation events due to tensions over the disputed border territory of Kashmir.

Pakistan recorded their first win over India in World Cups last year in Dubai when they hammered Virat Kohli’s team.

The Sydney Cricket Ground will host the first semi-final on November 9 while the second last-four clash will be held at the Adelaide Oval.

The final will be played at the MCG on November 13 under lights.

The tournament will begin with a six-day preliminary stage of two four-team groups.

Sri Lanka and Namibia in Group A, and West Indies and Scotland in Group B will be joined by four qualifiers yet to be determined.

Australia had been due to host the T20 World Cup in 2020 but it was delayed two years because of the coronavirus pandemic with India retaining the 2021 edition — though that edition had to be shifted to Dubai because of Covid.