The domestic cricket season starts on Friday in Kimberley and the CSA Provincial T20 Knockout Competition should highlight some of the exciting young batting talent coming through, starting with the Western Province duo of Johnny Bird and Tony de Zorzi and the Central Gauteng Lions trio of Josh Richards, Mitchell van Buuren and Shane Dadswell.

The Lions and Western Province are the two First Division sides in the pool so they will be the favourites to advance, but hosts Northern Cape, who have a couple of thrilling strikers of their own in Beyers Swanepoel and Evan Jones, and South-Western Districts, led by Jean du Plessis and Hanno Kotze, should not be discounted.

The 23-year-old Dadswell, who is something of a Pukke legend for his big-hitting exploits for them, has joined the Wanderers fold along with two other young North-West products in Ruan Haasbroek and Louren Steenkamp.

The Lions are coached by Wandile Gwavu, who steered the franchise team to last season’s T20 title in February and, even though only two players return from that final, he will not want to bend the knee to anybody this early in the season.

ALSO READ: MCC adopts gender-neutral ‘batter’ instead of ‘batsman’

Ryan Rickelton is one of the returnees and he has been named as Central Gauteng’s captain for the T20 competition, being joined by Sisanda Magala, who will be the Lions’ key bowler.

Whereas the Lions franchise used to slowly strangle teams in T20 cricket with their brilliant spin duo of Bjorn Fortuin and Aaron Phangiso, that option is not available to Gwavu now and he will be looking to pace to blow opposition batsmen away.

Magala has Lutho Sipamla to share the new ball with and the likes of left-arm quick Carmi le Roux, Tladi Bokako and Aya Myoli are in the squad for the Kimberley-baed side.

Former Knights offie Tshepo Ntuli, who was born and raised in Kimberley, is the chief spinner in the squad and Gwavu could be looking to the likes of Haasbroek and Dadswell for some part-time overs.

The Lions and Western Province meet in the season opener on Friday, followed by Northern Cape versus South-Western Districts. The Pool A games conclude on Sunday with the top two teams going through to the quarterfinals.

Former West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels was charged on Wednesday under the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code more than a decade after he served a ban for breaching regulations.

Samuels, who played international cricket between 2000 and 2018, was charged by the ICC on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board for breaching four elements of their T10 League anti-corruption code.

Charges include failing to disclose “receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or other benefit that was made or given in circumstances that could bring the participant or the sport of cricket into disrepute”.

Samuels is also charged with failing to cooperate with an anti-corruption official’s investigation.

ALSO READ: Afghanistan keen to host Pakistan in ODI series

The 40-year-old was given a two-year ban in 2008 after being found guilty of receiving “money, benefit or other reward… which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute”. 

The all-rounder played 71 Tests, 207 one-day internationals and 67 Twenty20 games for the West Indies. He scored 11,134 runs and picked up 152 wickets during his international career.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a statement that it would not comment “while this ongoing investigation continues”. 

However the CWI also underlined its commitment to stamping out corruption within the game. 

“While CWI has yet to receive detailed information relating to this ICC investigation, CWI remains firm in denouncing any such activities within the sport, and fully supports the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit in their efforts to rid the sport of all corruption,” read the statement.

Newly appointed Afghanistan cricket chairman Azizullah Fazli said Wednesday he would visit neighbouring Pakistan later this week to invite the side for a one-day series.

The war-torn nation has steadily risen in international cricket over the past few years, with stars such as the world’s top spinner Rashid Khan, but there have been calls for a boycott of the men’s team after the hardline Taliban’s takeover last month.

The change of government has called into question the future of Afghanistan’s participation in Test matches, as under International Cricket Council regulations, nations must also have an active women’s team.

The Taliban are yet to announce a policy on women playing sport, but a senior official has said it would be “not necessary”.

Avoiding commenting on the latest developments, Fazli said he planned to visit other regional cricketing powers.

“I am taking a tour of Pakistan from September 25 and then will go to India, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates to meet officials of cricket boards,” he told AFP over the phone from Kabul.

Fazli said he would meet new Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja, “and offer to host Pakistan for the series which we were due to play in Sri Lanka in September”.

The three-match one-day series between Pakistan and Afghanistan was cancelled over logistical problems and a Covid-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka. It was part of a one-day league which is a qualification process for the 2023 World Cup.

“We are seeking to improve Afghanistan cricket so that will come with cooperation from other countries,” Fazli added.

Raja confirmed Fazli would visit Pakistan.

Fazli, in his second term as chairman after serving the board from September 2018 to July 2019, said he was committed to improving facilities in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan are in Group 2 of the Super 12 stages of the Twenty20 World Cup due to start from October 17 in the United Arab Emirates.

Australia has threatened to cancel a Test match with Afghanistan in Brisbane in November unless the Taliban allow women to play cricket.

The new rulers on Tuesday sacked Hamid Shinwari as Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive, replacing him with Naseeb Zadran Khan, linked to the Haqqani network, which is responsible for some of the worst attacks in the country’s history.

Marylebone Cricket Club on Wednesday announced an amendment to the laws of the game meaning the gender-neutral term “batter” will be used from now on instead of “batsman”.

The club, the sole authority on the laws of the game, said the use of the terminology would “help reinforce cricket’s status as an inclusive game for all”.

The profile of women’s cricket has rocketed in recent years, with England’s victory over India in the 2017 World Cup final taking place in front of a capacity crowd at Lord’s, which is owned by the MCC.

A crowd of 86,174 saw Australia defeat India in the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne in 2020 and in August Lord’s broke the record for a domestic women’s match as more than 17,000 fans watched the final of the inaugural Hundred competition.

“MCC believes in cricket being a game for all and this move recognises the changing landscape of the game in modern times,” said Jamie Cox, assistant secretary with responsibility for cricket and operations.

“Use of the term ‘batter’ is a natural evolution in our shared cricketing language and the terminology has already been adopted by many of those involved in the sport. 

“It is the right time for this adjustment to be recognised formally and we are delighted, as the guardians of the laws, to announce these changes today.”

New Zealand cricket great Chris Cairns Monday said he was “facing possibly the greatest challenge” of his life after being left paralysed following a stroke during a heart operation.

The 51-year-old, one of the world’s top all-rounders in the early 2000s, underwent life-saving surgery last month when a tear developed in the lining of a major artery.

The Canberra-based former international had an emergency operation in Sydney but suffered a stroke during the procedure, leaving him unable to use his legs.

In his first comments since, Cairns shared a video message on social media in which he thanked the surgeons, doctors, nurses who “saved my life”, acknowledging there was “a long road ahead”.

“Just over six weeks ago, I suffered a type-A aortic dissection, which essentially means there’s a tear in one of the major arteries of the heart,” he said.

“I had several surgeries and grafts and very thankfully the specialists were able to save the heart itself.

“One of the complications that arose was a spinal stroke which in itself will provide me with possibly the greatest challenge I’ve ever faced in rehab going forward.”

Cairns played 62 Tests between 1989 and 2004, averaging 29.4 with the ball and 33.53 with the bat, including 87 sixes — a world record at the time.

However, his on-field achievements were overshadowed by match-fixing allegations, strongly denied by Cairns, that resulted in two court cases.

He was cleared on both occasions but complained his reputation had been “scorched” regardless.

England pace bowler Stuart Broad insists he will go on the Ashes tour of Australia this winter despite concerns over coronavirus restrictions.

The England and Wales Cricket Board are “very confident” the Ashes series will go ahead as planned amid Australia’s tight border controls.

The prospect of lengthy Covid-related quarantines and restrictive bubble environments makes the tour less appealing than in the pre-pandemic era.

The ECB are also set to make a decision about whether to press ahead with next month’s scheduled tour to Pakistan for back-to-back Twenty20 double-headers for both the men’s and women’s sides on October 13 and 14 in Rawalpindi.

ALSO READ: New Zealand call off Pakistan tour after security alert

England’s first planned international visit to Pakistan since 2005 has been plunged into doubt after New Zealand abruptly abandoned their tour of the country because of a “security alert” from their government.

But Broad, 35, is “working tirelessly” to be included in the travelling party for the Australia series, which starts in December.

“It is now just a couple of weeks away from a squad being selected but players can’t sign up to something unless they know what they are signing up for,” Broad wrote in the Mail on Sunday.

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup countdown: Confidence high in Proteas camp

“If you ask me if I would be happy to get on a plane to Australia in November, I would say yes. I am working tirelessly to get there. I don’t feel there will be a postponement.

“In my mind, it is 100 percent clear that an England team of some description will embark on the tour. But if another player called me and told me they couldn’t commit, I would totally accept it.

“Everyone has to make their own decision and Ashley Giles, England’s director of cricket, has made it clear a player’s chances of selection in the future will not be harmed.”

New Zealand on Friday pulled out of their cricket series against Pakistan over security concerns just minutes after the first one-day international was due to start. 

The move is a massive setback to Pakistan, which has been trying to revive tours by foreign sides after home internationals were suspended in the aftermath of a terror attack on the Sri Lankan side in 2009.

“Following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from (New Zealand Cricket) security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the Blackcaps will not continue with the tour,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement. 

Arrangements are being made for the team to leave the country. 

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said Pakistan had been “wonderful hosts”, but “player safety is paramount and we believe this is the only responsible option”.

The Kiwis are in Pakistan for the first time since 2003 and were due to play three ODIs, followed by five Twenty20 matches.

They previously cut short a tour in 2002 after a bomb blast outside their team hotel in Karachi killed 14 French naval staff.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said New Zealand had made the decision unilaterally.

“The PCB is willing to continue the scheduled matches,” it said in a statement. 

Other tours at risk

Before the match was to start, Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Adern “and assured her that New Zealand team is provided foolproof security”, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

Khan is himself a former international player and cricketing hero.

“The security officials with the New Zealand team have been satisfied with security arrangements made by the Pakistan Government throughout their stay here,” the PCB statement continued. 

A security delegation from New Zealand last month inspected arrangements in Pakistan and it was only after their clearance the tour was given a go-ahead.

Most of the squad arrived on Saturday and Sunday with a level of security usually reserved for visiting heads of state that included armed guards escorting their bulletproof buses.

Their Islamabad hotel has been guarded by a heavy paramilitary and police contingent.

Pakistan are due to host England for two Twenty20 internationals next month, while the West Indies and Australia are also to tour in the next six months.

All three tours may now be in jeopardy.

Pakistan’s interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad was due to make a statement later in the day over the issue. 

The Proteas have enjoyed a superb record-equalling run in T20 cricket of late and will go into next month’s T20 World Cup with their confidence at a high.

While Sri Lanka were disappointingly hapless during the 3-0 series whitewash, perhaps more credit should be given to the South Africans for being so clinical in dispatching the home side.

Most critics would probably have backed Sri Lanka to win the series on their home pitches, which were typically sub-continental and designed to favour their strengths and expose the supposed Proteas weaknesses.

Playing in the subcontinent means dealing with spin and South Africa were brilliant in both the progress their batsmen have made on turning pitches and also the sheer quality of their own spin attack, which was relied upon to an extent never seen before in a Proteas team.

The T20 World Cup will be played in what is expected to be similar conditions in the United Arab Emirates.

Spinners backed

“It was very pleasing to win the series in the manner we did,” stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj said.

“We trusted in our process: Sri Lanka have some world-class spinners but our batsmen found a way to handle them and our spinners showed what they can do when they are backed. It’s good that the hierarchy is backing spin more.

“I obviously have my game-plans before the match, but you need to adapt on the field and read the conditions as soon as possible. I try to identify periods when we can go for the kill, and I must give credit to my bowlers for the number of times they came on and took wickets, or even an economical couple of overs.

“We wanted to really make an impact after the bitter pill of losing the ODI series.”

Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock may no longer have alpha-male status as the captain, but the wicketkeeper/batsman continued to mark himself out as the Proteas’ key batsman, a real matchwinner in T20 cricket.

He was the leading run-scorer in the series with 153 runs, being dismissed just once as he claimed the man of the series award and a career-high eighth place in the ICC T20 rankings.

“Quinny has been in great form after obviously having a tough time in Pakistan,” coach Mark Boucher said.

“He’s been fantastic in the team environment and you can’t keep a player like that down for too long. He’s obviously in a happy space after a bit of rest, the break was good for him and it rewarded us too.

“He’s going to be a really big player for us at the World Cup and it was good to see him carry his bat through a couple of times, when it would be easy to just score thirty and get out.

“He’s showing a lot of responsibility and he will be a big name for as at the World Cup.”

Star batsman Virat Kohli announced Thursday that he will give up the India Twenty20 captaincy after the World Cup that starts next month.

“I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI cricket,” said Kohli, whose leadership has been the subject of mounting speculation in recent months.

“I’ve decided to step down as the T20 captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October,” he added in a Twitter post.

The 32-year-old, who became limited-overs captain after MS Dhoni stepped aside in 2017, has faced pressure over his failure to win India either the World Cup, Champions Trophy or T20 World Cup.

But Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), had backed Kohli this week to continue.

“I have given everything to the team during my time as T20 captain and I will continue to do so for the T20 team as a batsman moving forward,” said Kohli. 

“Of course, arriving at the decision took a lot of time,” he explained, adding that he had consulted with India coach Ravi Shastri and opening batsman Rohit Sharma.

He also said he had informed Shah, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and the national selectors of his decision.

Indian media have reported that Sharma could take over as limited-overs captain and that the change had been discussed by the BCCI.

Kohli is set to lead his Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore in the T20 tournament which resumes Sunday in the UAE after a four-month pandemic suspension.

South Africa’s Proteas recorded a third straight T20 International win against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday to bag the series without suffering a defeat.

While the visitors’ spinners have grabbed the headlines in recent weeks, it was the batsmen who really came good on Tuesday, with both openers scoring half centuries to lead the team to a comfortable 10-wicket win.

Chasing a modest 121 for victory, Quinton de Kock (59 from 46 balls) and Reeza Hendricks (56 from 42 balls) batted superbly to reach the target with 32 balls to spare.

The series win will give the South African squad plenty of confidence ahead of the World Cup in Oman and the UAE, which is now just a few weeks away.

Earlier the South Africans bowled excellently and never allowed their hosts to settle or get into any kind of rhythm. They also picked up wickets at regular intervals, never allowing the Sri Lankans to get any sort of partnerships going.

Four of the eight wickets to fall were still taken by the spinners, but on this occasion the world’s top-ranked bowler, Tabraiz Shamsi, failed to pick up any wickets to add to his ever-growing collection of scalps.

Captain Keshav Maharaj took one for 14 in four overs, Bjorn Fortuin claimed two for 21 in four and (part-timer?) Aiden Markram took one for four in two overs.

Kagiso Rabada got his team off to the perfect start when in the second over he caught and bowled Avishka Fernando and later bowled Bhanuka Rajapaksa with a beautiful delivery that swung in late.

After 10 overs Sri Lanka were 62 for four and then only marginally recovered. Opener Kusal Perera with 39 and some late blows by Chamika Karunaratne (24 not out) got the home team to a score that would have felt was perhaps defendable.

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who led Sri Lanka to victory at the 2014 Twenty20 World Cup, on Tuesday quit T20 internationals to complete his retirement as a player.

The 38-year-old, one of the most successful limited over bowlers of all time with his distinctive ‘sling’ action, said he would now devote himself to supporting the next generation of cricketers.

Malinga, who was dropped for Sri Lanka’s current T20 series against South Africa, had been considering giving up since leading the team when it lost 2-0 to India in January last year.

“I have decided to retire from T20I cricket marking my retirement from all formats of cricket,” he said on his Facebook page.

“But, I will be continuously supporting the younger generations,” he added.

“While my shoes will rest, my love for the game will never ask for rest.”

Malinga has been a top attraction at the Indian Premier League and other limited overs tournaments around the world.

His greatest moment, however, was leading Sri Lanka to the T20 World Cup title in Bangladesh in 2014.

Sri Lanka beat India by six wickets in the final, with Malinga frustrating the Indian batsmen with yorkers in the death overs.

Malinga is the leading all-time T20 international wicket-taker with 107 scalps. He took 338 wickets in one-day internationals, making him one of the top 10 bowlers in the format.

He is the only bowler with two World Cup hat-tricks to his name and one of only two players to have taken four wickets in four consecutive balls in international cricket.

Malinga has not played a match since leading Sri Lanka in a T20 series against West Indies in March last year. His side lost the series and in his final game he failed to get any wickets in his three overs that cost 46 runs.

In November, he backed out of the inaugural Lanka Premier League, saying he had not had enough practice to take part.

His return to the top job in December 2018 had been a surprise as he had suffered several injuries that had forced him to sit out several tournaments.

He retired from one-day internationals in July 2019 after a career that began in 2004. His last Test was in 2010, after which he gave up to concentrate on limited overs cricket.

His teammate from the 2014 final and current MCC president Kumar Sangakkara paid tribute to Malinga’s “awesome career”.

“Your contribution to Sri Lanka and world cricket will stand for all time,” he said on Twitter.

Virat Kohli will continue to captain India in all three formats, a top national cricket board official said Tuesday, after speculation that the batting great could be replaced as skipper for limited-overs games.

Kohli’s recent sketchy form with the bat has led to reports that changes could be made after the T20 World Cup, which begins next month in the United Arab Emirates.

But Kohli received a vote of confidence from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah.

ALSO READ: ‘We are not rubbish,’ says emotional Proteas spinner Shamsi

“There is no such proposal (to replace Kohli) and the team is led by Virat and we are backing him,” said Shah.

“We are sensitive to the fact that such a proposal is not in the interest of Indian team when it will take part in a World Cup,” Shah told website Cricbuzz.

Indian media have reported that opening batsman Rohit Sharma could take over as Twenty20 and 50-over captain and that the change had been discussed by the BCCI. 

“As long as a team is performing, the question of change in captaincy doesn’t arise,” Shah was reported as saying by the Indian Express newspaper. 

Kohli led India to a landmark Test series win in Australia in January and they were leading 2-1 in England when the fifth and final Test was controversially cancelled last week because of a coronavirus outbreak in the tourists’ camp.

India have not lost a Twenty20 series under Kohli, but they have failed to win either the 50-over Champions Trophy, World Cup or T20 World Cup since he became white ball captain in 2017.

Shah also confirmed that India have offered to play two extra T20 matches in England next July in place of the cancelled Test.

The England board suffered huge financial losses from the refusal of Indian players to take part because of coronavirus fears. 

“Instead of three T20Is, we will play five T20Is. Alternately, we will be willing to play a one-off Test as well. It is up to them to choose either of the offers,” said Shah.

India pulled out of the final Test at Old Trafford last week after head coach Ravi Shastri and other support staff contracted the virus and had to be isolated.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said Monday that India are willing to reschedule the final Test as part of next year’s series.

“My emotions come out sometimes,” ace Proteas spinner Tabraiz Shamsi admitted at the weekend, and he was not just talking about his reaction to the on-field battle but also the way the South African team has been criticised of late.

Shamsi produced yet another man-of-the-match display, taking three for 20 in four overs as the Proteas bundled Sri Lanka out for just 103 in the second T20 International in Colombo, setting up a thumping nine-wicket win with 35 balls to spare that clinched a third successive series win for South Africa.

The left-arm wrist-spinner was hit for only one boundary, a massive blow into the sightscreen by Dasun Shanaka. But the next delivery Shamsi ripped through the gate to bowl the Sri Lanka captain, leading to a pumped-up celebration. It was one of many on the night by the Proteas and Shamsi admitted that the team had been extra-motivated by all the negativity over them back home.

“My emotions come out sometimes and it’s partly because I waited a long time for a place in the team. And then when someone smokes you like that, I can’t use the words here that are in my head, but then to get the batsman out after a moment like that leads to great satisfaction,” Shamsi said.

“I realise now that getting hit for six is part-and-parcel of T20. There’s no embarrassment – all the great spinners have been hit for six – and my mindset has changed a lot. But if you hit me for six, you must know that I’m coming back for you with the next ball I bowl.

“There’s a lot of perceptions about us, people looking negatively at the team and the way we are playing. But we are not rubbish. My opinion is that we are actually quite good, on par with the great South African teams. We just need to play more international cricket.”

ALSO READ: Proteas take T20 series as spinners lead the way against Sri Lanka

While the 31-year-old continued to justify his ranking as the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, Shamsi praised the help he had been getting from his friends in the rest of the Proteas spin attack.

“Sri Lanka have prepared spinning pitches thinking it was our weakness, but we are capable of fighting fire with fire,” he said.

“The majority of our overs are now spin because we have so many quality spinners, whereas there may have been a reluctance in the past to play them and we would only have four to eight overs of spin before.

“It’s a refreshing change that we are picking the team for the conditions, and it’s nice for me to have all that back-up because it means I can be utilised in different ways.”

The third and final T20 will be played at Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.

The Proteas put aside all the misleading claims that their fortunes are at an all-time low as they hammered Sri Lanka by nine wickets with 35 balls to spare in Colombo on Sunday to clinch their third consecutive T20 series win.

In their final dress rehearsal before next month’s T20 World Cup in similar conditions in the United Arab Emirates, South Africa took an unbeatable 2-0 lead, winning both games comfortably. They will now go into the showpiece event with both a settled, confident team and a game-plan that is working.

Sri Lanka had won the toss and batted first, but paceman Anrich Nortje ended a fast and accurate second over by removing Dinesh Chandimal, mishitting a pull to mid-on, for just 5.

Although Kusal Perera (30 off 25) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who was particularly severe on ace fast bowler Kagiso Rabada in his 20 off 13 balls, swung lustily to add 28 for the second wicket in three overs, the Proteas kept taking wickets, with the spinners leading the way.

ALSO READ: George Linde omission: Time for CSA to stop taking fans for fools

It was the part-timer, Aiden Markram, who made the breakthrough with Rajapaksa’s wicket, before Tabraiz Shamsi took wickets in successive overs to reduce Sri Lanka to 71 for four in the 10^th over.

Markram then trapped Kusal lbw and the rest of the batting folded as Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 103, their lowest completed score against the Proteas.

Shamsi returned to his best after missing the mark in the first T20, taking three for 20 in four superb overs, while Markram did a brilliant job in taking three for 21 in four overs that included a maiden.

Orthodox left-armer Bjorn Fortuin returned the magnificent figures of two for 12 in four overs, while Keshav Maharaj chipped in with a wicket and was tidy as ever.

Quinton de Kock then killed off any aspirations Sri Lanka may have had of snatching a comeback win and dismissed all claims that he will be under-prepared for the World Cup as he cruised to 58 not out off 48 balls to steer South Africa to one of their most comprehensive victories ever in T20 Internationals.

De Kock collected seven fours as he unveiled the full array of his wonderful strokeplay, and his skill and placement was on full display as well.

South Africa’s charge to victory was delayed by rain after nine overs, with their score on 65 for one, but Aiden Markram (21* off 19) helped De Kock seal their biggest ever victory over Sri Lanka batting second. Reeza Hendricks scored a run-a-ball 18 adding 62 for the first wicket with De Kock.

Chasing boundaries and trying to get to 200 on a subcontinent turner can be as tempting as the allure of a huskey-voiced temptress, but it can be disastrous and Proteas batsman Aiden Markram says these are the lessons he has had to learn as he adapts to a new role in T20 cricket.

With South Africa enjoying so many top-order options – Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks and Janneman Malan are all in the mix to open – Markram has slipped down a bit into the middle-order. Particularly on the subcontinent, that can be the toughest place to bat, but the 26-year-old seems to be learning when to be patient and when to go for it, judging by his well-paced 48 off 33 balls that took the Proteas to a winning total of 163-5 in the first T20 in Colombo on Friday night.

ALSO READ: Proteas too good for Sri Lanka in first T20 match

“It’s quite tough to judge what a winning total will be sometimes, and I haven’t been in that situation too often. You have to trust the information you get from the sidelines, Quinton de Kock usually gives a rough ball-park figure and I was able to chat with David Miller, who is very experienced. We thought 160 was good, slightly above par in those conditions, but we still had to bowl well,” Markaram said after the Proteas’ win on Friday.

“It’s a new challenge not opening the batting, obviously I have not done it much. But I’m enjoying it and it requires you to be street-smart in how you approach your innings.

“I’m used to being up front where your game-plan is fixed, set in stone. But you can’t be like that at No 3 or 4, your approach has to be flexible and it changes from game-to-game.”

The Proteas cross swords again with Sri Lanka at the same venue on Sunday and stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj wants the same intensity to ensure his team wrap up the series at the first opportunity. They will then be able to go into next month’s T20 World Cup in good form having won eight of their last 10 matches. The home side will be angered by their defeat and will come out firing.

“It’s really important for us to show intensity and energy. We understand what’s at stake and we want to be as clinical as possible,” Maharaj said.

“We need to stick to the basics and repeat what was good from the previous game. In terms of our preparation for the T20 World Cup, we must make sure we take care of the series by winning the next game, knowing that Sri Lanka will bounce back.

“I’m a very open-minded captain, but I do demand a lot of energy and intensity. That’s the best way to bring out your character and the best things in your game. Body language is also important because it conveys a message to the opposition.

“The batting is starting to get better with Quinny and Reeza Hendricks setting a foundation and Aiden and David were sublime at the end. The bowlers set the tone in the powerplay – to only concede 34 runs is almost unheard of on the subcontinent – and then they were superb in finishing the game off.”

For once it wasn’t Tabraiz Shamsi who led the way, but all the other South African bowlers were bang on the money as they steered the Proteas to a 28-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first T20 at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.

Defending a competitive total of 163 for five, the Proteas bowled extremely well on a good batting pitch to restrict the home side to 135 for six.

Captain Keshav Maharaj, on his T20 International debut, led the way with outstanding figures of one for 19 in his four overs, and his fellow left-arm spinner, Bjorn Fortuin, was also brilliant given all the World Cup selection furore of the last 36 hours, taking one for 24 in four overs.

Maharaj took a wicket with his first ball when he trapped Bhanuka Rajapaksa lbw for a duck.

Pacemen Kagiso Rabada (3-0-21-0), Anrich Nortje (4-0-29-1) and Dwaine Pretorius (3-0-21-1) were also all tidy.

Proteas top-order

Shamsi was the least of the contributors, conceding 20 runs in his two overs, but putting Charith Asalanka, man of the series in the ODIs, out of misery after he had struggled to 6 off 19 balls.

The Sri Lankan top-order looked all at sea against the quality spin-bowling of the Proteas and the skilful pace of Rabada, battling to 57 for two after 10 overs. Opener Dinesh Chandimal batted through to the end with 66 not out off 54 deliveries, but his acceleration in the second half of his innings was all too little, too late.

Many words have been penned and spoken about the best South African batting line-up and balance to their XI, with some criticising them for an insular approach in playing spin, but the Proteas top-order did the job on Friday.

Quinton de Kock was a little rusty and reserved upon his return to the team with 36 off 32 balls, but he and Reeza Hendricks, who did a great job with his 38 off 30, provided the ideal start with an opening stand of 73 in 9.5 overs.

Leg-spnner Wanindu Hasaranga (4-0-23-2) removed them both in successive overs, and with Heinrich Klaasen being unfortunate (two umpire’s calls on the review) to be given out lbw to Maheesh Theeksana for just 2, South Africa needed a bit of a rebuild.

But Aiden Markram (48 off 33) and David Miller (26 off 15) finished well, combining big hits with some good running between the wickets, as they added 65 at around 10-an-over for the fourth-wicket.

India cricket chiefs offered to reschedule the fifth Test against England on Friday after it was “jointly decided” to cancel the match just over two hours before the scheduled start of play over coronavirus fears.

The tourists were 2-1 up in the five-match contest after a 157-run win in the fourth Test and were bidding to complete a notable double just months after winning a series in Australia. 

The status of the Old Trafford Test — and the five-match series — remains uncertain after the England and Wales Cricket Board retracted an initial statement that India had “forfeited” the match.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have jointly decided to call off the fifth Test match scheduled at Manchester in India’s ongoing tour of England 2021,” the BCCI said in a statement.

The BCCI said it had held talks with the ECB to find a way to play the game but Covid cases among backroom staff had forced their hand, adding that the wellbeing of players was “paramount”.

“In lieu of the strong relationship between BCCI and ECB, the BCCI has offered to ECB a rescheduling of the cancelled Test match,” the statement said.

“Both the boards will work towards finding a window to reschedule this Test match.”

Rescheduling the fifth Test is complicated by the imminent re-start of the lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, which resumes in the United Arab Emirates on September 19.

The IPL, which started in India, was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday named Justin Sammons and JP Duminy as specialist consultants to the Proteas men’s national team management for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be played in Oman and the United Arab Emirates next month. 

The pair will fill the vacancy on a temporary basis caused by the resignation of assistant coach Enoch Nkwe. 

“I would like to thank the Lions and the North West Dragons for making JP and Justin available to us where they are currently employed as the respective batting coaches,” commented CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith. 

“Justin previously worked with the Proteas during the first part of our current tour of Sri Lanka so he has already developed a good working relationship with the players. 

“JP is a perfect fit for T20 cricket. His record as a player speaks for itself and he will bring specific skills in all three disciplines of batting, bowling and fielding,” Smith concluded. 

Proteas Team Management for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: 

Khomotso (Volvo) Masubelele (team manager), Mark Boucher (head coach), Charl Langeveldt (bowling coach), Justin Ontong (fielding coach), Justin Sammons (specialist consultant), JP Duminy (specialist consultant), Craig Govender (physiotherapist), Tumi Masekela (strength and conditioning coach), Rivash Gobind (video analyst), Dr Hashendra Ramjee (team doctor), Sipokazi Sokanyile (media manager).

The fifth and deciding Test between England and India due to start on Friday has been cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns in the tourists’ camp just hours before the match in Manchester was due to start.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said fears over the coronavirus related to an outbreak among backroom staff had left the tourists unable to field a team at Old Trafford.

Play should have got under way at 11am local time but just over two hours before the start, the ECB announced the match would not take place.

“Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), the ECB can confirm that the fifth Test between England and India men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be cancelled,” an ECB statement said. 

“Due to fears of a further increase in the number of Covid cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team.”

India cancelled their final training session and mandatory pre-match press conference on Thursday after reports that another support staff member had tested positive for Covid-19.

India were already without head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar, who had all previously tested positive.

It appeared the match was going ahead when a fresh round of tests within the India camp produced a set of negative results but following talks between the ECB and BCCI the fixture was called off.

Reports said several Indian players harboured concerns over the spread of the virus and were unwilling to play, meaning India could not put out a team.

India were 2-1 up in the five-match contest and bidding for just a fourth series win in England.

The status of the match appears uncertain after the ECB retracted an initial statement that India had “forfeited” the fifth Test.

The Proteas will want to continue to lay down the law as they have been doing recently in T20 cricket as their final dress rehearsal before the World Cup starts, in Sri Lanka on Friday, with South Africa having won six of their last seven matches in the format.

The figures for the year overall are slightly less impressive, with eight wins from 15 matches, but it was in the West Indies in June when their fortunes began to turn around, largely due to some continuity in selection as the commitment was made to start choosing the best XI with October’s World Cup in mind.

Spin-bowling all-rounder George Linde might want to call his lawyer over his omission on Thursday from that 15-man World Cup squad, having played an integral role in the recent run of success, but it probably makes sense for the Proteas to now leave him out and play the two orthodox left-armers they have earmarked for the UAE – Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin.

ALSO READ: Fortuin in, Linde out: Mpitsang explains World Cup selection

It was confirmed on Thursday that Maharaj, who will be making his T20 International debut, will also continue captaining the side in the absence of Temba Bavuma, who was injured in the first ODI.

Although Maharaj has no experience in this format at this level, judging by his form in the ODIs, one can bet their house that he will be as reliable as ever with the ball.

The third ODI showed just how tough playing Sri Lanka at home can be, which will be great preparation for the tough conditions expected in the T20 World Cup.

“It’s never easy coming here. The pitches in the UAE won’t be as slow as here at first, but they will deteriorate with all the IPL and World Cup games being played on them,’ senior batsman David Miller, who is back from injury, said on Thursday.

“So there’s going to be a lot of emphasis on playing spin, we’ve been working on different ideas and options. There’s no substitute for winning and winning the series is our primary objective.”

Absent captain Bavuma, meanwhile, added from Johannesburg, “We want more of the same as we come off good performances in T20 cricket in Ireland and the West Indies.

“We want to build on that momentum and confidence, and role-definition is going to be quite crucial. Spinners and all-rounders is what we will rely heavily on and we need to assess and adjust to conditions. Our strength is playing as a team, being as smart as we can and combinations are key.”