Proteas Test coach hits back at critics of South Africa’s WTC25 final spot
South Africa became the first team to secure their spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final after their victory in the first Test against Pakistan. It was a momentous occasion for South Africa when they booked their berth in the World Test Championship Final after a nail-biting win in Centurion. However, the victory also came with criticism from some corners of the cricketing world, with questions raised about their path to the final. It was pointed out that South Africa played the fewest matches of any team in the competition (12) and had not faced heavyweights like Australia and England during the current cycle.South Africa became the first team to secure their spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final after their victory in the first Test against Pakistan. It was a momentous occasion for South Africa when they booked their berth in the World Test Championship Final after a nail-biting win in Centurion.
Zimbabwe dominate on rain-marred opening day
On a rain-marred opening day, Zimbabwe took the honors against Afghanistan in Bulawayo. Sikandar Raza (3-30), Newman Nyamhuri (3-42) and Blessing Muzarabani (2-56) were the major stars with the ball as Afghanistan folded for a paltry total of 157. In reply, Zimbabwe’s opening pair of Ben Curran and Joylord Gumbie negotiated three overs before bad light forced slightly early stumps with Zimbabwe at 6/0. It capped a strong start to the game for the hosts who won a good toss earlier in the morning. Incessant rains and then wet outfield meant that the first session was entirely lost and Zimbabwe’s captain Craig Ervine had no hesitation to bowl on winning the toss. After a slightly erratic start with the new ball, the Zimbabwe pacers got their radar right on a pitch that had life in it. Extra bounce was on offer and some seam movement as well, although not as extravagant as generally seen at this venue. Abdul Malik and debutant Riaz Hassan weathered the early storm but both fell in quick succession once Zimbabwe’s new-ball pairing hit their straps. It was, however, a run out that gave Zimbabwe the first breakthrough as Hassan fell to a direct hit from Brian Bennett.
Taskin savours ‘proud moment’ after bagging seven-wicket haul
Following a splendid performance in the Bangladesh Premier League in which he bagged a seven-wicket haul, Bangladesh pace bowler Taskin Ahmed credited his discipline and execution for his feat. Taskin, who picked up 7-19, entered the record books for the third-best bowling figures in T20 cricket. It was only the third occasion that a bowler got seven wickets in an ICC-recognised T20 match, joining Malaysia’s Syazrul Idrus (7-8) and Colin Ackermann (7-18). Taskin’s seven wicket haul helped Durbar Rajshahi earn their first win as they defeated Dhaka Capitals by seven wickets in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League. “It couldn’t have happened unless I had imagined it (laughs),” Taskin said when he was asked whether he ever thought of claiming seven wickets in a T20 match. “To get wickets you need the favor of luck. Alhamdulillah, I’m executing (my skills) well. The important thing is to bowl well, the number of wickets can fluctuate. Thanks to Allah.” Taskin was proud of the fact that he now has the best bowling figures in BPL history. Apart from that, Taskin overtook Rubel Hossain (110) to become the second-highest wicket taker in the BPL with 112 wickets to his name.
Maphaka to make history as South Africa’s youngest debutant
Kwena Maphaka had yet to be born the first time South Africa played a Test against Pakistan at Newlands, in January 2003. On Friday he will play in that fixture and become South Africa’s youngest ever debutant at 18 years and 270 days. Maphaka has played two ODIs and five T20Is, but only three first-class matches. He will make his Test debut 11 days before he finds out how he did in his final examinations at high school. His selection presents an interesting management challenge for Temba Bavuma, who told a press conference, “You want to allow him to be as free as he can. You want to allow him to continue being the Kwena he is, to allow the exuberance of youth to come out. It’s a case of, ‘Kwena run in and bowl as quick as you can.’ It’s about making sure he stays who he is, and allowing him to spread his wings. “The rest of us played a lot of first-class cricket before making our debuts. We were able to fail, come back and find a way. He’s going to have to learn quickly. But I think he has the talent, and that will make it easier for him.
Bumrah to take charge again as India seek series parity
Will he, won’t he? For nearly four hours at the SCG on Thursday, it was all about Rohit Sharma and if he’d pull the plug on his Test career. Or at least take a call on playing the fifth Test in Sydney. Eventually, it would prove that what was on view over those four hours were indicative of a captain who’d had enough. Who’d decided that his time had come. Or so it’d seem with reports now confirming that Rohit Sharma is set to skip the fifth Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy and hand the captaincy back to Jasprit Bumrah. There were signs of something being amiss from the time the Indian team arrived at the SCG on Thursday. It started with the sight of Gautam Gambhir the head coach starting the session with a long chat with Bumrah before the duo were joined by Rohit as they went out to check out the pitch. Rohit then wasn’t part of the slip cordon as India began their catching practice sessions. Shubman Gill was the one doing his bit as the slipper for a virtual spinner. The fielding coach T Dilip, meanwhile, rounded up what would potentially be India’s slip setup for the fifth Test, starting with Virat Kohli at first slip, KL Rahul at second, Nitish Kumar Reddy at third and Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully.
Lynn blitz powers Strikers back to winning ways
Chris Lynn (88 off 51) put on a power-hitting masterclass on a tricky surface to help Adelaide Strikers to a five-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. The result broke a stretch of three successive losses for the Strikers. Chasing 142 on a two-paced surface with variable bounce, Lynn’s powerhouse performance was key as the other Strikers batters all struggled to get going. The veteran’s knock eclipsed another fine innings, Josh Brown’s 41-ball 66 that was the cornerstone of Renegades’ innings. However, like it was in the chase, it was all about one batter in the first innings as well. Expectations were for the pitch to play better, as the stadium had shifted from indoor mode to the regular cricketing venue with the flexible roof being disabled. Ironically, the pitch only seemed to get tougher even as Brown belted the Strikers bowlers around. He was particularly severe on spin although it also brought about his downfall eventually. Lloyd Pope copped a lot of stick and to an extent, so did his spin partner Cameron Boyce.
India’s surprising selection call in Melbourne needs valid reason, says Shastri
Former India coach Ravi Shastri has expressed his surprise at Shubman Gill’s omission from the India XI for the Boxing Day Test, and suggested the top-order batter should feature in the team’s strongest lineup. India slipped to a 2-1 deficit in the series after a fifth-day collapse in Melbourne, when they lost seven wickets for just 34 runs in the final session to succumb to a 184-run loss. India had scored 369 in the first innings, in response to Australia’s 474, but their top order still struggled. Shastri, speaking in the latest episode of the ICC Review, suggested the selection call on Gill needed scrutiny. “There’s Shubman Gill, a player of his quality averaging over 40 in the year 2024 and not playing, which is a shame,” he said. “It tricks your brain as to what he’s doing sitting on the bench and warming it.”In 12 Tests in 2024, Gill scored 866 at an average of 43.3, including three centuries, against England and Bangladesh.
Justin Langer named as London Spirit’s new head coach
Justin Langer, the former Australia men’s head coach, has been appointed as Trevor Bayliss’s replacement at London Spirit. Langer, who played 105 Tests for Australia between 1993 and 2007, coached the squad from 2018 until 2022, including during a memorable 2-2 drawn Ashes series in 2019. Australia won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup under his guidance in 2021, before going on to win the Ashes 4-0 on home soil. He has a strong affinity with Lord’s, the home ground of London Spirit, having played for Middlesex as an overseas player between 1998 and 2000. He also became an Honorary Life Member of MCC in 2015.He has previously coached Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash and is currently head coach of Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. “I’m thrilled to be appointed to this role with London Spirit, and I’m excited to experience The Hundred,” Langer said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of the tournament later this year, and working with such a talented group of players and coaches.”
Secrets of Newlands pitch keep Pakistan guessing on team combination
There’s a fine line between maximum preparation and cluelessness, and Pakistan are trying to make sure they tread the right side of it. With less than 24 hours to go before the second Test, Pakistan have not yet named a final XI, wanting to glean as much information as possible about what the Newlands surface will do. However, the later, they leave it, the harder it is to make the case the visitors have a side they will be comfortable with heading into the game. The captain Shan Masood admitted balancing the team was “tricky”. “We’d like to have one final look at the pitch,” he said. “Looks a bit different, less grass cover. South Africa have had the luxury of having a training session earlier than us. We’d like to take our time and see what the best possible XI is.” The Newlands surface is under scrutiny following what happened in the previous Test played here. In the first Test for new groundsman Braam Mong, India beat South Africa in a game which lasted barely 100 overs. Fast bowlers dominated the game, with uneven bounce between bat and ball, with no spin bowled; the pitch was given an “unsatisfactory” rating.
Najmul Hossain Shanto has quit as Bangladesh’s T20I captain
BCB president Faruque Ahmed told a local newspaper that Shanto had informed the board of his decision but that he will continue to lead in Tests and ODIs. “Shanto has finally informed us that he will not continue as the T20I captain. We have accepted his decision. There’s however no T20s coming up, so we will not think about a new captain just yet. We have an understanding with Shanto that when he is fit, he will continue as the Test and ODI captain,” Faruque told the Dhaka-based Prothom Alo on Thursday. This puts to rest the captaincy debate after Shanto had expressed reluctance towards being all-format captain back in October. At the time Faruque convinced Shanto to continue as captain across formats. Shanto however got injured during an ODI against Afghanistan in November, which prevented him from touring the West Indies. There, Bangladesh handed the Test and ODI captaincy to Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The visitors drew the Test series 1-1, before they lost the ODIs 3-0. Litton Das then led the T20I side to a 3-0 series win. Whether that T20I result pushed the BCB into agreeing with Shanto is unknown, but the fact that Mehidy and Litton were good enough to be considered part of the leadership group was good news for Bangladeshi cricket.
