New Zealand Tour Squads and Match Schedule Announced!

CSA has announced the 3 squads that will represent South Africa in New Zealand. Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis  are OUT of the T20 squad. Rusty Theron, Richard Levi and Marchant de Lange are IN the T20 squad.

Interesting inclusion is Justin Ontong, he has been selected for both ODI and T20 squads. JP Duminy is the extra batsman in the Test squad. Tsotsobe and Marchant provide cover in the Test squad.

Proteas’ Castle Lager Test squad: Graeme Smith (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras, capt), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans, vice-capt), Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins), Mark Boucher (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Marchant de Lange (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Imran Tahir (Sunfoil Dolphins), Jacques Kallis (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Alviro Petersen (bizhub Highveld Lions), Robin Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Vernon Philander (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Jacques Rudolph (Nashua Titans), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors).


Proteas’ Castle Lager ODI squad: AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins, vice-capt), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Nashua Titans), Jacques Kallis (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Justin Ontong (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Robin Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Graeme Smith (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors).

Proteas’ T20 squad: AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins, vice-capt), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), Marchant de Lange (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Colin Ingram (Chevrolet Warriors), Richard Levi (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Justin Ontong (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Robin Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Rusty Theron (Chevrolet Warriors), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors).


February 2012


17 New Zealand v South Africa T20I Westpac Stadium, Wellington 08:00
19 New Zealand v South Africa T20I Eden Park, Auckland 08:00
22 New Zealand v South Africa T20I Seddon Park, Hamilton 08:00
25 New Zealand v South Africa ODI Westpac Stadium, Wellington 03:00
29 New Zealand v South Africa ODI McLean Park, Napier 03:00

March 2012

3 New Zealand v South Africa ODI Eden Park, Auckland 03:00
7 New Zealand v South Africa Test University Oval, Dunedin 23:30
15 New Zealand v South Africa Test Seddon Park, Hamilton 23:30
23 New Zealand v South Africa Test Basin Reserve, Wellington 23:30

Preview: 2012 African Cup of Nations

The Ivory Coast has only won the African Cup of Nations once despite producing some of the best footballers in Africa. That victory was back in 1992 in Senegal. This year 7-time winners Egypt failed to qualify. They had won the last 3 editions. Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa also failed to qualify for this year’s edition.

If there ever was a perfect time for The Elephants to be crowned as African champions it is this year. This could very well be the last time we see Didier Drogba in the AFCON. But hopefully he can also make it next year in the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

The Côte d’Ivoire squad is filled with quality and experience from the goalkeeper all the way to their strike force. During qualification they won 6 out of 6 games. They have a number one ranking in CAF. In Africa the toughest thing to do is win away. But Côte d’Ivoire managed to win all their away games in qualifiers. They are the only side that managed this. I predict them to win the Group and advance towards the knockout stages. 2012 African Cup of Nations Draw

Any successful team must have a strong spine. There is Kolo Toure (Manchester City) marshalling the defence, he has over 60 caps. The midfield general is his brother and recently chosen African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure his absence at Manchester City is already being felt and the tournament has not even started. Upfront it is the Chelsea striker Didier Drogba who scored 4 goals during qualifiers and has scored 50 goals in 75 caps

Didier Drogba

These 3 men will need support if they are to bring the cup home. Kalou (Chelsea) and Gervinho (Arsenal) will provide the goal scoring threat. The midfield will have Didier Zokora (formerly Tottenham Hotspur), Cheick Tiote(Newcastle) and Abdul Kader Keita. The 2 teams that can stop this team from lifting the title are Ghana and Senegal in my view. If those two teams win their respective groups and Ivory Coast win theirs, this would mean a much easier passage towards the final for The Elephants.

Zambia could be a surprise package too. They have a strong squad and will fly the flag for Southern Africa. Their team is very talented and it has proven goalscorers.  Click here to see the Zambia squad. I think Botswana will struggle in this tournament. They did well to qualify but this will be a wake up call for them. Senegal and Newcastle United striker Demba Ba is my pick for top goalscorer.

This is Africa. In Africa anything is possible!

Review : SA vs SL Test Series

Imran Tahir celebrates

Before the Test series began some cricket fans were saying it will be a walkover for South Africa. Kepler Wessels was even quoted saying “our SA A side can beat this Sri Lankan team”. We have to forgive them because Sri Lanka has been awful in Test cricket post Muralitharan. We all expected a 3-0 series win for South Africa. The Proteas had played tough cricket against Australia a few weeks back and this should have been an easy series for them.

1st Test Supersport Park in Centurion

Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to field on a green looking pitch. Sri Lanka got bowled out twice for less than 200 runs. Philander picked up 10 wickets in the match and was voted Man of the Match. South Africa only batted once in the match. AB top scored with 99, Smith made a solid 61 and Boucher hit a fighting knock of 65 batting with the tail most of the time.It was an easy win inside 3 days. But Morne Morkel struggled with no balls and his rhythm. Prince, Amla and Kallis did not make a big contribution with the bat. Rudolph managed 44.

South Africa won by an innings and 81 runs inside 3 days



2nd Test Kingsmead in Durban

Coming into this match South Africa had a bad record in Kingsmead they also had not won a Test series at home since 2008. Looking at how they had won the 1st Test another easy win was on the cards here going to Cape town. Sri Lanka made only one change from the 1st Test. Wicket-keeper Silva was dropped and in his place came Chandimal to make his Test debut. South Africa was forced to make a bowling change. Philander picked up a knee injury and was replaced by Marchant De Lange also on his Test debut.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat 1st. SA batted poorly in this match. They got bowled out for 168 and 241. Marchant de Lange got best bowling figures of 7/81 in his 1st Test. Chandimal got 2 half-centuries. Sangakkara and Samaraweera scored their 1st centuries on SA soil. Samaraweera had been a late inclusion in the side. Rangana Herath bowled the best and was named as man of the match. Kallis got 2 ducks and no wickets in the match. He had a match to forget. Sri Lanka won the match by 208 runs inside 4 days and now series was leveled 1-1 with 1 test to go. Dilshan thanked Kepler for his “motivating” words before the series and Jayasuriya said “we chocked them nicely”.


3rd Test Newlands in Cape Town

If the 2nd Test had been Kallis’s worst Test ever, this was going to be his best. South Africa made 2 changes to the side. Alviro Petersen came in and Prince was dropped from the team. Philander came back into the side for Marchant de Lange. Sri Lanka left out Paranavitana for Thirimanne and Prasad came in for Fernando.South Africa batted 1st after Dilshan had won the toss and chose to field. 580 runs later Smith declared. Kallis got his 2nd double century and 1st against Sri Lanka. Alviro opened the innings with Smith and made 109. AB got 160. Rudolph batted at 6 and got a half-century. Sri Lanka failed to avoid the follow on and got bowled out. Smith enforced the follow on. 2nd time round SL set SA 2 runs to get. Kallis picked up the Man of the Match award and AB was Man of the Series.

South Africa won the match by 10 wickets and the series 2-1.

Vernon Philander got 16 wickets in 2 matches. He is the big find of the summer for South Africa. Marchant de Lange also is one for the future. Tahir struggled at times but came into his own on a turning wicket in Newlands. Alviro made a good comeback into the team. The future for Mark Boucher is still uncertain though. It will be interesting to see who is on that plane to New Zealand.

Bafana Bafana star faces uncertain future

Siphiwe Tshabalala is currently at Championship side Crystal Palace keeping himself fit. It had initially been reported that he is having trials there with a possible move away from Kaizer Chiefs. Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman admits that any move to sign Siphiwe Tshabalala may have to wait until the end of the season.

“He’ll be with us for a couple of weeks but it’s not really a trial as such – his friend KG is over here and he’s just keeping himself fit. It’s an opportunity for him with South Africa not getting to the African championships to keep his training up. As we speak right now it’s probably in the summer that we will revisit that one in terms of signing.” This is contradicting to the newspaper reports and agent claiming the transfer is very possible. Now we hear Kaizer Chiefs will resume talks with Itumeleng Khune and Siphiwe Tshabalala when Bobby Motaung returns from holiday. - from Kickoff.com


Personally I do not think a player like Tshabalala needs to go for trials to any team. The player is a regular at Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana. He played a leading role for the national side at the 2010 World Cup. A move overseas has been long overdue.
 
Tshabalala is used mostly on the left-wing but sometimes plays in a more central role. He is a hard working player. He makes good runs and can cross the ball well. The other good thing about him is that he scores a few goals for every team he plays for and has a powerful left foot (2010 FIFA World cup opening goal). He is disciplined on and off the field. You only find his name on the back pages of newspapers which is where footballers must be. I have never seen him get a single red card since 2006. He helps out the left back when the team is defending. The right foot though is just good for standing with him. Adapting to life at Crystal Palace should be made easier for him because another Bafana Bafana midfielder, Kagisho Dikgacoi is already there. He is used to playing in front of big crowds of around 60,000-90,000 all blowing vuvuzelas.
 
Tshabalala only has 6 months left on his current contract with Kaizer Chiefs. The Chiefs management would rather seal a deal now in this transfer window than wait and have him move for free in June. It would be difficult for them to put a very high transfer fee for him as time is running out and they would still want to make money out of the move. I do not think Palace will sign him now. They will wait and try to get him for free in June. Mamelodi Sundowns are also following the happenings closely as they want to give him an offer he cannot refuse. If he does not move overseas I think he will stay at Naturena.
 
He will be a big loss to Kaizer Chiefs as they are currently fighting to win the league title back from their rivals Orlando Pirates. Any Kaizer Chiefs fan will tell you about his contribution to the side. The only medal missing for him is a League winner’s medal. It would be great if he could leave having won the league with his childhood team. If there is one player who deserves a move to England that player is Siphiwe Tshabalala. He has earned it.