Captain Temba Bavuma has declared that the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will serve as "like cup finals" as South Africa aims to secure a place in the World Test Championship showpiece. A series sweep against both opponents could potentially put them in contention for the final at Lord's in June. With Bavuma's return from injury and the inclusion of young seamers Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen, the Proteas are confident in their all-out attack and plan to stick to the tactics that have brought them success. However, Sri Lanka, also vying for a spot in the final, will provide tough competition and have shown their proficiency against fast bowling.
South Africa Gears Up for Crucial Test Series with Sri Lanka and Pakistan
With the World Test Championship (WTC) final looming, South Africa is gearing up for two crucial home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Captain Temba Bavuma has declared that these matches will be "like cup finals" as the Proteas aim to secure a place in the prestigious event.
Background
South Africa currently sits in sixth place in the WTC standings, needing to make up ground to qualify for the final. A series sweep against both Sri Lanka and Pakistan would potentially put them in contention for the title.
The Proteas have made several changes to their squad, with Bavuma returning from injury and young fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen joining the squad. These additions aim to strengthen the team's all-out attack and continue the successful tactics that have brought them success.
Sri Lanka's Challenge
Sri Lanka is also vying for a place in the WTC final and will provide a formidable challenge. They have shown proficiency against fast bowling and upset England in their recent Test series.
Tactics and Expectations
South Africa plans to stick to the winning formula that has served them well in recent times. They will rely on their fast bowlers to exploit the conditions and limit the opposition's scoring. The batting lineup, led by Bavuma, will aim to post competitive totals and provide a platform for the bowlers.
FAQs
1. When and where will the series take place? The series against Sri Lanka will take place from February 9-13 and February 17-21 in Johannesburg and Pretoria, respectively. The series against Pakistan will start on February 24 in Centurion, with the remaining matches to be announced.
2. Who is the favorite to win? South Africa is considered the favorite due to their home advantage and recent performances. However, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are both capable of upsetting the Proteas.
3. What are the stakes for the WTC? A series sweep against both Sri Lanka and Pakistan would put South Africa in a strong position to qualify for the WTC final. However, they may also need to rely on other results going their way.
4. Who are the key players to watch? Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Gerald Coetzee will be crucial for South Africa's bowling attack. Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock will lead the batting lineup. For Sri Lanka, keep an eye on Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Dushmantha Chameera.
5. What is the current WTC standings? Australia leads the WTC standings, followed by India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, England, and New Zealand.
The highly anticipated series opening Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka commenced with Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva winning the coin toss and electing to bowl first. With an exciting and talented lineup on both sides, the first session saw 20.4 overs, 4 wickets, and 80 runs, setting the stage for a thrilling match. Stay tuned for updates as the match progresses.
England came out victorious in their first T20 match against South Africa, securing a tight four-wicket win in East London. Top scorer Natalie Sciver and Katherine Brunt's partnership helped England chase a target of 143 with only four balls to spare. South Africa put up a strong fight, rallying from being 64-4 to posting a competitive total of 142-5. England's Mark Wood was the pick of the bowlers with 2-21. Catch the second game of the series on Wednesday at 16:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live's online-only commentary.
In an intense showdown between the Hobart Hurricanes Women and the Sydney Thunder Women, it was ultimately the Thunder who emerged victorious in the Women's Big Bash League Knockout match held in Sydney. Led by star player Ellyse Perry, the Thunder showed their dominance on the field with a strong batting performance and a solid bowling attack. The Hurricanes put up a good fight, but ultimately could not match the Thunder's skill and experience. This win puts the Thunder one step closer to the Women's Big Bash League title.
As Zimbabwe faces off against Pakistan in the 2nd ODI match at Queens Sports Club, fans are eagerly anticipating a thrilling game. With players like Tawandanashe Marumani, Sean Williams, and Sikandar Raza on the Zimbabwean side, and Brian Bennett and Blessing Muzarabani leading the way for Pakistan, both teams are sure to put on a great performance. Stay tuned for live updates and commentary on this exciting match.
On the 10th anniversary of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes' death, his family and former teammates paid tribute to him as a loving, humorous and infectious person. Hughes, who died at the age of 25 from a blow to the neck while batting, was remembered for his passion and love for the game. His death sparked changes to make the game safer and his teammate Sean Abbott, who delivered the fatal blow, was visibly emotional during a tribute before a domestic match. Former teammate David Warner also expressed his belief that Hughes would have been just as good, if not better, than himself and fellow batting great Steve Smith.
A recent interview between NBA star Kevin Durant and TV host Kay Adams has fueled speculation about a possible romance between the two. During the conversation, which took place before a Lakers vs. Suns game, Durant made a flirtatious comment towards Adams, leading fans to question if there's more to their relationship than just friendship. With Durant's history of high-profile relationships and his current single status, fans are left wondering if Adams could be the next leading lady in his life. However, with both parties yet to confirm anything, it remains to be seen if a potential romance will blossom.
The much-awaited first ODI match between Bangladesh Women and Ireland Women is all set to take place on Wednesday, November 27 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Both teams have had recent experience playing in international matches and will be looking to put up a strong performance to secure a win. The pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium is known to favor batsmen and the team winning the toss will likely opt to bat first to set a formidable score. All eyes will be on players like Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter from Bangladesh, and Nigar Sultana and Rabeya Khan from Ireland, as they take the field in this highly anticipated match.
In a recent podcast interview, Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), disclosed that he left India due to threats from underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Modi, who was the chairman and commissioner of IPL during its first three editions, claimed that he received death threats from Ibrahim because he had a "zero policy" on match-fixing. The police informed him that he was on a hitlist and could only guarantee his protection for 12 hours, prompting him to use the VIP exit at the airport. Chhota Shakeel, Dawood's right-hand man, also confirmed in an interview that a team of sharpshooters had been sent to Bangkok where Modi was staying.
In a surprising turn of events, former Barcelona manager Javier Mascherano has been named as the new head coach of MLS team Inter Miami, replacing the recently resigned Gerard Martino. Mascherano, who previously played alongside Inter Miami's newest signings Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez, will be reunited with his former teammates and hopes to replicate their success at the Camp Nou. It remains to be seen how Mascherano will fare at Inter Miami, who have established themselves as one of the top teams in the MLS over the past year.