Month: December 2017

1:59 PM ET The reality check the four-day Test gave Zimbabwe has already been analysed and the converse must be asked. Did South Africa really benefit from dominating an inferior opposition a week before the biggest series they have played in six months? Logic would say no, because South Africa’s previous assignment was a walkover against Bangladesh more than two months ago, before which they lost in England and had…

3:00 AM ET South Africa 309 for 9 dec (Markram 125, de Villiers 53, Jarvis 3-57, Mpofu 3-58) beat Zimbabwe 68 (Jarvis 23, Morkel 5-21, Rabada 2-12, Phehlukwayo 2-12) and 121 (Ervine 23, Maharaj 5-59, Phehlukwayo 3-13) by an innings and 120 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details Morne Morkel appeals for Sikandar Raza’s wicket AFP This Test match was meant to last four days. It didn’t last too much longer than four…

1:05 PM ET Thank goodness that’s over, and we can all agree that this experiment was a failure. Not because it was a four-day Test, not because it was played with a pink ball, but because the gap between the two Full Members who share a border is hemispheres wide and we cannot pretend we don’t know why. The difference in player pools, in regularity of game-time and exposure to…

12:22 PM ET ESPNcricinfo staff India have won each of their last nine Test series, including the one-off Test against Bangladesh in February 2017. Of the nine series wins, two came in Sri Lanka, one in the Caribbean, and six at home. India will begin the new year with a three-match Test series in South Africa and will then travel to England before touring Australia. India’s coach Ravi Shastri was…

11:29 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Kamindu Mendis, who can bowl orthodox left-arm spin as well as right-arm offspin, and is also a handy batsman, will lead Sri Lanka Under-19s at the World Cup in New Zealand. Mendis was named as part of the 15-man squad announced by Sri Lanka Cricket on Wednesday. He had also played the previous U-19 World Cup, in Bangladesh in 2016. Sri Lanka are in Group…

3:00 AM ET Tea: Zimbabwe 68 (Jarvis 23, Morkel 5-21, Rabada 2-12, Phehlukwayo 2-12) and 36 for 0 (Ervine 13*, Chibhabha 6*) trail South Africa 309 for 9 dec by 205 runsLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details Morne Morkel appeals for Sikandar Raza’s wicket AFP Morne Morkel bagged his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket, and his first in five years, as South Africa bowled Zimbabwe out for 68 on the second…

10:33 AM ET India Under-19 coach Rahul Dravid‘s aim is to see a few of the World Cup-bound players included in the A team within the next six to eight months. “The World Cup is an exciting challenge and provides a good opportunity for all these guys. There is a process now in place in Indian cricket: U-19 cricket to first-class cricket and then to India A and then the…

Cricket South Africa President Chris Nenzani speaks at the inaugural player draft of the T20 Global League  8:23 AM ET The inclusion of Indian players is one way Cricket South Africa is hoping to reignite its failed T20 Global League, but with India planning a home international season at the same time as the proposed league, it will be difficult for CSA to convince the BCCI to release its players….

3:00 AM ET Innings: Zimbabwe 68 (Jarvis 23, Morkel 5-21, Rabada 2-12, Phehlukwayo 2-12) trail South Africa 309 for 9 dec by 241 runsLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details Morne Morkel appeals for Sikandar Raza’s wicket AFP Morne Morkel bagged his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket, and his first in five years, as South Africa bowled Zimbabwe out for 68 on the second day of the four-day, day-night Test in Port…