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Tag: South Africa Cricket

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Mike Procter: One of South Africa’s greatest cricketers | – Times of India

JOHANNESBURG: Mike Procter was an outstanding cricket all-rounder who became South Africa's first coach in the post-isolation era and had a controversial stint as an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee.South Africa won six of the seven Tests in which he played, all against Australia, before South Africa's sporting isolation in 1970 because of apartheid.The other match was drawn with South Africa on the verge of victory before rain ended play. In those seven matches Procter took 41 wickets at an average of 15.02.Although renowned primarily as a fearsome fast bowler, he equalled a world batting record when he hit six first-class centuries in successive innings.Ali Bacher, who captained South Africa to a 4-0 series win against Australia in 1969/70, said he regarded Procter as...
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South Africa cricket legend Mike Procter dies aged 77 | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former South Africa all-rounder and country's first coach in the post-apartheid era Mike Procter, died aged 77 on Saturday, his family announced."He suffered a complication during surgery and while in ICU went into cardiac arrest. He became unconscious and unfortunately never woke up," his wife Maryna said. Procter, a stalwart with English county Gloucestershire, was a fierce fast bowler and hard-hitting batter who played seven Test matches, his international career stunted by South Africa’s isolation due to apartheid.But upon their return in 1991, he led the side as coach, taking them to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Australia the following year.He was later also appointed to the International Cricket Council’s panel of match referees and also served as South Africa’s ...
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South Africa cricket great Mike Procter seriously ill | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former South African all-rounder and national coach Mike Procter is seriously ill and in critical condition in intensive care, a news report citing his family stated on Monday. A source close to the family, speaking anonymously, verified to AFP that Procter's condition was 'very serious' following the report published on the prominent news site News24.The report, citing a statement from Procter's wife Maryna and two daughters, disclosed that he was undergoing treatment at uMhlanga Hospital, located near the eastern city of Durban."Mike experienced a complication during routine surgery last week. While recovering in the ICU, he suffered a cardiac incident. He is currently in the ICU working on his recovery," it said.Procter's international playing career with South Africa was ...
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South Africa’s Dean Elgar bows out with ‘amazing memories’ | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Dean Elgar may have ended his Test cricket career as a losing captain, but the Proteas reflected on it as a significant journey filled with incredible memories.The 36-year-old opener bid farewell after a Test that will be etched in history as the shortest ever in terms of balls bowled.Despite his remarkable 185 in the series' first Test against India, Elgar's final appearance saw him scoring only four and 12 in a match that ended with the tourists clinching victory by seven wickets, leveling the series.In a candid admission, Elgar acknowledged his wrong call of opting to bat on Wednesday, which led to a stunned South African team being dismissed for a mere 55 runs."I would have liked to do more in this game," he said at the post match presentation ceremony where he was named ...
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SA20 allowed South African fans to link back with cricket amid negativity: Graeme Smith | Cricket News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The South African fans have been able to link back with cricket through SA20 after the general ennui following the national team's poor performances and a highly political environment surrounding the game in the country, reckoned Graeme Smith.The six-team inaugural edition of the SA20 tournament was held for the first time earlier this January-February with Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinching the title.Former South African captain Smith, who has been tasked with the role of ensuring the growth and expansion of the tournament, felt that the first season had fans coming back to the stadium and re-embracing the sport despite all the negativity.“It's hard to quantify (the tournament's impact), but it's huge,” Smith, who is the commissioner of SA20, told PTI in an exclusive interview wi...
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‘That’s nothing even remotely close to a choke’: South Africa coach Rob Walter claims after semifinal loss to Australia

Midway through the South African innings, the word ‘chokers’ was trending on social media as the Proteas suffered a less-than-ideal start to their World Cup semifinal against Australia, being reduced to 24/4 in the 12th over. Whether they like it or not, the ‘chokers’ tag has been the albatross around South African necks for decades, and Friday was another occasion when they tripped over at the knockout hurdle. Head coach Rob Walter, however, refused to acknowledge the tag, saying, “You need to define what choking is. For me, a choke is losing a game which you were in a position to win. Here, we were behind the 8-ball right from the word go and actually fought our way back into the competition and put up a score that gave us a chance, and then they got off to a flier. So, how we fought ...
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Why it’s advantage South Africa if rain washes away the semifinal against Australia

The South Africa vs Australia semifinal at the Eden Gardens could be at the mercy of the weather gods even though the toss took place at the scheduled time with the Proteas electing to bat first. With the rain largely staying away for now, there’s still a prediction that the skies might open up around 8 PM, according to AccuWeather. Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, like the top scorer and the highest wicket-taker of the current edition, upcoming World Cup fixtures and the points table on the site. If the match does not end up happening on Thursday, there’s still a reserve day on Friday but the forecast for that also remains grim with a 75% chance of rainfall from 7 PM. If the match indeed gets w...
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Quinton de Kock: A divisive figure, a genius and South Africa’s batting atlas at the World Cup

Paddy Upton, the South African mind master who has untangled the complex worlds inside cricket and hockey dressing rooms, described it the best without having to use his own words.Explaining the underrated genius of Quinton de Kock, the sports psychologist who has been a part of Gary Kirsten’s coaching staff with South Africa and India, dipped into a brief conversation he had with Rahul Dravid. Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, like the top scorer and the highest wicket-taker of the current edition, upcoming World Cup fixtures and the points table on the site. It was the summer of 2016 and Upton had just taken over from Kirsten as the coach of Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. He was overseeing de Ko...
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Heinrich Klaasen leads South Africa to victory over defending champions with unrelenting century in Wankhede’s steaming furnace

To borrow from Ted Lasso, the Wankhede outfield resembled a ‘Renaissance painting portraying masculine melancholy’.Heinrich Klaasen collapsed near the pitch in slow motion. Drenched, he removed his shoes, pads, gloves and helmet, before burying his face in a towel, not able to move a limb. Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, upcoming World Cup fixtures and the points table on the site.  At the top of his run-up, a cramping David Willey, who had moments ago crashed to the ground, was lying on his back and gently massaging his calves. While over at long-on, Liam Livingstone went down on his haunches like Adil Rashid, who braved a stomach bug, did at the edge of the circle. Harry Brook, who tirelessly g...
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World Cup: Aiden Markram’s rollercoaster journey from a deflated young man to South Africa’s mainstay

A 17-year-old Aiden Markram is at a social gathering with his family, thinking if he should bother playing the sport he loves more than anything else. In the final year of his school and bearing the frustration of the U19 provincial team rejection, he is confused and deflated as per one of the family friends, in whom Markram confides at a breaking point. Pierre de Bruyn remembers the flat response he had for Markram: “No. You can’t make that decision. You just can’t.” A former first-class cricketer himself, de Bruyn would offer Markram an alternative. To come with him to the University of Pretoria and join the local cricket academy where he coached. The intervention seems to have worked wonders for the Proteas number four at the ongoing ODI World Cup. Barring the off night against the N...
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Cricket World Cup brings South African fan back to Indian roots

Swiftly upon landing in the Indian capital, Natalie Nel would be questioned by the lady at the immigration counter whether she really was a South African? The Cape Town local draws a facepalm while sitting at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, as her husband Seton narrates the incident to this newspaper. “She kept looking at her ID. ‘South African? No, you must be Indian’,” he says before Natalie finally breaks from a laugh to reveal that the customs lady may not have been completely wrong. It’s a first-ever Cricket World Cup experience that’s brought the 41-year-old to a maiden visit to the homeland of her great-grandfather. “My maternal great-grandfather was from Surat,” she shares. “Unfortunately, I never got to meet him or my grandfather. They came to South Africa and somewhere alo...
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‘Thiru…varam…putnam’, ‘Thiru…vantram…pitrum’, ‘Tarum…param…pum’: Watch South Africa cricketers struggling to say Thiruvananthapuram

The South Africa team is currently located in Thiruvananthapuram where they are scheduled to take on New Zealand in the second World Cup Warm-up match. However, a hilarious video has surfaced on social media where the men in green can be seen struggling to pronounce Thiruvananthapuram. A clip of the same was also shared by the senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday. Earlier, their first match against Afghanistan was abadoned due to the rain. The South African have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram ! But can they tell anyone where they are? pic.twitter.com/N9LnyVLVH9 — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 1, 2023 The Proteas are taking their practice matches with utmost seriousness, according to head coach Rob Walter. “From our point of view, it’s really important to put warm-up...
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Cricket South Africa take step towards pay parity, announce equal match fees for genders

South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt. File. | Photo Credit: AFP South Africa became the latest country to provide equal pay across genders after they announced all their cricketers would receive the same match fees for international matches according to the ICC. The Proteas join New Zealand and India as countries that have announced pay parity across the genders. This decision comes on the back of the landmark announcement from the ICC earlier this year that saw equal prize money for men’s and women’s teams at ICC events. The latest news from South Africa comes on the back of a highly successful 18 months for the SA national women's team, which saw them reach the semi-finals of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2022 and then make it all the way through to the final of the I...
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South Africa defeat West Indies in record T20 run chase

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock celebrates his century during the second T20 cricket match between South Africa and West Indies, at Centurion Park, in Pretoria, South Africa on March 26, 2023. | Photo Credit: AP South Africa set a new record for chasing in international T20 cricket when they scored 259 for four to beat West Indies by six wickets at Centurion on Sunday in a game described as “pretty crazy”.Johnson Charles smashed a 39-ball century for the visitors as they posted an imposing 258 for five, the joint sixth-highest total in T20 internationals.However, Quinton de Kock responded with 100 from 44 balls, a maiden T20I century, while fellow opener Reeza Hendricks hit 68.“It was pretty, pretty crazy. When we came off halfway, we thought we had enough,” said West Indies skipper Rov...
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South Africa to field two spinners in second Windies Test | Cricket News – Times of India

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have recalled middle-order batsman Ryan Rickelton and the spin duo of Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj for the second and final Test against the West Indies at The Wanderers on Wednesday.Coach Shukri Conrad has revealed the starting XI and says he had no concerns over the form of newly-installed captain Temba Bavuma, who got a pair of ducks in the 87-run first Test victory in Pretoria last week.Rickelton, 26, was a surprise absentee from the first match given his excellent domestic form that has seen him score 365 runs in five innings at an average of 121.66. He takes over from Keegan Petersen at number five in the batting line-up."You want to be consistent with selections and reward performance, but you can only select 11 players," Conrad told reporters on Tue...
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SA vs WI | Markram returns in style as South Africa make strong start

South Africa’s Aiden Markram celebrates reaching his century on the first day of the first Test against the West Indies. | Photo Credit: Reuters Aiden Markram made a successful return to Test cricket as he and former captain Dean Elgar got South Africa off to a strong start on the first day of the first Test against the West Indies at SuperSport Park on Tuesday.Markram made 97 not out as South Africa reached 206 for one at tea. Elgar was the only player dismissed, scoring 71 in an opening partnership of 141 with Markram.Markram was playing in his first Test since being dropped last year after a poor run of form in which he had gone 15 innings without a half-century, with only two scores above 30.Elgar, who was stripped of the captaincy after South Africa were heavily beaten on tours of...
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Jofra Archer ‘back in a big way’ on opening day of new SA20 league | Cricket News – Times of India

CAPE TOWN: Jofra Archer took his first wickets in almost 20 months as South Africa's new SA20 league got under way at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.The England fast bowler took three for 27 to set up a comfortable eight-wicket, bonus point win for the MI Cape Town against Paarl Royals.The injury-hit Archer played only one match last year, sending down nine overs without taking a wicket for England Lions against England in Abu Dhabi in November.Struggling with back and elbow injuries, he had not played in a representative fixture since turning out for Sussex in July 2021 and had not taken a wicket since playing for Sussex against Kent in May that year.Archer, bowling first change, struck with his third ball on Tuesday when Wihan Lubbe was caught off a wild slog. Bowling at more than 1...
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Dwaine Pretorius retires from international cricket to focus to T20s | Cricket News – Times of India

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius has retired from international cricket with immediate effect to shift "focus on T20 and other shorter formats".The 33-year-old has represented South Africa in 30 T20Is, 27 ODIs and three Tests since making his debut in 2016. He holds the record for the best bowling figures for South Africa in men's T20Is with his 5-17 against Pakistan in 2021."A few days ago, I made one of the toughest decisions of my cricketing career. I have decided to retire from all forms of international cricket," Pretorius wrote said in a statement posted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday."I am shifting my focus to T20 and other shorter formats for the rest of my career."Growing up, my only goal in life was to play for the Proteas. I didn't know how it ...
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South Africa’s allrounder Dwaine Pretorius retires from international cricket

South Africa’s Dwaine Pretorius. File | Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji South Africa allrounder Dwaine Pretorius retired from international cricket on Monday.The 33-year-old Pretorius played three tests, 27 one-day internationals and 30 Twenty20 games for the Proteas and became a limited-overs specialist toward the end of his career.Pretorius said he would continue playing in domestic T20 leagues around the world.“Being a free agent will help me achieve the goal of being the best short format player I can be,” he said in a statement. “By doing this I will be able to have a better balance in my career and family life.”Pretorius made his international debut in 2016 and has the record for the best bowling figures by a South African in T20 internationals with his 5-17 against Pakistan in 2021. ...