Covid-19 and South Africa: Two players positive, domestic tourney postponed

If there is one cricket nation that has suffered the most from COVID-19, it is no doubt, South Africa. In the latest update, two members of South Africa's Test squad who are to play in Sri Lanka have tested positive for COVID-19. They will no longer be part of the preparations going into the first match to be played on Boxing Day, 26th December, at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

The remaining 17 members will now be entering the bubble. Out of these, three were announced today, mostly as replacements for the two players who have tested positive. The new members of the squad include the U-19 skipper Raynard van Tonder, Lutho Sipamla, and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius.

Earlier Cricket South Africa had postponed the last round of matches before the break as many domestic players tested positive for COVID-19 as well as due to the second wave hitting the country.

"The decision to postpone the upcoming round of four-day matches, which were scheduled from 20-23 December, comes in light of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which is currently affecting South Africa. In addition, some of the host stadiums are in COVID-19 hotspots," a CSA statement read.

Now that two players from the squad have tested positive, the doubt that 10 of South Africa's 16-man squad which participated in matches where positive cases of coronavirus were detected would affect the entire squad.

Even after the positive cases keep on arriving and even after England canceling its tour mid-way, Graeme Smith, the former South Africa captain and currently Director of Cricket of Cricket South Africa is positive that the board is capable of ensuring a full 2020-21 season.

"CSA is committed to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020-21 season, with the upcoming two-match Test series between South Africa and Sri Lanka being played in a bio-secure environment, which is a more controlled space than the domestic competition," he said

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Rajiv Shukla to be elected BCCI Vice-Prez unopposed

Chairman of the IPL Governing Council and veteran Congressman Rajiv Shukla is set to be elected as the next Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. His name has been recommended by the DDCA President and son of Popular politician Arun Jaitley, Rohan Jaitley. Mahim Verma of Uttarakhand, the incumbent Vice President, who had just completed his tenure also seconded Jaitley’s recommendation. The 61-year-old former Journalist and former Vice President of teh BCCI will be officially given the post during BCCI's Annual General Meeting in Ahmedabad on December 24. Brijesh Patel, the IPL Chairman, and Khairul Jamal Majumdar were the other two members elected to teh BCCI governing council, they too have been elected unopposed. "At this time, none of the units want any election. It was always going to be unanimous choices,” A senior official of the state associations was quoted as saying by PTI. “Patel's re-election was proposed by TNCA top boss RS Ramaswamy and Kerala's Sreejith Nair seconded his name. In the case of Majumdar, CAB president Avishek Dalmiya was the proposer, and Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Naik was the seconder,” the official added.

Warne wants ‘rubbish’ Red Ball to be replaced by the Pink one in all Tests

Australian spinner Shane Warne believes that the Red Ball, the original Test ball, which has been in use since the start of the game should be replaced by the Pink Ball altogether, even in day Test matches. "I've been saying this for the last few years. I believe the pink ball should be used in all Test matches. Day games, not just day-night games," Warne was heard saying while commentating on Fox Cricket during the first Australia-India Test in Adelaide. Recounting the advantages of a Pink ball over the Red one, Warne said, "The pink ball, you can actually see the ball easier, the crowd can see the ball easier.” He further asked, “It generally does more than the red ball and it looks fantastic on TV. So why not use a pink ball the whole time?” "Maybe change it at 60 overs because it goes soft, but I'd be using the pink ball for every Test match so more of it I would say," he added. Vehemently opposing the use of teh Red cherry, the 51-year-old said, "No more red ball, it doesn't swing, it doesn't do anything, goes soft after 25 overs. It has been pathetic for so long now. Except for the Dukes ball in England, it has been rubbish." The man with more than 700 Tets scalps with the Red ball itself believes that now the time of r the change has come. "The pink ball can't be any worse than what the red ball has been for Test cricket. We haven't seen swing, we haven't seen seam. Absolutely nothing. Pink ball has generally offered more help to the bowler sand in five years since it's the first use, no Pink Ball Test match has ended in a draw.

He builds pressure: Ponting reckons Lyon can be decisive in second innings

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes that off-spinner Nathan Lyon could be a decisive factor going into the third of the Adelaide Test, especially against the Indian right-handers (which is all the batsmen). "He's had as much success as any spinner, I think, against India over the years. He's got Virat Kohli out (in Tests) more than anybody in the history of the game, he looked like he troubled Pujara a lot today," Ponting was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au. Explaining how he gets nasty against the right-handers, Ponting said, "The right-handers that come out to bat against him - he gets so much over-spin on the ball when you've got fielders around the bat - they must feel like they're going to get out every ball.” "He builds pressure, he bowls very few bad balls so he'll be a massive threat for them," added the 45-year-old. However, Punter believes that there is still room for improvement and 33-year-old Lyon could do much more if he could go wide of the crease and try and challenge both the edges of the bat instead of just one. "I think it's more about trying to challenge both edges of the bat. When he creates the angle from wide and angles back in, that really only challenges the inside half of the bat and a glove whereas if he can get it out a little bit wider (off the crease), it brings the catch at slip in play,” Ponting said. Lyon, into his 97th Test, has taken 397 wickets so far and with India at 9/1 and a 62 run second innings lead in their favour, it would be up to him to help Aussies fight back.

NZ vs PAK 1st T20: Duffy on debut takes Kiwis past the Pakistan challenge

New Zealand started the three-match T20 series against Pakistan in style as they defeated the Men in Green by five wickets with seven balls to spare in the 1st T20I that took place at Eden Park, Auckland on 18th December. Skipper Mitchell Santner hit the winning six off Wahab Riaz. However, before that, it was the efforts of wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Siefert (57 off 43) and middle-order batsman Mark Chapman (34 off 20) who took the game away from the green brigade even after some inspired bowling by Haris Rauf (3-29 in four overs). Pakistan had a chance to sneak in when Tim Siefert was dismissed and there was a chance to catch Mark Chapman too, but Ashraf dropped a dolly at fine leg to give the hosts an easy pass. At 119/4 the match could have swung to Pak’s favour had that catch been taken. After that, it was all formalities which were done away with ease by James Neesham and the skipper Santner. Debutant fast bowler Jacob Duffy was the star of the match as he picked up four wickets for 33 runs in his four overs, thereby becoming the New Zealander with the best ever figures in a T20I match. Prior to him, the record belonged to all-rounder Nathan Astel who held for 15 long years with figures of 3/20 that he had achieved against South Africa in 2005. His figures would have been way better had he not been hit for 20 runs in his last over. Duffy was declared Man of the Match for his record-breaking effort. Earlier in the day, Pakistan had a shocking start to their campaign as they were reduced to 39-5 in 8.2 overs with all of the top order except skipper Shadab Khan back in the hut. Shadab then paired up first with fellow spinning all-rounder Imad Wasim and then with Faheem Ashraf to take Pakistan to 114 in 17 overs. After that, some lusty blows from Faheem (31 off 18 balls) and Shaheen Afridi took the total to respectable amounts i.e. 153-9. The next game would be played at Seddon Park in Auckland itself on 20th December with Pakistan needing to win the game to stay alive in the series.