Cricket South Africa Breaks Silence On Fielding Weakened Team For New Zealand Tests

03.01.2024 - 06:01 sports.ndtv.com

Cricket South Africa responded on Tuesday to what it described as "concern" about the country sending a below-strength team to New Zealand, claiming it was unable to agree alternative dates for the series. "We reassure the fans that CSA has the utmost respect for the Test format as the pinnacle of the game we love," the organisation said in a statement.

Only seven capped players are in a 14-man squad for the two Test matches in March – only two of whom played in the first Test against India last week – because CSA has given priority to the SA20, a T20 franchise competition.

The announcement of the squad on Saturday led to criticism, notably from former Australian captain Steve Waugh, who said the selection showed a lack of respect to New Zealand cricket. "If I was New Zealand I wouldn't even play the series," he said.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team on Steve Waugh Australia South Africa New Zealand India

West Indies cricket team all-rounder Jason Holder expressed his concern regarding the future of Test cricket and said that the current financial model can end up damaging the longest format of the sport. Holder, who is currently part of Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 league, said that the 'big three' controls all the revenue and it is difficult for 'smaller territories' like the West Indies to compete due to the massive financial disparity. The West Indies cricketer added that one way to save Test cricket is to create a specific window for the matches and also introduce an uniform 'minimum wage' for all cricketers.

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NZ vs PAK Live Score, 3rd T20I: Chasing a target of 225, Pakistan are two wickets down against New Zealand in Dunedin. Earlier, Finn Allen smashed a record 137 off 62 deliveries as New Zealand set Pakistan a 225-run target. It was the highest score by a New Zealander in a T20 international, surpassing the previous best of 123 set by Brendon McCullum, and it equalled the world record of 16 sixes in an innings held by Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai. (Live Scorecard)

8 Uncapped Players Named As South Africa Announce Squad For Tests vs New Zealand

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday named uncapped batter Neil Brand as the skipper for the upcoming red-ball series against New Zealand while also adding seven more uncapped players, including opener Edward Moore to their squad for the red-ball tour next month. The 30-year-old opener is the eighth uncapped player in the 15-member Proteas Test squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand. Moore is a known name in the domestic circuit, having aggregated 7743 runs in 117 first-class matches for Western Province.

Will Young Replaces Josh Clarkson In New Zealand Squad For 3rd T20I Against Pakistan

Josh Clarkson was omitted from the New Zealand squad for the third T20I against Pakistan due to a shoulder injury. The batter, uncapped at T20I level, was originally supposed to replace New Zealand captain Kane Williamson for the third T20I. The third T20I of the series will take place on January 17. Williamson will miss the third T20I of the series to manage the knee issue that has affected him for most of the last 12 months, before returning for the final two games. Now in Clarkson's stead, Will Young has been added to the Black Caps' squad.

"Brings Additional Pressure": South Africa Great On Big IPL Deals For Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins

Former South African all-rounder Chris Morris, who was once the most expensive player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history, hailed the record-breaking bid of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2024 season, saying that it will add some pressure on him but the pacer will be able to justify it with his performances and experience. In a history-making move, Starc was bought by KKR for a whopping Rs 24.75 crore just hours after his skipper, Pat Cummins, breached the Rs 20 crore mark after being bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), becoming the most expensive player in the history of the IPL at the auction in Dubai held in December last year.

"Some Guys Are Disappointed": South Africa Great On Weakened Team For New Zealand Tests

Taking the SA20 to India in future could be "great" despite the logistical challenges such a move may involve, feels former South Africa cricketer Mark Boucher. Like the 2009 edition of the IPL was held in South Africa due to general elections in India, Boucher admitted the SA20 could be organised in the cricket-crazy Asian nation in the near future. "I think it's a great idea; I'm not against it. The IPL happened in South Africa, and we can do the same, as both cricketing nations share a great relationship," Boucher said during a virtual media interaction on Friday.