Hashim Amla will make his international captaincy debut for South Africa in their upcoming T20 and ODI series against Australia.
He replaces the injured AB de Villiers, who was named captain in both limited-overs formats in June. The series were due to be de Villiers' first as skipper but he was ruled out for between four and six weeks after breaking a finger while practicing with the Royal Challengers Bangalore during the Champions League, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Amla was chosen as de Villiers' vice-captain but there was speculation that he would not captain the side straight away, having never done the job before, and described himself as 'more of a backroom guy'.
But the selectors have shown faith in their decisions and handed Amla the leadership role in both formats. Amla has only played three T20s for South Africa, but has plenty of experience in ODIs, having played 49 matches and is currently ranked the top batsman in the 50-over format.
AB de Villiers' absence also meant that South Africa had to search for a new wicketkeeper and have turned to an old favourite. Mark Boucher has been recalled to the ODI side having last played an ODI on South Africa's tour of West Indies in May last year.
He was left out of the squad that took part in the World Cup earlier and had made public his desire to return to the limited-overs format of the game, insisting he has plenty of offer in that department.
Heino Kuhn has been named wicketkeeper for the T20s while Morne van Wyk, who took part in the World Cup and can bat in the top five, has been excluded from both squads.
Andrew Hudson, the convenor of selectors, doesn't believe the one-day squad needs to be tampered with much, despite the disappointing World Cup campaign where South Africa crashed out in the quarter-finals. Boucher's inclusion will beef up the middle order along with David Miller, who replaces Colin Ingram.
There are plenty of options in the bowling department, with all three spinners who did duty in the World Cup being retained, but no space for Albie Morkel who is only in the T20 squad.
"We will probably go in with seven batsmen, including Boucher at No 7, and we have kept all our bowling options that worked well at the World Cup," Hudson said.
"We will be able to go in with four specialist bowlers plus the back-up of Kallis, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis."
The only new cap is in the T20 squad which includes Cobras opening batsman Richard Levi. He has had an impressive run of form domestically and scored 43 off 27 balls in the team's Champions League opener against New South Wales. With the mix of youth and experience in the T20 squad Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn are being rested.
Both are taking part in the ongoing Champions League, and have enjoyed five months away from cricket since the end of the IPL, but Hudson said leaving them out was part of CSA's rotation policy.
Imran Tahir, who burst onto the international scene at the World Cup, and took 17 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 16.88 for Hampshire in the English Friends Life t20 domestic tournament, has not been included in the T20 squad.
"With the ICC World Twenty20 less than a year away we need to keep a solid core of experience around the side," Hudson said.
"At the same time we want to give younger players a run as well and this certainly applies in the case of Richard Levi and David Miller. We don't have a lot of T20 International matches before the ICC event so it is important that we give the likes of Levi, Miller and Colin Ingram an extended run."
Graeme Smith, who stepped down as T20 captain in August last year and ODI captain after the World Cup, and batted for the first time in a competitive match after having knee surgery for the first time on Saturday, has been named in both squads.
South Africa's series against Australia starts with a T20 on October 13 in Cape Town and that will be followed by another T20 in Johannesburg then three ODIs. The two-Test series starts on November 7 and the Test squad will be announced after three more rounds of SuperSport Series matches.
ODI SQUAD:
Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, David Miller, Morne Morkel , Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
T20 SQUAD:
Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Heino Kuhn, Richard Levi, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell , Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Showing posts with label southafrica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label southafrica. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Smith returns to competitve cricket
South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith, batted for the first time in a competitive match since undergoing a knee operation in July.
Smith was ruled out of the Cape Cobras squad for the Champions League to complete rehabilitation on his knee, which he injured while playing for the Pune Warriors in April this year, ESPNcricinfo.
Smith collided with Rahul Sharma while fielding against the Kochi Tuskers Kerala and had to bat with a runner, a practice that has subsequently been outlawed, later in the match.
He played two more games for Pune but left the competition before its completion. Smith complained of discomfort after that, went under the knife and started batting against the hard ball in mid-August.
It was only on Saturday that Smith was able to get some game time, during a 20-over match for Claremont Cricket Club against Belville in Cape Town.
He occupied the crease for seven overs and scored 20 runs, including two fours. "It was great to be back in the middle," Smith said.
"I hit some nice straight and cover drives and it was also important to start running sharply between the wickets again."
He is due to play another T20 game for Claremont next weekend and may turn out for his provincial side Western Province midweek.
There is no opportunity for Smith to play franchise cricket because the Cobras' first fixture of the season is on October 13, the same day as South Africa begin their series against Australia.
Smith stepped down as T20 captain in August last year and as ODI captain after World Cup but remains available for selection in all three formats.
His presence will be a much-needed one after AB de Villiers, who named Smith's successor in limited-overs formats, broke his finger and was ruled out of the T20 and ODI series.
There has been some talk of Smith returning to the captaincy, but that seems unlikely with Hashim Amla, the appointed vice-captain, waiting in the wings.
Smith was ruled out of the Cape Cobras squad for the Champions League to complete rehabilitation on his knee, which he injured while playing for the Pune Warriors in April this year, ESPNcricinfo.
Smith collided with Rahul Sharma while fielding against the Kochi Tuskers Kerala and had to bat with a runner, a practice that has subsequently been outlawed, later in the match.
He played two more games for Pune but left the competition before its completion. Smith complained of discomfort after that, went under the knife and started batting against the hard ball in mid-August.
It was only on Saturday that Smith was able to get some game time, during a 20-over match for Claremont Cricket Club against Belville in Cape Town.
He occupied the crease for seven overs and scored 20 runs, including two fours. "It was great to be back in the middle," Smith said.
"I hit some nice straight and cover drives and it was also important to start running sharply between the wickets again."
He is due to play another T20 game for Claremont next weekend and may turn out for his provincial side Western Province midweek.
There is no opportunity for Smith to play franchise cricket because the Cobras' first fixture of the season is on October 13, the same day as South Africa begin their series against Australia.
Smith stepped down as T20 captain in August last year and as ODI captain after World Cup but remains available for selection in all three formats.
His presence will be a much-needed one after AB de Villiers, who named Smith's successor in limited-overs formats, broke his finger and was ruled out of the T20 and ODI series.
There has been some talk of Smith returning to the captaincy, but that seems unlikely with Hashim Amla, the appointed vice-captain, waiting in the wings.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Johnson dropped from T20 in SA tour
Australia have dumped Mitchell Johnson from their Twenty20 side for their upcoming South Africa tour after the paceman endured a poor tour in Sri Lanka.
The 29-year-old Queenslander was expensive in Australia's 2-0 series loss to the Sri Lankans and his struggles continued in the one-day and Test series wins that followed.
"Mitchell has struggled in this format of the game to date," Andrew Hilditch, the outgoing chairman of selectors said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Most Twenty20 internationals have been at the start of tours and Mitchell has not always been at his best in these matches.
"Obviously Mitchell has a great skill set for Twenty20 cricket and we are sure he will put a lot of pressure on us to pick him in the future in the Twenty20 team."
Johnson's omission means a recall for Doug Bollinger, who will join Brett Lee, James Pattinson and teenager Pat Cummins in the 14-man squad's pace quartet for the two T20 matches in South Africa next month.
Cummins, an 18-year-old and the youngest ever Australian player to be handed a central contract, had also forced his way into the one-day side after John Hastings was ruled out by injury.
Brad Haddin's retirement from Twenty20 last week and an injury to stand-in Tim Paine paved the way for a promotion for Victoria state wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade in the Cameron White-captained T20 squad.
Mitchell Marsh, a 19-year-old all-rounder, had also been included after a solid tour for Australia A in Zimbabwe, Hilditch said.
Johnson has retained his place in the Michael Clarke-led one-day squad which will play a three-match series after the T20 matches, meaning he will likely be in the frame for the following two-match Test series despite his form slump.
The swing bowler took 16 wickets at an average of 25 in the Australians' 2-1 victory over hosts South Africa in the 2009 Test series and interim coach Troy Cooley said getting the erratic bowler back into the groove was a top priority.
"I will be picking up quite quickly with (bowling coach) Craig McDermott and (Test captain) Michael Clarke on what transpired over there (in Sri Lanka)... and make sure Mitchell Johnson is up and running," he said on Tuesday.
Twenty20 squad: Cameron White (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Stephen O'Keefe, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
One-day squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steven Smith, David Warner.
The 29-year-old Queenslander was expensive in Australia's 2-0 series loss to the Sri Lankans and his struggles continued in the one-day and Test series wins that followed.
"Mitchell has struggled in this format of the game to date," Andrew Hilditch, the outgoing chairman of selectors said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Most Twenty20 internationals have been at the start of tours and Mitchell has not always been at his best in these matches.
"Obviously Mitchell has a great skill set for Twenty20 cricket and we are sure he will put a lot of pressure on us to pick him in the future in the Twenty20 team."
Johnson's omission means a recall for Doug Bollinger, who will join Brett Lee, James Pattinson and teenager Pat Cummins in the 14-man squad's pace quartet for the two T20 matches in South Africa next month.
Cummins, an 18-year-old and the youngest ever Australian player to be handed a central contract, had also forced his way into the one-day side after John Hastings was ruled out by injury.
Brad Haddin's retirement from Twenty20 last week and an injury to stand-in Tim Paine paved the way for a promotion for Victoria state wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade in the Cameron White-captained T20 squad.
Mitchell Marsh, a 19-year-old all-rounder, had also been included after a solid tour for Australia A in Zimbabwe, Hilditch said.
Johnson has retained his place in the Michael Clarke-led one-day squad which will play a three-match series after the T20 matches, meaning he will likely be in the frame for the following two-match Test series despite his form slump.
The swing bowler took 16 wickets at an average of 25 in the Australians' 2-1 victory over hosts South Africa in the 2009 Test series and interim coach Troy Cooley said getting the erratic bowler back into the groove was a top priority.
"I will be picking up quite quickly with (bowling coach) Craig McDermott and (Test captain) Michael Clarke on what transpired over there (in Sri Lanka)... and make sure Mitchell Johnson is up and running," he said on Tuesday.
Twenty20 squad: Cameron White (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Stephen O'Keefe, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
One-day squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steven Smith, David Warner.
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