SOUTH AFRICA NEWS by Telford Vice • Last updated on Share Tweet "Hopefully in the next cycle we'll have a number of tours against India that are pretty close to being finalised." © Getty Two out of three ain't bad. Especially when they're the bigger two of the big three. So if India and England are in your corner, who cares if Australia isn't? That's CSA's view, as articulated by Graeme Smith on Wednesday (February 24). The Australians were due to play three Tests in South Africa next month but pulled out because of concerns over COVID-19 - despite CSA promising to go above and beyond what they have done to keep other teams safe during the pandemic. CSA has lodged an official complaint against CA with the ICC, but the bigger picture would seem to overshadow that scenario. Besides, the edge has been taken off that setback by engagements with India that Smith said were nearing confirmation. "Even if we don't win [at the … [Read more...] about India and England in South Africa’s corner, says Graeme Smith
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Don’t Send Jeff Flake as Envoy to South Africa | Opinion
It would be alarming if Jeff Flake, once an apartheid South Africa praise singer, is appointed the next U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Recent reports suggest that Jeff Flake, the former Arizona Republican senator, may soon get a diplomatic appointment. Flake himself revealed he has been in touch with the Biden administration over the possibility of being appointed an ambassador. "I have an interest in making sure that President Biden's foreign policy is bipartisan," he told CNN . The political newswire Axios went further and specifically said Biden is reportedly considering Flake as ambassador to South Africa. If this happens, appointing the GOP "civility hero" would be viewed in South Africa as insensitive on the part of the Biden administration. Jeff Flake would probably be a good non-partisan ambassador for the United States wherever he may go—but not in South Africa. The United States has lost a lot of luster with a Trump foreign policy that culled experienced … [Read more...] about Don’t Send Jeff Flake as Envoy to South Africa | Opinion
Gabba hero Pant surpasses Dhoni
IMAGE: Rishabh Pant scored 1,000 runs in just 27 Test innings. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images Rishabh Pant on Tuesday surpassed the iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni to become the fastest Indian wicket-keeper-batsman to reach the 1,000-run mark in Test cricket during the final Test against Australia at the Gabba on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Pant achieved the feat in only 27 innings, scoring at an average of 40.04. Dhoni had taken 32 innings to reach the milestone. Congratulate Team India Coming in to bat in India's second innings of the 4th Test, Pant needed only one run to achieve the record and he got to it by pulling Pat Cummins to get off the mark with a double. Besides Pant and Dhoni, five other Indian stumpers -- Farokh Engineer (36 innings), Wriddhiman Saha (37 innings), Nayan Mongia (39 innings), Syed Kirmani (45 innings) and Kiran More (50 innings) have crossed the 1,000-run milestone in Test cricket. South Africa's Quinton de Kock holds … [Read more...] about Gabba hero Pant surpasses Dhoni
Amit Shah Wants Cheteshwar Pujara to Score Double Century And Help India Beat England in Pink-Ball Test at Narendra Modi Stadium
After witnessing several records and milestones in the past, the newly-built Motera is all set to host another enthralling game of cricket when India take on England in the third Test. Before the start of the match, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed his desire as he wishes to see Cheteshwar Pujara score a double century and guide India to a memorable victory against England in the pink-ball Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium. “This stadium is very memorable for Javagal Srinath. He took six wickets against South Africa, on the same ground, Kapil Dev broke Richard’s Hadlee tally of wickets. On this same ground, Sunil Gavaskar achieved the milestone of 10,000 runs. On this same ground, Sachin Tendulkar achieved the 18,000 ODI runs and he completed his 20 years in international cricket here. I wish Pujara scores double century here and he helps India to win against England,” said Amit Shah during the inauguration ceremony of the Narendra Modi Stadium. When Pujara last … [Read more...] about Amit Shah Wants Cheteshwar Pujara to Score Double Century And Help India Beat England in Pink-Ball Test at Narendra Modi Stadium
Three things that could derail Boris Johnson’s timetable for easing lockdown
Boris Johnson has said he is "very optimistic" that England can finally return to normal life on June 21 under his four-step roadmap out of lockdown. However the Prime Minister warned that "nothing can be guaranteed", as the Government maintains a cautious approach to freeing Brits from the limits governing daily life. Plans to reopen schools and allow greater outdoor socialising in March, to reopen beer gardens, shops and salons in April, and to scrap most rules on social contact in May have offered hope to millions. However the PM has been clear that he will be governed by "data not dates" and the timetable could slip if the virus begins to spiral. Four tests must be met before England can move onto the next step of the roadmap, which include how the vaccine rollout is going and whether there are any new variants causing concern. The document states: "Around four weeks is required to see the impact of the previous step in the data and the Government has committed to … [Read more...] about Three things that could derail Boris Johnson’s timetable for easing lockdown