Latest news with #PROTEAS
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Markram set to open the batting in the 2026 T20 World Cup
GOOD news for Proteas as Aiden Markram is set to captain the Proteas all the way to the 2026 World Cup. | BackpagePix PROTEAS T20I captain Aiden Markram confirmed that he will continue to play as an opening batter through to the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. In the shortest format of the game, the 30-year-old had been playing as a middle-order batter for the two years that former coach Rob Walter had been in charge, despite having started his career as an opening batter. The ongoing series against Australia is the first in which the right-handed batter has returned to opening batting for South Africa, a decision that all-format coach Shukri Conrad has made since taking over the T20I and ODI teams. Markram confirmed that the move to the top of the order is not temporary and explained that it is also pushed by the nature of the batters that are currently in the team. Having been a viable fifth bowling option as well for the past couple of years, the 30-year-old did not confirm whether or not he will continue playing that role, although he finds it exciting. "Going through our squads and the players that we've got around, we think probably that's the best fit. We've got some guys in the middle order that are a lot more destructive than myself and we feel probably it's better off for myself and Ricks (ryan Rickelton) to be up top," Markram told the media on Friday. "I did it a bit at the IPL, starting to do it now again at international cricket. It's an exciting role. It's always nice to bat in the power play, and the focus is to get the team off to good starts. "I don't know (if I will bowl as well). It's very much a feel thing. It's quite a daunting task, to be honest. You just see the ball flying nowadays, and you're like, I'm not so sure I really want to be a bowler. But there'll be occasions where you feel like the wicket might be on the slower side or might offer something, and you sort of take that punt. "But the other way I try to operate is just go on my gut feel, whatever my gut's telling me in the moment, run with that and back that and sort of reflect on what could have been and what should have been possibly after the game."
IOL News
07-08-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kagiso Rabada embracing leadership role down under
UMSHWIBI wamaProteas, uKagiso Rabada. Image: BACKPAGEPIX PROTEAS fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is embracing the responsibility that comes with being the senior player in Australia, with the likes of Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius looking up to him for guidance. Over a decade ago, Rabada received his maiden international cap down under, and now, he has traveled back to Australia with a squad featuring a number of players on their debut tour of Australia. Maphaka, Pretorius and Brevis are the youngest in the group, but are not the only ones in their maiden international tour of Australia, as Ryan Rickelton, Nqaba Peter and Corbin Bosch are also in Australia for the first time with the Proteas. Being one of the most experienced players, Rabada has the responsibility to lead from the front. The youngsters are looking up to him and Captain Aiden Markram to show them the ropes. The 30-year-old told the media on Thursday that he is now used to the leadership role. "We've got some exciting talent coming through. They're just waiting and raring to go. So they'll be wanting to thrive on this stage. Players like myself, Aiden, we've been on the circle for quite some time. So, we are adopting the leadership position, the senior positions, and it's normal," Rabada told the media. "We've got Kwena Maphaka, an extremely exciting talent. Dewald Brevis and Luandre Pretorius. (Remembering) when I came here for the first time, that reminds me of the space that they're in. "I'm sure they just want to do their best. When you're young, you've got no fear at all. I'm excited to see how they're going to go in their careers." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Our Proteas Men's bowling spearhead, Kagiso Rabada, is showing nothing but pure grit and intensity in his preparations this week ahead of the upcoming series. 💪🔥#WozaNawe — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 6, 2025 Rabada and the Proteas T20I team are in Australia for three matches, and this series marks the start of the preparation of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. With the youngsters also involved, the Proteas will be hoping that they shape up to be a strong team, one that can win the World Cup next year. With senior players such as Marco Jansen (injured) and David Miller (released to The Hundred) not involved in the series, the options for the World Cup are aplenty. Moreover, with the Proteas having won the WTC final, their first ICC trophy in 27 years, Rabada feels the monkey is off their backs and that they now have no fear. "It's kind of like a relief. I guess the T20 World Cup will be a bit different now, there's no fear of anything," said Rabada. "There's not too much time leading into that big event. But you're looking at growing this team within the next year, year and a half. That's the bigger goal looking into 2027, but certainly a short-term goal leading into the 2026 World Cup, looking at guys like David, who are going to be back, and Marco, who are going to be back. "That gives a bit more of solidification in terms of the team and mainly the experience. But these games would be just to get a feel for one another as teammates, how we're going to go about it. "It's a work in process, there's no fear of winning or losing. Although we play to win 100%, I don't think that is the main thing, but it's a process and it's a process of evaluation." The upcoming series also marks Shukri Conrad's second stint since he was appointed as the all-format coach. However, it marks Rabada's first white ball series since Conrad's appointment. The 29-year-old told the media that he is enjoying the new set of ideas that Conrad has brought into the white ball space. "It's been quite interesting to try and understand how he's going to go about the two different formats and his methodology as to what he feels outside of the Test space," he said. "It's been kind of similar. But there have been quite a few things going a bit left field, which is quite refreshing and interesting to think about. It's like a new set of possibilities." The first T20I gets underway on Sunday.
IOL News
24-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Conrad makes tough calls as he reveals white ball plans ahead of Australia tour
SELECTION HEADACHE: Shukri Conrad PROTEAS coach Shukri Conrad has revealed his hand with white ball squad selection. | BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix UPON Shukri Conrad's appointment as the Proteas all-format coach earlier this year, the whole country was curious to learn of his plans for the future of the team in terms of the personnel that would make up his squads. That curiosity was prolonged for a short while in the ongoing tour to Zimbabwe as the big dogs including Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada were rested following the WTC final at Lord's last month. However, with the star players now back in contention for selection for next month's white ball tour to Australia, Conrad finally revealed his hand as he announced the T20I and ODI squads for the tour which will see South Africa play three T20Is and three ODIs. With one eye on the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, Conrad made a number of changes to the team that played under former coach Rob Walter, the notable changes being that of the introduction of the youngsters Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis in the full strength teams. With Pretorius and Brevis having had an impressive SA20 and across all formats domestically, Conrad felt the youngsters were ahead of a number of batters in the pecking order. As a result, Reeza Hendricks lost his place in the T20I squad while David Miller was allowed to fulfil his commitments in The Hundred, further creating space for the youngsters. Next Stay Close ✕ Heinrich Klaasen's recent retirement also opened up a spot in both formats while Tabraiz Shamsi missed out as he has yet to have talks with Conrad with regard to his future in the national set-up. Moreover, experienced batter Rassie van der Dussen makes his return to the T20I team, while Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch and Prenelan Subrayen get their first inclusion in the full-strength T20I team. Despite the changes, Conrad emphasised that he is not moving on from the likes of Hendricks and Gerald Coetzee, who also missed out on the tour. "I think the players have flown past Reeza. It's no secret that Markham and Ryan Rickleton are my preferred opening batters. It makes it difficult for Reeza to fit in," Conrad told the media on Thursday. "Guys that potentially could open the batting and bat in the middle, Rassie and Lhuan-dre, give you that cover as well if you need an opening bat. I feel that they are the guys who give us better options. It's unfortunate that it's fallen this way on Reeza," "Shamo and I never really had the opportunity to chat, which is unfortunate. I think the selections speak for themselves in terms of who is ahead of whom in the pecking order. "And if you look at the T20 squads, if you look at the spinners selected, that should give you a good idea of who the frontrunners are. It doesn't mean that we're going to rule anyone out. "Gerald was the other one. There are only so many quicks you can put in your team. There are only so many bowlers in terms of balance. The players that were selected, I believe, are ahead of Gerald in the pecking order. It's not the end of the road for him. "I think you cannot ignore what Corbin Bosch has done over the last couple of months. He's banged the door down. We've still got a few months to go, and there'll be opportunities going forward where Gerald will be able to stake a claim." Proteas Men's head coach Shukri Conrad has today announced full-strength squads for the upcoming white-ball tour against Australia, scheduled to take place next month. Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma return to lead the Proteas in the three-match T20 International (T20I) series… — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 24, 2025 While Van der Dussen makes his return to the Proteas full-strength team, he is not included in the ODI squad for the tour to Australia despite having been a top performer in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. Thus, Conrad's decision to leave him out came as a surprise to many. However, Conrad explained that the 36-year-old is not being overlooked and that he believes there is enough time to give the youngsters opportunities, as there are still two years left until the next ODI World Cup. "The immediate focus is the T20 World Cup. Rassie is very much in contention for the T20 World Cup; he gives you the option of either batting at the top or batting at three. He's great in a leadership position," said Conrad. "With the 50-over format, because I've got a bit more time, I'm certainly not going to rule Rassie or any of the older guys out. But because we've got time until 2027, it gives me a chance to blood some of the younger players and then see how they develop. And then post the T20 World Cup, we'll probably be in a better position to decide on guys like Rassie and David." Proteas T20I squad against Australia Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Lind, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen and Rassie van der Dussen. Proteas ODI squad against Australia Temba Bavuma (Captain), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Prenelan Subrayen. Fixtures 1st T20I - Sunday, 10 August (N) Australia vs South Africa – Marrara Stadium, Darwin 2nd T20I - Tuesday, 12 August (N)Australia vs South Africa - Marrara Stadium, Darwin 3rd T20I - Saturday, 16 August (N) Australia vs South Africa, Cazalys Stadium, Cairns 1st ODI - Tuesday, 19 August (D/N) Australia vs South Africa – Cazalys Stadium, Cairns 2nd ODI - Friday, 22 August (D/N) Australia vs South Africa - Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay 3rd ODI - Sunday, 24 August (D/N) Australia vs South Africa - Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
COMMENT: It's nothing new, they've done it before
PROTEAS celebrate the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne on day two of the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's. | BackpagePix MANY may look at South Africa's batting performance at Lord's on Friday and be surprised, and some may even be shocked that this batting unit, one that is heavily criticised, has been able to get the team within 69 runs of the country's first world title. However, for those who pay close attention to detail, they will be able to remember that this unit has done this before in the recent past. When India toured South Africa four years ago, after thumping the Proteas by 113 runs during the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, where they bowled the Proteas out for under 200 runs in both innings, the Proteas bounced back in style to win the series 2-1. It all started at the Bullring where Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma chased down 240 runs to level the series and concluded at the picturesque Newlands in Cape Town where Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen helped South Africa chase down another 200 plus target to seal the 2-1 series victory over a team that was ranked number in Tests at the time. Elgar, Petersen and Van der Dussen might not be a part of this group at Lord's; however, it was still a Proteas batting unit that was labelled as 'inexperienced' and as the 'weak links' in a team that had a bowling unit filled with superstars, including Kagiso Rabada. Despite all the labels, the side was able to clinch a series victory, a victory that forced world cricket to sit up and take note of the Proteas test side.
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kagiso Rabada shines as Proteas face tough challenge in WTC Final
PROTEAS celebrate Kagiso Rabada after the wicket of Australia's captain Pat Cummins, unseen, for one run during day one of the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's. | AFP Zaahier Adams at Lord's LONDON: Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen were at the crease when the Proteas unchoked at Centurion in December last year to qualify for a first-ever ICC World Test Championship final. Two big fast fast bowlers embraced passionately in the middle of the wicket after Jansen delightfully steered the winning runs past point. Jansen hauled out the big bear hug on Rabada again at Lord's on a pulsating opening day of the WTC Final on Wednesday. Only this time it was to celebrate Rabada's five-wicket haul and second at The Home of Cricket. But much has happened in between these two fateful days. Rabada, of course, tested positive for a banned substance and was instructed to appear before his comrades to apologise for his actions. It would be fair to say that the redemption is complete now. Coach Shukri Conrad stated at the time: 'All I'm interested in now is KG producing performances that we know he's capable of." Rabada certainly repaid Conrad's trust with a five-star performance that sent Australia cartling for 212. Bristling in from the Nursery End, coupling aggression with accuracy, it made for utterly compelling viewing. And aided by some fabulous catching behind the wicket Rabada finished with 5/51 - etching his name onto the Lord's Honours Board yet again. Jansen (3/49) played his supporting role to perfection, and so did the spin of Keshav Maharaj (1/19) and Aiden Markram that maintained the pressure on the Aussies despite a mid-afternoon fightback from Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72). The only drawback for the Proteas being the indifferent form of surprise selection Lungi Ngidi, who looked every bit the rusty bowler that has only played two Tests in this two-year WTC cycle leading up to the showpiece. But the large South African contingent in the stands were in full voice with chants of 'Ole, Ole, Ole' ringing through St John's Wood. Rarely though are Tests won and lost shortly after tea on the first day. The Proteas' litmus test was always going to be with willow in hand and how their inexperienced batting unit would counter the relentless pressure exerted by the most experienced bowling attack in the world. Mitchell Starc provided the answer before the conclusion of the first over when he forced Aiden Markram to play with an angled bat to a 145km/h length delivery that caught the inside edge and rifled into leg stump. From thereon it was a sustained, aggressive examination with the Proteas top-order digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole. Ryan Rickelton managed a couple of straight and square drives, but after he pushed at an away-swinger from Starc that took the edge to Usman Khawaja in the slip cordon, the Proteas innings came to a screeching halt. Wiaan Mulder simply never looked comfortable in the critical No 3 role with the allrounder and captain Temba Bavuma adding just eight runs in 72 balls for the third wicket. Mulder's torturous innings eventually came to a merciful close when Pat Cummins went straight through his attempted defence, which was the same fate that befell Tristan Stubbs when Josh Hazlewood rattled his timber to leave the Proteas in the precarious position of 30/4. At the other end captain Temba Bavuma looked considerably less fluent requiring 31 balls to get off the mark. Bavuma will resume with David Bedingham, who struck two boundaries before the close. Jansen and Rabada had started the day starring with the ball. By time the shadows lengthened over Father Time overlooking the famous old ground, and with the Proteas' top-order crumbling like the tea time cake, the pair may yet be required to do another job with the bat when the second day resumes on Thursday. World Test Championship Final, Lord's Stumps, Day 1 Australia: 212 (Webster 72, Smith 66, Rabada 5/51, Jansen 3/39) South Africa: 43/4 (Rickelton 16, Bedingham 8*, Bavuma 3*, Starc 2/10) South Africa trail by 169 runs
