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The Star
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cricket-South Africa to test new players against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Second T20 International - South Africa v India - St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, South Africa - December 12, 2023 South Africa's Matthew Breetzke in action REUTERS/Rogan Ward/File Photo (Reuters) -South Africa tasted long-awaited success with victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia earlier this month, but there will be several new faces for the first test against Zimbabwe that starts in Bulawayo on Saturday. Captain Temba Bavuma has not recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the five-wicket win at Lord's, while batters Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs, and bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, are all rested. The latter will be available for the second test, but with seven of the XI who started at Lord's missing the series opener at the Queen's Sports Club, it will be a new-look line-up with much to prove. Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis and 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius are all young, attacking batters, and it is likely at least two of the three will play. The more experienced Lesego Senokwane could also make his international debut. The expected slow wicket means stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj and off-spinning all-rounder Prenelan Subrayen will likely both play, but firebrand 19-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who debuted against Pakistan earlier this year, could also be given a chance. Uncapped seamer Codi Yusuf is also in the squad. "I think there's a lot of guys who want to prove a point, why they're here, and how well they've played over the last couple of domestic seasons to get here," all-rounder Wiaan Mulder told reporters. "We look at ourselves as world champions. That's the standard we set for ourselves. Everybody has that in the back of their mind. We are not trying to become something new. 'The guys that are going to fill a spot or take someone like Ricks' (Rickelton) or Marco's (Jansen) place are going to put them under pressure when they come back." Zimbabwe will also be missing several of their regular players, including the injured pair of batter Ben Curran and new-ball bowler Richard Ngarava. Experienced middle-order batter and spin option Sikandar Raza has opted to play in Major League Cricket over this period. 'There's a real buzz around the squad. I think they're very excited. I'm super excited for the challenge that lies ahead and the guys are amped for it,' Zimbabwe's South African-born coach Justin Sammons said. 'They're looking forward to testing themselves and showing what they're capable of. I think they really want to make a statement over the next couple of weeks.' South Africa have won eight of their previous nine tests against Zimbabwe, with a single draw in 2001, which was also their only previous fixture in Bulawayo. (Reporting by Nick Said;Editing by Alison Williams)
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Uncapped Cook and Cox in England squad for Zimbabwe test
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Second T20 International - England v Australia - Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - September 13, 2024 England's Jordan Cox is bowled out by Australia's Sean Abbott Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo REUTERS FILE PHOTO: Cricket - The Hundred Final - Men - Trent Rockets v Manchester Originals - Lords, London, Britain - September 3, 2022 Trent Rockets' Sam Cook celebrates after bowling out Manchester Originals' Tom Lammonby Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/File Photo REUTERS Uncapped Cook and Cox in England squad for Zimbabwe test LONDON - England have named two uncapped players in Essex duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox in the squad for the one-off test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge later this month, with the cricket board (ECB) announcing the 13-player list on Friday. The match, which begins on May 22 at Trent Bridge, is Zimbabwe's first test in England in 22 years and marks the start of the English summer. England's pace attack has been depleted with injuries to key bowlers including Mark Wood (knee) and Chris Woakes (ankle). Brydon Carse is out of action with a foot injury while Olly Stone is still recovering from a knee operation. Speedster Jofra Archer is not fit for the rigours of test cricket because of an elbow injury even though he is playing in the Indian Premier League T20 competition. Captain Ben Stokes is returning after hamstring surgery at Christmas and is unlikely to bowl at full tilt. Cook has picked up 318 first-class wickets and the 27-year-old made a name for himself on the England Lions tour of Australia where he took 13 wickets in three matches. Cox is a 24-year-old wicketkeeper. Fast bowler Josh Tongue has recovered from injuries and earned a recall to the test squad for the first time since the 2023 Ashes series against Australia. Gus Atkinson, who has played 11 tests, will spearhead England's pace attack with Matthew Potts also in the mix. England have marquee test series lined up against India and Australia later this year. England squad: Ben Stokes (Durham), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire) REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
