All hail, New Zealand, the kings of Test cricket
New Zealand are the most fitting victors of the inaugural World Test Championship. This team will be remembered as one of great Test-cricket teams, writes RYAN VREDE.
Clock ticking on the Proteas’ T20 World challenge
The Proteas have 11 matches to arrest their horrific T20 form and prepare their challenge for the T20 World Cup, writes RYAN VREDE.
Signs of life as Proteas batters fight back
A gutsy partnership in St Lucia suggests a fighting spirit is brewing, but the Proteas’ batting inconsistency remains the biggest threat to their ascension in the Test rankings, writes RYAN VREDE.
Lessons for Proteas in New Zealand’s rise
New Zealand could be the Test world champions by Tuesday. They’ve completely transformed their cricket culture to get to this point. There are lessons for the Proteas in their rise, writes RYAN VREDE.
Is a one-off World Test Championship match all that bad?
It feels fitting that in a format which rewards exceptionally high levels of temperament and talent, a one-off Test decides the champions of the world, writes RYAN VREDE.
Proteas awaken from two-year slumber but is it sustainable?
The Proteas produced their most complete Test performance under Mark Boucher, addressing some major concerns in the process. What happens next is as important as what happened in St.Lucia, writes RYAN VREDE.
A throwback to a glorious past as Proteas seamers shine
The Proteas’ seamers produced a performance that was reminiscent of the high standard the country’s best attacks have set. It stirred hope of a future that will feel familiar, writes RYAN VREDE.
Wish list: Three boxes for the Proteas to tick
As the Proteas head into the first Test against the West Indies, CRAIG LEWIS picks three things that would be good to see as Mark Boucher’s charges look to turn around their red-ball fortunes.
The world watches as the ECB tackles Robinson’s racism
The ECB made the correct decision to suspend Ollie Robinson for racist, sexist and Islamophobic tweets. What they decide to do next is critical because it sets a precedent for others to follow, writes RYAN VREDE.
The Conway inquisition must end
South Africans seeking to turn Devon Conway’s loss to New Zealand into a race issue fail to acknowledge what is self-evident – his gift just bloomed later than most and in an environment which facilitated that. Let’s celebrate a wonderful talent, not wrongly denigrate a system, writes RYAN VREDE.
Immaturity is no excuse for prejudice
England debutant Ollie Robinson faces an uncertain international future after racist, sexist and Islamophobic tweets were uncovered. Those excusing it as ‘immaturity’ don’t understand the impact this has on the targets and cricket. It’s time to stop the excuses and severely punish offenders, writes RYAN VREDE.
Elgar-Markram partnership is broken and needs fixing
Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram go into a two-Test series against the Windies needing to rehabilitate an opening partnership that is rich in potential but lacks in consistency of delivery, writes RYAN VREDE.
Prince’s Verreynne appraisal must excite Proteas fans
Ashwell Prince offered insight into Kyle Verreynne’s mental constitution that reinforced the sense that the kid is special and has to be a three-format player for the Proteas, writes RYAN VREDE.
Smith’s tenure under pressure as race cloud looms
Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket, Graeme Smith, has every right to defend himself against potentially defamatory accusations of a racial nature. But with new testimony from the SJN leaked regularly, he is under immense pressure and needs to act with emotional intelligence, writes RYAN VREDE.
The way forward for Proteas needs focus on feeder system
The Proteas have slumped to seventh in the Test rankings and their prospects in the other formats aren’t encouraging. Their rehabilitation will require a long-term approach that should include four key features in the structure of South African cricket, writes RYAN VREDE.
