Proteas have ‘patriotism’ problems

Simon Harmer and Kyle Abbott would improve the Proteas’ chances of winning Test matches. The last time I checked, that was reason enough for any player to be in the selection mix, argues RYAN VREDE.

Amla embodies the spirit of Mandela

Hashim Amla is deeply missed in a playing context, but the South African continues to be one of the most powerful voices in cricket, evidenced most recently by his moving offering on the Palestine issue, writes RYAN VREDE.

Just pick the best available team

If your objective is winning a major trophy, you have to pick the best available players. And if the Proteas want to win the T20 World Cup, they have to pick ‘freelancers’, writes RYAN VREDE.

IPL ’21: Legacy of greed and cowardice

The Indian Premier League organisers will forever be remembered for putting profits ahead of people, while the players who stayed and played while thousands died and hundreds of thousands were infected daily will be judged by history, writes RYAN VREDE.

IPL throws money at its Covid-19 problem while ICC silent

As the humanitarian crisis in India deepens, so does the desperation of the organisers and franchise owners to plaster over their moral bankruptcy. This while the spineless ICC says nothing, writes RYAN VREDE.

Scrap the IPL

People should always matter more than products. The product that is the Indian Premier League needs to be scrapped as India wrestles with a health crisis that shows no signs of abating, writes RYAN VREDE.

Deal with the devil will destroy South African cricket

After looking on the verge of purging itself from the toxic members’ council, the interim board and government conceded to a resolution that will ‘save’ cricket in the short term but kill it eventually, writes RYAN VREDE.

It’s burn or fly for South African cricket

Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa gave cricket the hard reset it needed, but that drastic step will mean nothing if the corrective action isn’t carefully considered, writes RYAN VREDE.

Time to complete the AB transaction

AB de Villiers will turn the Proteas from T20 World Cup place fillers to title contenders. His inclusion in the squad is critical, despite what unsophisticated rationale rooted in ‘patriotism’ will tell you, writes RYAN VREDE.

CSA mess: Time to dismantle a toxic body

Let the purge of the power drunk at Cricket South Africa begin. The game deserves better, even at the expense of an international ban, writes RYAN VREDE.

Boucher’s Verreynne rationale is rubbish

Picking a generational talent like Kyle Verreynne whenever he is available is a no-brainer, even if it means he bats out of position. Mark Boucher is failing in the most obvious selection of them all and it’s sickening that he defends it, writes RYAN VREDE. 

Proteas’ spin surge bodes well

After a barren period for the Proteas spinners in T20Is, they have taken more than half the team’s wickets in matches in 2021. This is a piece of the World Cup puzzle that could be critical to their performance at the tournament, writes RYAN VREDE.

Boucher is failing and his reckoning is nearing

Great coaches are able to find solutions to their team’s most difficult challenges in relatively short periods of time. Mark Boucher’s capacity to do so is now in question, writes RYAN VREDE.

Van der Dussen, Miller shine but Proteas have bowling issues

RYAN VREDE rates the Proteas players on the weight of their performances in the series defeat by Pakistan.

Key ODI pieces there but Proteas need more

The Proteas have the makings of a very good one-day side, and there’s a path for them to be among the format’s elite if they address some deficiencies, writes RYAN VREDE.