Record Book – Australian Test centurions at Kingsmead

Australia have played ten Tests at Kingsmead in Durban, the venue for the first Test of their upcoming series against South Africa. Since their first appearance there in 1935-36, they have won five Tests and lost three. Nine Australian batsmen have scored eleven Test hundreds between them at the venue over the last 83 […]

Specials – When Kenya stunned India at Port Elizabeth

India take on South Africa in the fifth ODI of their six-match series at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth today. India have not got good memories of the venue – they have lost all five ODIs played there. Four of the defeats have come against the hosts (in 1991-92, 1996-97, 2006-07 and 2010-11) […]

Record Book – The best ODI figures by spinners in South Africa

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s match-winning return of 5/22 in the second ODI at Centurion yesterday was only the third five-wicket haul by a spin bowler in an ODI in South Africa. Here is a look at the top five ODI bowling figures by spinners in the Rainbow Nation. 5/21 by Nicky Boje (South Africa) […]

Record Book – India’s ODI wins in South Africa

India are set to begin their fifth bilateral series in South Africa from today in Durban, having played the previous four in 1992-93, 2006-07, 2010-11 and 2013-14. Apart from these, India have played the hosts in two triangular series – in 1996-97 (also involving Zimbabwe) and 2001-02 (also involving Kenya). Historically, South Africa has […]

Specials – Moments from South Africa v Zimbabwe Test history

This year’s Boxing Day match in South Africa assumes great significance as the hosts square off against Zimbabwe in the first four-day Test since Test cricket around the world was standardised to five days. The one-off Test in Port Elizabeth is being considered by the ICC as a trial for its future potentiality, […]

Specials – Morocco’s tryst with ODI cricket

The only time top-tier international cricket was played in North Africa was in August 2002, when an ODI triangular series between Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka was contested in Tangier. This tournament was the brainchild of Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, the man instrumental in bringing cricket to Sharjah. It was a lucrative affair – […]

Famous Test Matches – England v South Africa, Old Trafford, 1998

South Africa had stormed to a 1-0 lead in the series with a ten-wicket win in the second Test at Lord’s, and came into the third, played at Old Trafford from July 2 to July 6, 1998, riding on a wave of confidence. The visitors replaced opener Adam Bacher and pace bowler Shaun Pollock, […]

Specials – When a bunch of amateurs nearly capsized the table-toppers

Ten years ago, a motley crew of amateurs from the Emerald Isle embarked upon a life-changing expedition to the Caribbean. They had among their ranks a teacher, an electrician, a postman, a fabric salesman and a handyman. Little did they know that over the next month and half, they were to become the new […]

Famous Test Matches – South Africa v New Zealand, Cape Town, 1961-62

Coming into this five-match series, New Zealand had not played Test cricket for nearly three years. They had lost ten consecutive series dating back to 1950-51 and had won just one Test in 32 years and 52 attempts – against the West Indies at Auckland in 1955-56. New Zealand’s first tour of South […]

In Focus – Former South African cricketer now an Olympic medallist

Sunette Viljoen joined a rare group of international cricketers to have won an Olympic medal when she took the silver medal in the women’s javelin event at the Rio Olympics yesterday. The 32-year-old South African had played one Test and 17 ODIs for her country between 2000 and 2002. Competing in her fourth Olympics, […]