00:00:00
Speaker 1: Okay, let's focus now on cricket. What a perfect way to spend Heritage Day tomorrow. South Africa up against Australia in the first of three one-day internationals. To look ahead to this and beyond to the three test matches that will be played at the conclusion of the 50-over matches, let's welcome Stuart Hess, cricket writer for Times Live. Stuart, a very good afternoon to you. Generally a perception that, you know, Australia... Most times get the better of us, but in fact, in bilateral series of one-day internationals, we've won the last five. How optimistic are you that we're going to make it six this time around? Good afternoon to you.
00:00:41
Speaker 2: Good afternoon, John. To be honest, not as optimistic as I was maybe a month ago when all the fast bowlers were still available. You know, South Africa suffered yet another injury. The announcement came through this morning that they'd suffered yet another injury. Kwenama Parker pulling out of the squad because of a hamstring injury, which makes the list to four. And that happened. four fast bowlers were now out of this ODI series. And that really changes the balance of the series, I think, very strongly towards Australia because South Africa is relying on quite a rookie bowling lineup. You think about it, Juan Janssen, Nwobeni Mkwena. These are young guys that haven't played a heck of a lot of international cricket and they're suddenly being really thrown into the furnace here. So I think it has swung quite drastically Australia's way as far as this series is concerned. And from a proteus perspective, they're going to have to hope that all these fast bowlers, you know, find some fitness before the first test.
00:01:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, and I mean, we're looking at Kakhisa Rabada out, at Lungi Ngidi out. It's two people who would be very, very prominent in these ODIs. Just to pick up on the last point you made, are they questionable for the first five-day game? Because that is part, whereas these are games in a build-up to us hosting the World Cup in South Africa next year. But the test matches are crucial because we want to be at Lords again.
00:02:10
Speaker 2: That's correct. And look, there was, Shukri Conrad, the Proteus coach, was interviewed earlier this week. He sounded optimistic about Rabada in particular. And I know Rabada posted onto one of his social media platforms that, you know, video of himself bowling nowhere near, you know, full tilt, but in the net, in an indoor net. And that sort of raised the optimism in the group among the management team. Conrad was saying they are hopeful that he will play a part in the test series. Now, that doesn't mean he'll be in the first test. So they're hoping that at some point he'll be fit. There hasn't been a prognosis yet on Lungi and Gidi. I must say, I was at Super Sport Park for that first first-class series match that he was involved in for the Titans yesterday. And initially, it didn't look serious. I mean, he went off the field and then came back on. Now, you know, it may just be a case of them being, you know, extra cautious with the test matches in mind. We'll have to wait and see on that. But yeah, basically, for the one day, South Africa's down to one senior fast bowler, and that's Marco Janssen.
00:03:21
Speaker 1: Stuart, I mean, obviously every series against most countries has something special about it. But is this the peak? Is this the equivalent of an all-black series for South African cricketers? Even if, you know, at particular times we've been stronger, they may not always be at their best in every single series. But is South Africa, Australia, is this cricket's greatest rivalry? For us, at least.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. I mean, from a South African perspective, yeah, I think the two biggest historical rivalries have been Australia and England. You know, post-isolation, India have come into the equation. But this is a massive series for both of these countries. Of course, the participants in the last World Test Championship final. And there was a period from about 2008 to 2018 where I think the hardest test cricket that got played was when South Africa faced Australia. You know, it was controversial. The cricket was hard. There were great players making, you know, who were achieving great things. If you think back to Mitchell Johnson, Hashim Amla, Evie de Villiers, Dale Steyn, these were great players. And of course, you know, that 10-year block concluded with a very controversial series here in 2018 and what happened at Newlands with the Australian cricket team there. So, you know, in terms of a rivalry, it's intense. I remember hearing Ricky Ponting once say that he feels that one of his greatest achievements as Australian Test captain was winning a series in South Africa in 2009. And I think when you think about Ponting's career, it just speaks to just how intense the rivalry was in that period. And I think it's something that a newer generation sort of needs to rebuild, as it were. And it will be interesting to see how those three test matches unfold, because there will be intense fixtures.
00:05:18
Speaker 1: Well, I'm looking forward to it. I bet you are as well. Stuart Hess, thank you. Read his cricket reports, analysis, interviews with players. Somebody who's been covering the game for a long time and doing a brilliant job at the moment. For The Times Live, Stuart, as I say, one of our most esteemed cricket writers. We thank him for his time.
Speaker 1: Okay, let's focus now on cricket. What a perfect way to spend Heritage Day tomorrow. South Africa up against Australia in the first of three one-day internationals. To look ahead to this and beyond to the three test matches that will be played at the conclusion of the 50-over matches, let's welcome Stuart Hess, cricket writer for Times Live. Stuart, a very good afternoon to you. Generally a perception that, you know, Australia... Most times get the better of us, but in fact, in bilateral series of one-day internationals, we've won the last five. How optimistic are you that we're going to make it six this time around? Good afternoon to you.
00:00:41
Speaker 2: Good afternoon, John. To be honest, not as optimistic as I was maybe a month ago when all the fast bowlers were still available. You know, South Africa suffered yet another injury. The announcement came through this morning that they'd suffered yet another injury. Kwenama Parker pulling out of the squad because of a hamstring injury, which makes the list to four. And that happened. four fast bowlers were now out of this ODI series. And that really changes the balance of the series, I think, very strongly towards Australia because South Africa is relying on quite a rookie bowling lineup. You think about it, Juan Janssen, Nwobeni Mkwena. These are young guys that haven't played a heck of a lot of international cricket and they're suddenly being really thrown into the furnace here. So I think it has swung quite drastically Australia's way as far as this series is concerned. And from a proteus perspective, they're going to have to hope that all these fast bowlers, you know, find some fitness before the first test.
00:01:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, and I mean, we're looking at Kakhisa Rabada out, at Lungi Ngidi out. It's two people who would be very, very prominent in these ODIs. Just to pick up on the last point you made, are they questionable for the first five-day game? Because that is part, whereas these are games in a build-up to us hosting the World Cup in South Africa next year. But the test matches are crucial because we want to be at Lords again.
00:02:10
Speaker 2: That's correct. And look, there was, Shukri Conrad, the Proteus coach, was interviewed earlier this week. He sounded optimistic about Rabada in particular. And I know Rabada posted onto one of his social media platforms that, you know, video of himself bowling nowhere near, you know, full tilt, but in the net, in an indoor net. And that sort of raised the optimism in the group among the management team. Conrad was saying they are hopeful that he will play a part in the test series. Now, that doesn't mean he'll be in the first test. So they're hoping that at some point he'll be fit. There hasn't been a prognosis yet on Lungi and Gidi. I must say, I was at Super Sport Park for that first first-class series match that he was involved in for the Titans yesterday. And initially, it didn't look serious. I mean, he went off the field and then came back on. Now, you know, it may just be a case of them being, you know, extra cautious with the test matches in mind. We'll have to wait and see on that. But yeah, basically, for the one day, South Africa's down to one senior fast bowler, and that's Marco Janssen.
00:03:21
Speaker 1: Stuart, I mean, obviously every series against most countries has something special about it. But is this the peak? Is this the equivalent of an all-black series for South African cricketers? Even if, you know, at particular times we've been stronger, they may not always be at their best in every single series. But is South Africa, Australia, is this cricket's greatest rivalry? For us, at least.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. I mean, from a South African perspective, yeah, I think the two biggest historical rivalries have been Australia and England. You know, post-isolation, India have come into the equation. But this is a massive series for both of these countries. Of course, the participants in the last World Test Championship final. And there was a period from about 2008 to 2018 where I think the hardest test cricket that got played was when South Africa faced Australia. You know, it was controversial. The cricket was hard. There were great players making, you know, who were achieving great things. If you think back to Mitchell Johnson, Hashim Amla, Evie de Villiers, Dale Steyn, these were great players. And of course, you know, that 10-year block concluded with a very controversial series here in 2018 and what happened at Newlands with the Australian cricket team there. So, you know, in terms of a rivalry, it's intense. I remember hearing Ricky Ponting once say that he feels that one of his greatest achievements as Australian Test captain was winning a series in South Africa in 2009. And I think when you think about Ponting's career, it just speaks to just how intense the rivalry was in that period. And I think it's something that a newer generation sort of needs to rebuild, as it were. And it will be interesting to see how those three test matches unfold, because there will be intense fixtures.
00:05:18
Speaker 1: Well, I'm looking forward to it. I bet you are as well. Stuart Hess, thank you. Read his cricket reports, analysis, interviews with players. Somebody who's been covering the game for a long time and doing a brilliant job at the moment. For The Times Live, Stuart, as I say, one of our most esteemed cricket writers. We thank him for his time.
