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Millions of rands were lost, big names retired, Virat Kohli ran the show, the Aussies introduced DIY cricket and a familiar face returned to local pitches.
Cricket SA’s global fallout
Having failed to take off last year, Cricket SA’s answer to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash led to the loss of a reported R200 million before a ball was bowled. Its proposed T20 Global League continues to bleed money in the form of a budgeted R40 million, amid potential future claims from the disgruntled owners and would-be service providers of the defunct tournament.
Up close with Virat Kohli
The Indian captain was so animated during his team’s tour of SA SuperSport, which put what one can only call a “Virat Cam” on him, that it was the reason the Proteas enjoyed only a narrow 2-1 win from their three-test series. Between the posturing, overcelebration of wickets and sulking when dismissed, Kohli was what the kids call “extra”. The performances on the pitch weren’t bad, either – Kohli’s 286 runs at 47.66, which included a big century (153) on a tricky pitch in Centurion and a half century, were the most by any batsman in the series.
Rabada comes of age
There comes a time in a fast bowler’s career when he puts in a seminal performance to take his place as one of the greats. For Kagiso Rabada, this was during the Proteas’ test series against Australia earlier in the year. Having taken 15 wickets at 20.26, Rabada took 23 wickets at 19.26 in the four tests against Australia, who boasted the formidable fast-bowling gifts of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The Port Elizabeth test, coming after a 118-run defeat in Durban, was when he took charge, with figures of 11/150 in a match in which he bowled with a heady mix of sustained belligerence, skill and intelligence. The upshot of those efforts is the number one bowling ranking in tests.
The patron saint of lost causes
Rabada should not have seen out the rest of the test series – his aggression in Port Elizabeth spilled over into the kind of shoulder contact with Australia captain Steve Smith that wouldn’t demand an apology on the streets of Johannesburg. Smith squealed about being “shoulder charged” to the umpire, Rabada was in the dock, and the punishment he received meant he had accumulated enough demerit points to warrant a two-match ban two tests into the four-test series. Enter Advocate Dali Mpofu, who somehow got Rabada off to complete the series. Would-be criminals are looking for Mpofu’s number this festive season.
Ngidi muscles into the fray
After returning from a back injury, a trim Lungi Ngidi was given a surprise test debut against India in Centurion. After running out Cheteshwar Pujara and getting Parthiv Patel’s wicket in the first innings, he followed that up with figures of 6/39 in the second innings, and he has not looked back. Series after series, Ngidi improved, mastering different conditions in different formats until his knee injury in the recent one-day international (ODI) series against Australia halted his progress.
Aussies and DIY reverse swing
A big talking point around the series between the Proteas and Australia was reverse swing and how quickly to get it. In the first test in Durban, the Aussies had it tailing as early as the 20th over, but when Rabada had his tail up in Port Elizabeth, they could not quite get it to reverse at will, which is why they decided to use sandpaper on the ball to try to get it to reverse when up against it in Cape Town. Young batsman Cameron Bancroft did the deed, supposedly at David Warner’s behest, and Smith joined them in the dock for having weak leadership. The result? A massive Aussie scandal, lengthy bans for the three players and coach Darren Lehmann’s resignation.
Cheers, Haydos
Just when we thought there was enough drama from the series against the Aussies, Morne Morkel retired. The gangly paceman, who bowled well in the matches in which he did play, especially his nine wickets in a man-of-the-match performance in Cape Town, was to bow out with 309 wickets from his 86 matches at 27.66.
AB leaves us hanging – again
Having decided to make a return to test cricket after his sabbatical, De Villiers looked to be warming to his task with some wonderful batting performances in the series against India and Australia. Then he went to the IPL and decided that not only had he had it again, he wasn’t going to the World Cup, either. So much for that, then.
Guess who’s back
What with all these departures, it was nice to have Dale Steyn back. To be honest, the expectations were not high – especially when he couldn’t buy a wicket in his first test series back (against Sri Lanka). But he got fitter, bowled faster and looked like a refreshed version of the old “Steyntjie”. The ODI series against Australia all but confirmed his place in next year’s World Cup squad, provided he stays fit.
Mzansi Super League is here
After squabbles with the would-be owners of the now defunct Global T20, Cricket SA decided to press on with a much smaller tournament: the Mzansi Super League. While it has not been plain sailing, it has been a competitive tournament in which youngsters like Kyle Verrynne, Gihahn Cloete, Anrich Nortje and Lutho Sipamla have made names for themselves. The best story of the tournament, which closes with its maiden final today, has been that of Nono Pongolo, who was meant to commentate but pulled some big performances for the Jozi Stars.
