South Africa vs Australia First Test Match, Johannesburg (16-20 February 2021)
Lineups:
South Africa:
Australia:
Janneman Malan
David Warner
Aiden Markram
Marcus Harris
Faf du Plessis
Usman Khawaja
Quinton de Kock
Steve Smith
Dean Elgar
Travis Head
Kyle Verreynne
Sean Willis
Rudi Second
Matt Wade
Vernon Philander
Pat Cummins
Keshav Maharaj
Mitch Starc
Kagiso Rabada
James Pattinson
Lungi Ngidi
Josh Hazlewood
South Africa, on a much better wicket for pace than spin, brought in Second for Fortuin, but that was their only change. Australia see the return to South Africa of the tampering two, but Sean Willis at six is confusing (he averages 19).
South Africa chose to bat, and put on 94 runs in the first sesssion for the loss of Malan to a Starc inswinger. The next two batsmen nearly put on 200 runs together, and both made centuries. Markram (101 (196)) didn't last long after his ton, while du Plessis (128 (246)) played a captain's knock. de Kock scored quickly after this and brought up his own hundred two balls before Starc got Elgar for 33. Verreynne failed but the third century of the innings proved to be a daddy knock as QDK got to 182 (254) before he slashed Cummins to cover. Second got a fifty before Maharaj got a broken hand from a Cummins bumper. Now neither side had a spinner. The South African innings was immediately declared.
With Maharaj out, it now looked likely for a draw as neither team had a proper spinner. Australia's openers took advantage, putting on 75 in the 17 overs before the end of Day 1, and doubling that before Warner finally flicked Philander to mid wicket. Elgar removed Harris five balls later to crack the game back open. Elgar also took the next wicket (the other side of lunch), removing Smith for 26. The issue then was, that none of the three full time bowlers were really firing. And this was proven by a rapid century stand between Head and Khawaja. Head departed for a run-a-ball 66 after the second new ball before Rabada finally got Khawaja in the 92nd over. Wade and WIllis (conveniently, the latter for 19) were out by the end of the 93rd, and Australia were left thanking their lucky stars for the lack of Maharaj as the tail failed to handle Elgar, leading to the batsman picking up a five wicket haul and South Africa a hundred run lead.
Now, the chance of victory was likely gone, because of the injury. But Janneman Malan made the second innings worthwhile. While Markram got set in to defensive mode, Faf played a 'nice' innings, and de Kock failed, Malan answered all questions about his place with a brillaint 163 (294), only out on the last over of the day. Nobody else made a big contribution (losing effectively 5/7 at the end didn't help) and Australia faced the daunting task of scoring 466 in a session and a half to win. They didn't get close. In fact, South Africa took four of the ten wickets they needed. But they did only use three bowlers for all but five of the 45 overs, so that helped. du Kock got MOTM.
South Africa vs Australia Second Test Match, Cape Town (16-20 February 2021)
Lineups:
South Africa:
Australia:
Janneman Malan
David Warner
Aiden Markram
Marcus Harris
Faf du Plessis
Usman Khawaja
Quinton de Kock
Steve Smith
Dean Elgar
Travis Head
Kyle Verreynne
Sean Willis
Bjorn Fortuin
Tim Paine
Vernon Philander
Pat Cummins
Thomas Kaber
Mitch Starc
Kagiso Rabada
Chris Tremain
Lungi Ngidi
Josh Hazlewood
South Africa elect to pick Kaber and have five bowling options, with Second going to the bench as Fortuin also comes in. Meanwhile Australia, at a venue synonymous with failure for them, have dropped Wade after a 0(1) and also Pattinson who was anonymous in the first game.
South Africa won the toss and batted again. This time they were less impressive; both openers out before lunch to Starc. Hazlewood got two more quick wickets before South Africa stabilised through the captain Faf and the young pup Verreynne. Neither made their fifty though, causing some issues at 6/177. But Philander and Fortuin added eighty more runs between them, and South Africa put up 278.
Australia would have been optimistic about getting a lead. Maybe less so when Warner was out within seven overs. Bigger issues occurred when Khawaja (missing a sweep off Fortuin) and Smith (edging a cover drive from Philander) were out within an over of each other, leaving the Aussies 3/65. Then 4/74 when Harris nicked Philander. Head and Willis got together and put on a quick 100 partnership, but when Rabada trapped WIllis in front, the floodgates opened again. Australia lost 6/76 and conceded a lead of 26, Kaber getting the final wicket as his first.
South Africa, batting again before tea on the second day, lost Markram immediately after it. Du Plessis came in and stabilised the innings, his 91 putting South Africa 200 up by the time he was third out, yorked by Cummins. 180 runs were then added by de Kock and Elgar. Elgar fell for 75 to a good fast one from Starc, but de Kock confirmed his claim for Player of the Series with a second daddy hundred, this one 280 (445). South Africa batted to after tea to allow him to chase the triple but he fell just short sadly.
Warner failed again, giving South Africa a great chance. Khawaja also was out by the end of the third over, putting the Aussies massively on the back foot. No further wickets fell on Day 4 as Harris and Smith batted for the remaining seven overs and almost all of the first session of Day 5. But with Harris and Head (who gloved one down the leg side) out by lunch, South Africa were on top. Smith and Willis batted through to tea, though, leaving a simple equation: six wickets or Match 3 is a winner takes all showdown. The new ball changed the game. Smith, after a great 134, nicked the fifth delivery of the new cherry. Willis brought up his maiden hundred then Rabada got him slashing to slip. But Paine and Cummins batted it out. South Africa were left to regret chasing the triple.
South Africa vs Australia Third Test Match, Pretoria (2-6 March 2021)
Lineups:
South Africa:
Australia:
Janneman Malan
David Warner
Aiden Markram
Marcus Harris
Faf du Plessis
Usman Khawaja
Quinton de Kock
Steve Smith
Dean Elgar
Travis Head
Dean Albanie
Sean Willis
Kyle Verreynne
Matt Wade
Vernon Philander
Pat Cummins
Kagiso Rabada
Mitch Starc
Smangaliso Nhlebela
James Pattinson
Lungi Ngidi
Josh Hazlewood
South Africa take the interesting approach of having two debutants for the must-win final game. They clearly think that they need more batting, and Nhlebela will provide specialist spin. Australia recall James PAttinson, and lose the toss.
Faf wouldn't have liked Janneman running himself out in the fifth over. Markram played a nice 35 but was rather slow. The arrival of QDK fixed the run-rate issue. Faf cruised to yet another hundred with the wicketkeeper in support, and De Kock joined him on the last over of Day 1. De Kock eventually went for 142 (219), yorked by Starc. Dean Albanie looked immediately at home and was given a proper treat as he watched Faf du Plessis become the second South African triple centurion in history. When he finally fell for 312 (494), Albanie lasted just two more overs (out for 82) and South Africa immediately declared.
Warner and Harris negotiated the last six overs of Day 2 and indeed the entire first spells of the lightning quicks. But Philander got Warner to nick to second slip with his fourth ball. Harris and Khawaja put on 100 runs after this, before Khawaja (much the aggressor of the two) hit Ngidi down the throat of long on. Smith raced to a fourty-ball fifty, while at the other end Marcus Harris nicked off after completing his ton. The problem for South Africa was that Nhlebela collapsed, conceding 127 from his 21 overs prior to the new ball. Runs flowed for the Aussies; Smith got a 115-ball 145, and Head was batting at a run a ball when Smith went. The Aussie tail wagged a bit before Nhlebela finally took his first wicket to end the innings.
Markram struggled again but Janneman, who didn't run himself out this time, got going. He and Faf shared a century partnership before both were dismissed within balls of each other, albeit Janneman making a fine 108 (183). In a quest for quick runs, the South Africans collapsed to 6/199, before a quickfire ton for Kyle Verreynne righted the ship. He finished on 109* (128) as the South Africans declared to chase an unlikelt win.
Dropping Warner in the third over didn't help although Rabada extracted his revenge eight overs latter, bowling him for 19. Even though the South Africans through the kitchen sink at Harris and Khawaja, they survived and the series was drawn 0-0.
MOTM is obviously Faf, but who is MOTS?
1st: Quinton du Kock. Three hundreds, two massive ones, 641 runs at an average of 106. The best we've ever seen him.
2nd: Faf du Plessis. Two hundreds, one triple, 661 runs at an average of 110. Also the best we've seen him. The fact that De Kock produced two big ones and three total was the thing that split them.
3rd: Kagiso Rabada. 17 wickets at 24 isn't as headline as those two but the next best bowlers by average were Philander (9 at 45) and Dean Elgar.
F du PLessis- 11
J Malan- 8
D Steyn- 7
K Rabada- 7
Q de Kock-6
W Mulder- 5
B Fortuin- 4
E Bosch- 4
V Philander- 3
K Maharaj- 3
L Ngidi- 3
A Nortje- 2
Z Hamza- 2
D Elgar- 1
C Morris- 1
T Bavuma- 1
R v.d. Dussen- 1
A Markram- 1
K Verreynne- 1
The Captain takes the lead while De Kock plays himself in-ish
South Africa Squad for ODIs vs Sri Lanka Faf du Plessis David Miller Zubayr Hamza Janneman Malan Rassie van der Dussen Temba Bavuma
Quinton de Kock
Bjorn Fortuin Andile Phehlukwayo Dwaine Pretorius Vernon Philander
Eric Wessels Yves Kamanzi Kagiso Rabada Dale Steyn
Two youths come in for the injured Maharaj and discarded Mulder. Wessels is a quick with 26 wickets at 17 in this year's OD-Dom, and Kamanzi is a spinner with 26 wickets at 18.
ODIs vs England Game 1
Our tail had a bit of a collapse.
Game 2
Kamazi makes his debut, replacing Fortuin.
Much better! Kamanzi DNB for some reason. Andile gets MOTM.
Game 3
Kamanzi was awful. But QDK (191 (130)) turned up.
MOTS, then.
1st: Andile Phehlukwayo. Winning runs in game 3... and 9 wickets at 20.
2nd: Quinton de Kock. The winning hand in the series.
3rd: Vernon Philander. Only four wickets but at 23.
F du PLessis- 11
Q de Kock- 9
J Malan- 8
D Steyn- 7
K Rabada- 7
W Mulder- 5
B Fortuin- 4
E Bosch- 4
A Phelukwayo- 4
V Philander- 4
K Maharaj- 3
L Ngidi- 3
A Nortje- 2
Z Hamza- 2
D Elgar- 1
C Morris- 1
T Bavuma- 1
R v.d. Dussen- 1
A Markram- 1
K Verreynne- 1
Faf, QDK or Malan... the T20s will decide.
Post automatically merged:
Squad for T20s vs Pakistan Faf du Plessis Theunis de Bruyn Marques Ackerman Janneman Malan Zubayr Hamza
Quinton de Kock
Allan Boje Eathan Bosch Bjorn Fortuin Chris Morris Wiaan Mulder
T20s vs England Game 1
Bjorn Fortuin and Ngidi got the win over the line after the efforts of du Plessis and Malan. Fortuin gets MOTM>
Game 2
MALAN MALAN MALAN! 56 balls was all it took to seal the series.
Game 3
After a great team effort (barring a first baller for Janneman), Lungi Ngidi took 4/20 to ice a sweep.
MOTS:
1st: Lungi Ngidi. 7 wickets at 11, he's in some stellar form on his recall.
2nd: Janneman Malan. His ton was a particular highlight, he finishes with 162 runs.
3rd: Faf du Plessis. Good leadership and 116 runs at 39.
2020-21 AWARDS This season wasn't a watershed for South Africa but it showed progress in several ways. Not to mention some special moments- Faf's triple? Anyway, we begin with the Lee Irvine Award.
3rd: Edward Moore. The leading scorer, with 430 runs at 40.
2nd: Allan Boje. A breakout year for the 21-year-old Boje saw him make the South Africa T20I team and his domestic stats (210 runs at 30 and 15 wickets at 12) show why.
1st: Migael Pretorius. 20 wickets at 16 isn't quite Corne Dry last year but it was the outstanding individual performance this year.
Next up, the Garth le Roux Trophy for domestic OD:
3rd: Theunis de Bruyn. South Africa commitments kept him from completing the season but 368 runs at 62 is a world class output.
2nd: Eric Wessels. A split decision between him and fellow standout rookie Yves Kamanzi for this spot, Wessels' better average (16 as opposed to 18.5) proved to be the tie breaker.
1st: Lerato Kgoatle. Kgoatle picked a great time to have a great season- there's not a lot of OD depth behind the current South Africa squad, and a batsman averaging 57 at a strike rate of 102 will be very welcome.
Now for the Barry Richards trophy for domestic first class cricket:
3rd: Thomas Kaber. Averaging 37 with the bat and 23 with the ball gave Kaber his Test debut after Maharaj was injured, and while that was a disaster, it doesn't take the shine off a great season for him.
2nd: Aubrey Ferreira: Pieter Malan and Andile Mokgakane had similar seasons but Ferreira just stands out above them. He scored 938 runs at 59.
1st: Lungi Ngidi. 53 wickets at 24 put Ngidi back into the Test frame after he was discarded. A great season for the quick.
Alright, international competitions, and we start with the Vintcent Van der Bijl award for T20I player.
3rd: Eathan Bosch. Bosch continues to impress; he strikes at 153 in the close of the innings and took 19 wickets at 20 this year.
2nd: Janneman Malan. 789 runs at 52 this year for Janneman, he continues to be a great limited overs player and one of the first names on the sheet.
1st: Dale Steyn. 27 wickets at 17 is one heck of a way to go out.
This year South Africa didn't win the ODI World Cup- in fact they played less matches than in that one tournament- but the Clive Rice Trophy carries the same weight.
3rd: Andile. Having taken 20 wickets at 25, Andile was easily the best of the bowlers- in a sign of the conditions that South Africa played in, only Vernon Philander also averaged under 30.
2nd: Rassie van der Dussen. His prospects of winning were hurt when he injured himself for the first two England matches but he averaged 54 and played every other match.
1st: Quinton de Kock. A great year for the keeper saw him record 564 runs at 63. Nobody was even close to him.
One award until the big one now, and it's the Graeme Pollock trophy for Test performance! A big year for batsmen in particular, this.
Honorable Mention: Janneman Malan for 1041 at 64, an extraordinary year prevented his nomination 3rd: Kagiso Rabada. 37 wickets at 22 for the big quick. He proved an effective weapon against tails and bats alike. Also, not dismissed in eight hits
2nd: Quinton de Kock. 1156 runs at 72. Somehow three batsmen all beat 1000 runs this year and de Kock alas missed out.
1st: Faf du Plessis. 1348 runs. 84 average. High score? 312. An Indian summer.
Okay, and finally it's time. The Mike Proctor Trophy!
F du PLessis- 12
Q de Kock- 9
J Malan- 11
D Steyn- 7
K Rabada- 7
L Ngidi- 7
W Mulder- 5
B Fortuin- 5
E Bosch- 4
A Phelukwayo- 4
V Philander- 4
K Maharaj- 3
A Nortje- 2
Z Hamza- 2
D Elgar- 1
C Morris- 1
T Bavuma- 1
R v.d. Dussen- 1
A Markram- 1
K Verreynne- 1
3rd: Quinton de Kock. A great year for the keeper batsman as discussed above; 280 in the second Test and 191 in the third ODI against England his highlights. He earned 9 points.
2nd: Janneman Malan. Third before the T20s against England, his ton in the second game got him to within a point of our winner. Not to say he mugged his way here; he was the only man to score a century in all three formats this year, even our winner missed an ODI ton. He earned 11 points.
1st, and the winner of the Mike Proctor Trophy:
Faf du Plessis!
It was an Indian summer for Faf. A ton in T20 was followed by several Test tons including setting the new South African record at 312. What a captain, what a player. He earned, as anyone who read my second place summary could tell, 12 points.
And that's it! Join us again next year for more top quality cricket.
South Africa vs Australia World Test Championship Final, Johannesburg (1-5 June 2021)
Lineups:
South Africa:
Australia:
Janneman Malan
David Warner
Aiden Markram
Marcus Harris
Faf du Plessis
Usman Khawaja
Quinton de Kock
Steve Smith
Dean Elgar
Travis Head
Dean Albanie
Sean Willis
Kyle Verreynne
Tim Paine
Vernon Philander
Pat Cummins
Kagiso Rabada
Jhye Richardson
Keshav Maharaj
Nathan Lyon
Lungi Ngidi
Josh Hazlewood
South Africa's one change from when these sides squared off in February is to return the then-injured Maharaj to the lineup. Australia still can't pick between Paine and Wade, while Jhye Richardson and Lyon come in for Starc and Pattinson.
Australia's decision to bat first was started, oddly, by three consecutive maidens. Harris scored quickly, but Warner was on 1 (27) when his opening partner missed a straight one from Rabada. Khawaja also got a start but didn't convert, Smith made 35, and while Warner got his ton, he was dismissed by the next ball he faced, leaving Australia 4/193. That became 5/207 when Head was out for 27, before an odd partnership between Willis and Paine took the score to 290. Willis was aggressive, trying for a boundary an over (particularily when Elgar and Markram had to be used due to a second new ball miscalculation), which meant by the time Paine ran himself out for 15, Willis was on 73- off less balls. The tail provided enough support for Willis to get his ton, but not any more.
Markram and Malan were much more positive and long lasting than the Australian opening partnership. They put on 117 before Malan missed an arm ball from Lyon. Markram's accomplisehed 62 was ended by a toecrusher from Richardson, and de Kock failed. Captain Faf showed up then. He put on 70 with Elgar, and after the first Dean ran himself out, 131 with the second Dean to take South Africa into a lead. Verreynne failed but Faf put on another 85 with Philander before finally going for a majestic 177 (356). A very handy 76 from Philander and 59 from Maharaj gave South Africa a 250 run lead going into the second innings.
Australia again began with three maidens, but this time Warner was first to go, edging Rabada's final over in his opening spell to the keeper for 17. Maharaj, after a wicketless first innings, then removed Khawaja with his third ball of this one. Even more importantly, he got Smith in his next over. Australia 3/64. And when the liability that is Marcus Harris chased one down the leg side and got glove on it, 4/73. Willis and Paine then departed in the same Ngidi over, and Richardson was run out several overs later, leaving the score 7/96. Australia suffered no further losses before tea, but Janneman took a screamer at gully to remove Cummins five overs after. To make South Africa bat again, Head had to score 129 with Lyon and Hazlewood. One of those two departed with only two more runs added, and while Head showed brave fight in his 60, he was tenth out edging Philander.
As Faf du Plessis accepted the WTC trophy, he announced his resignation as captain of South Africa, saying "At 36, now is the right time for me to step down and allow a new leader to emerge." Rumors suggest the LO captain and Test captain could be different people. He couldn't have any complaints about his game- he's first off the mark in his defense of the Mike Proctor Trophy, having been adjudged MOTM.
The youngster Allan Boje gets his first callup at ODI level, as does Marco Marais. As for the new captain? David Miller has the job at ODI level, signing until the end of the season.
Game 1
Despite the best efforts of Shields and Dockrell, two men a team does not make. Particularily when Faf is on the other one.
Game 2
Allan Boje makes his debut, with Hamza not cleared fit to play
Again a bit lackadaisical with the bat, again good with the ball. Nortje gets MOTM.
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Janneman Malan
