South Africa's transformation policy
An awkward step in the right direction
The abolition of the presidential 'veto' of national team selection is an enormous step in the right direction for South African cricket as it strives towards 'normalisation' yet, as important as it is, it comes shackled to a couple of backward steps, as so often happens
Neil Manthorp
No devils in these pitches
Batsmen and bowlers lose form and, occasionally teams underperform as an unit, with individuals being dragged down to the level of their out-of-touch team-mates. But rarely do whole countries lose form, a phenomenon which appears to have affected South Africa's batsmen. When the top 20 averages were published after last week's sixth round of the SuperSport Series, the last six places were occupied by men averaging in the 30s. At the other end of the table, only three averaged more than 50
Neil Manthorp
Straightforward not simple
Describing people as uncomplicated or straightforward is, more often than not, interpreted as a euphemism for "simple", or even, heaven forbid, "simple". In Gary Kirsten's case, that could not be further from the truth
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Quotas die slow
The system of targets in South Africa won't end anytime soon, but at least a start has been made towards phasing them out... more
Turning the label around
For once, South Africa are on the right side of a choke... more
Kallis and Harris made all the difference
Jacques Kallis and Paul Harris made all the difference in South Africa's Test triumph in Pakistan... more
Walking on eggshells
The steady flow overseas of South African cricketers is not restricted to white players, which makes the problem even worse than first thought... more
Back in the high life
A year after being the subject of obit writers, Shaun Pollock slipped back into his best form to be named Man of the Series against India... more
Grudge match puts Smith under the spotlight
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 7th match, Champions Trophy
The problems facing South Africa as they prepare for two must-win matches in the Champions Trophy... more
Calling the spin doctors
South Africa's desperate need for a top-class spinner... more
Thanks for shattering the dreams
An open letter to Ken Gordon, President of the West Indies Cricket Board, over the recent cancellation of the Stanford Super Stars match against South Africa... more
Prince of darkness
Ashwell Prince's appointment as South Africa's first black captain is either the most important and significant moment in the game's history in this country or utterly irrelevant... more
Cricket's wafer-thin mint
The greed of cricket's administrators in relation to the Afro-Asia Cup ... more
Shooting from the hip
Graeme Smith's part in the "War of Words" ahead of the series against Australia... more
Cold war
The South Africa-New Zealand series may seem like just another humdrum barrage of ODIs but there could be a particularly pronounced whiff of cordite in the air... more
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