KOLKATA: Why would it? No batter in the top 35 Test run-scorers in this cycle and Kagiso Rabada not figuring among the top-10 wicket-takers, South Africa are not exactly the poster boys of cricket. At a time when the highest validation comes in the form of five-Test tours against India, South Africa could only host them for two in 2024.
ICC's points system may come under scrutiny for allowing South Africa to make the cut with just six wins, none of which, by the way, have come against higher ranked teams. And with India winning the New Year's Test at Cape Town, South Africa's home record too has lost a bit of sheen.
Further eroding their position was the decision to send a second-string squad – naming seven rookies in the 14-man side – to New Zealand to ensure participation of their top players in the domestic T20 tournament earlier this year. It led to a backlash led by the redoubtable Steve Waugh, who slammed South Africa for "not caring" enough for Test cricket.
Denne historien er fra January 01, 2025-utgaven av Hindustan Times Haryana.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 01, 2025-utgaven av Hindustan Times Haryana.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Cummins, the pace spearhead driving Australia's serial success
Knack for wickets, unparalleled control and a never-say-die attitude for which Glenn McGrath will be revered as possibly the greatest Australian fast bowler in the last four decades.
Olympic Champs Axelsen, An Top the Field for India Open
Reigning Olympic champions Viktor Axelsen and An Se Young will be among the star attractions at the latest iteration of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open that kicks off in capital's Indira Gandhi Stadium next week.
Agarkar to Brief Selectors Ahead of BCCI Meet on Sunday
The selection committee will be in full attendance for the knockout rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers in Vadodara, which start with the pre-quarter finals on Thursday.
Djokovic: At his happy hunting ground, with an old foe in tow
The Serbian has worked with Becker, Agassi and Ivanisevic. In Murray he has access to the mind of a master tactician
Indian hockey players bonding with the best in relaunched HIL
Skipper Sumit Walmiki and Australian Tim Brand walked to the dugout, shared a laugh and high-fived after Hyderabad Toofans' practice.
Neeraj to star in a world javelin event in India
India's two-time Olympic medallist and reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra will be the star attraction in a marquee international javelin tournament at home later this year, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said on Tuesday.
Shooter Tomar Finds Fresh High After Domestic Double
Varun Tomar's dream of representing India at the Paris Olympics was crushed when he lost in the domestic selection trials to pick the final squad.
Cloud over review of 14-yr-old trade pact with Asean
THE REVIEW HAS STALLED SINCE INDIA'S OFFER OF A UNIFIED DUTY STRUCTURE HAS NOT FOUND FAVOUR AMONG ASEAN MEMBERS
Auto sales rise 9% in 2024 despite headwinds, says Fada
India's automobile registrations accelerated by 9.1% in 2024 despite headwinds in the form of extreme weather, uneven monsoons and state elections, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada) said.
Infosys taps staff to build ideas factory
In a first, Infosys Ltd has asked employees to think out of the box and come up with new ideas that can be scaled up and offered to clients as part of a business incubator programme.
