Cricket Test made for riveting viewing
FAF Du Plessis called the current Test series between the Proteas and the Australians a soap opera, and what riveting viewing it has been.
The last time a soapie stirred up so much interest was the “Who shot JR?” episode in Dallas.
At 1-1 going into the important third Test at the picturesque Newlands, the cricketing gods scripted an episode that had a seismic fallout.
What appeared to be an innocuous incident caused shock waves globally, even German football coach Jurgen Klopp referred to this incident when he was quizzed about Liverpool’s club captain.
With the tension building, we saw one of the most bizarre scenes on a sports field when Aussie Cameron Bancroft tried to hide a piece of sandpaper by moving it from his pocket to inside the front of his pants. He was using the sandpaper to alter one side of the ball, which would cause reverse swing earlier in the life cycle of the ball.
Not since Zinedine Zidane’s head butt in the 2006 World Cup final or Sergio Aguero’s last gasp league winner in 2012 have I seen something so dramatic on a sports field.
With so many TV cameras on the field watching every move, I find it incredible that a player thinks he can get away with such a brazen act. It is an example of mind-boggling stupidity.
The repercussions have been swift and severe, and the main villains, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, have been suspended for 9 to 12 months, but, more importantly, they have disgraced the Australian nation and themselves personally. Subsequently, coach Darren Lehmann has also resigned although he was not involved in the actual scandal.
On the field, the Proteas are on the verge of beating the Aussies in a home series for the first time since readmission. It has been a great team effort by our boys with the batsmen, bowlers and fielders contributing when most needed. If I had to select one moment that epitomised our performance during the series, it must be Dean Elgar’s incredible flying catch in the fourth Test.
This series was also the last for stalwart Morne Morkel. He was not a flamboyant type of player but his tally of more than 300 wickets in his Test career was a tribute to his stability, reliability and positive attitude to the game.
Keshav Maharaj continues to impress with both bat and ball and he has now established himself as a core member of the team.
■ THE Premier League is reaching its finale after the recent international break. The break has not halted Mo Salah’s hot streak with the Egyptian scoring the winner in a come-from-behind victory against Crystal Palace. It was a lucky win with former Liverpool striker Benteke missing two guilt edge chances and Sadio Mane lucky not to be given his marching orders after his deliberate hand ball.
The match of the weekend saw London rivals Chelsea host Spurs. Playing against the backdrop of not winning a league game at Stamford Bridge since 1990 and without their talisman Harry Kane, Spurs came from behind to win 3-1 with a brace from under fire Dele Alli.
Chelsea will fail to qualify for the Champion’s league and this could spell the end of Conte’s reign at the Bridge.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic stole the headlines as only he could. The biggest showman in football is now plying his trade in Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood.
He made his debut for LA Galaxy in the MSL and came off the bench to score a cracker from nearly 40m out and capped off the game by scoring the winner in injury time (his team fought back from 0-3 to win 4-3). Love him or hate him, he is a showman of note and he should thrive with the Hollywood crowd