No baggage going into ODI, Proteas say
SYDNEY: Relations between Australia and South Africa’s cricket sides hit a low point in March but the rivals actually finished that fourtest series on far better terms than in the corresponding contest in 2014.
Australia, desperate to reconnect with the public, starts its home summer with an ODI against South Africa in Perth on Sunday.
The tourists have declared they arrive with no baggage resulting from the spats, suspensions and scandals that tainted the previous series.
Four and ahalf years ago, the South Africans were so appalled by Australia’s conduct in a thrilling series decider at Newlands they refused to share customary postseries beers.
Earlier this year, Australia’s cheating scandal at the same ground prompted a change of captains and a charm offensive in Johannesburg.
Tim Paine, who instituted pretest handshakes and ensured his team were less pugnacious in the fourth test, accepted Faf du Plessis’ invitation to enter the Proteas’ rooms after the hosts clinched a 31 series win.
The armistice came after the balltampering furore but also a handful of ugly episodes that prompted Jeff Crowe to remark he had never ‘‘seen such animosity between two teams’’ in 14 years of being a match referee.
It was not a perfunctory appearance from Australia’s emotionally drained test squad, according to Josh Hazlewood, who will soon play his first game as vicecaptain.
‘‘We were in there for quite a while,’’ Hazlewood told AAP.
‘‘Just talking to everyone, really [for] the next couple of hours after that game finished.
‘‘I think it’s still an important part of cricket. You’re fierce on the field, then you catch up afterwards and enjoy a beer or whatever it is after a tough series.’’
Hazlewood swapped stories and caught up with fellow pacemen Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, describing the South African veterans as ‘‘lovely blokes to talk to about everything’’.
The rightarmer, who on Monday addressed the need for cultural change while speaking alongside Paine, also enjoyed chewing the fat with some of the Proteas’ batsmen.
‘‘That’s often when you do your best learning,’’ he said.
That series will always be remembered for the piece of sandpaper that triggered global outrage.
But it was laced with distrust and disgust from the outset, when David Warner and Quin ton de Kock’s staircase stoush set the tone.
De Kock is one of five members of the current touring party that took part in the test series.
Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Shaun Marsh are the only members of Australia’s ODI squad that featured in the test series.
Hazlewood, who has recovered from a back injury and feels ready for his first international game since that test tour, is keen to test out a batting order weakened by AB de Villiers’ retirement and Hashim Amla’s finger injury.
‘‘There’s obviously a couple of big names missing. There’s a bit of inexperience there and hopefully we can target that,’’ he said.
‘‘They will miss AB and Amla a fair bit I think but there’s some quality youngsters there.
‘‘It’s a good chance to see where we’re at in the oneday format.’’ — AAP Rhys Bayly’s remarkable oneday innings of 180 for Kaikorai last weekend was quite some effort. But it was four runs short of what might be the competition record, suggested Green Island stalwart Jeremy Scott.
‘‘The GI senior stats are 99% accurate — maybe 98%,’’ he wrote, adding former international Hamish Rutherford scored big for the club with an innings of 184 against Otago Country in 201011.
He swatted 14 sixes and 14 fours and there was still the best part of five overs remaining when he was caught off the bowling of Mark Knox.
Former Black Cap and Otago captain Craig Cumming scored 200 not out against Queenstown during a club knockout game in 200203. Different competition but worth noting all the same.
And North East Valley batsman Simon Beare scored 201 not out in a twoday game against CarisbrookDunedin in 200506.
Any other big scores you can think of? Email us the details. Keen to hear about some of the action from the lower grades as well. Our hearts go out to David Warner, who briefly left the field following a comment about ball tampering during a grade game in Sydney on the weekend. The taunt was delivered by Jason Hughes — the brother of Phillip Hughes, who died after he was struck in the neck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match in 2014 — so it carried extra weight. But what was this savage, malicious sledge that sent one of the game’s most obnoxious characters scurrying for the shed?
Well, the reported it understood Hughes told Warner he was a disgrace and should not be playing cricket. One suspects Hughes will not be facing a libel case anytime soon.