Smith: India tour is vital for South Africa

GRAEME Smith has stressed the importance of India’s end of year tour to South Africa in order for Cricket South Africa (CSA) to maintain its development projects.

The international cricket calendar has been thrown inyo turmoil over this past 18 months due to Covid-19 with CSA already experiencing England pulling out of an ODI series last November, while Australia did not arrive at all in South Africa back in

March.

The suspension of these tours came at a great financial cost to CSA, although they have since hosted both the Pakistan Men’s and Women’s teams, along with the Sri Lankan Men’s team in bio-secure environments successfully.

But with England withdrawing from a short tour to Pakistan recently citing “bubble fatigue”, concerns have been raised once again about international teams’ willingness to travel during these Covid times.

“It’s a very sensitive issue at the moment. It’s also a very complex one. The fatigue of these bubbles is certainly becoming an issue. But if we don’t help each other there are only going to be a few nations left in the game. Everyone is reliant on bringing in the finances to invest in programs like where we are sitting at today,” Smith said at the annual KFC Mini Cricket seminar.

“Cricket has to be played at the top level to get the income and investment coming into the game. If that doesn’t happen then we can’t do what we have been doing with this Mini Cricket Programme.

“Having India here at the end of the year is a huge tour for us. It’s not only from cricket perspective where their results over a period of time has been exciting away from home, which is unique for an Indian team. They have never won here and that adds a lot to the flavour of the Test summer. It’s a huge tour for CSA which is trying to rebuild itself from a challenging time.”

Smith is also hoping that spectators will be back inside South African stadiums when India arrive in December for a full tour consisting of three Test matches, three ODIs and four T20Is.

“The chairman and the board have been in a number of meetings around it (spectators returning). We are certainly pushing hard to get crowds back for that series,” Smith said.

“I watched some videos in the first part of the seminar and looking back at the full stadiums, the energy and the vibe, and we certainly want to get that back there by the end of the year. We have done our bit in terms of pushing vaccinations and hopefully we can crowds back by the end of the year.

“Let’s hold thumbs!”

STUART HESS

CLYDE Fortuin has watched as teammates he shared a change-room with and won a World Cup alongside have gone on to bigger and better things as professionals.

Aiden Markram has captained South Africa, Kagiso Rabada is a global star and Andile Phehlukwayo is an established member of the Proteas’ limited overs team. That trio emerged from the victorious SA Under-19 side at the 2014 junior World Cup, to establish themselves on the biggest stage.

Fortuin, who made 74 against Australia in the semi-final of that tournament, has hopped from one province to another, trying to find himself as a person and cricketer. Yesterday, he finally produced an innings as a senior professional that may be the one that sees him turn the corner.

Fortuin’s 104 not out for the Boland Rocks in the opening fixture of Pool D of Cricket SA’s T20 Provincial Knock Out competition was a thrilling effort.

Fortuin faced just 63 balls in making his maiden T20 century as the Boland side won a topsy turvy encounter by 17 runs against the Warriors of Gqeberha. Fortuin’s knock ultimately proved the difference and deservedly so.

Fortuin shared a partnership of 118 runs for the fourth wicket with Jonker (45) that helped their side reach 183/5.

Warriors opener Matthew Breetzke gave another lovely display of his talent making 51 off 37 balls.

Ultimately, outstanding “death” bowling from Ziyaad Abrahams and Ferisco Adams proved too good for the Warriors’ middle order.

In yesterday’s second match, Marco Marais smashed 65 as the Eastern Cape Iinyathi overwhelmed the Limpopo Impalas by eight wickets. Chasing 139, the Iinyathi reached the target in the 15th over, comfortably earning themselves a bonus point in the process.