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2025 WTC FINAL: Aust v SA @ Lords SOUTH AFRICA TEST CHAMPIONS

TheParraboy

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Staff member
Messages
70,416
Not far away, on next month. Cant wait for this as well as the West Indies tour

Can we go back to back World test champions?


Hazlewood looks a lock

Rabada cleared to play after his doping suspension no one knew about

Tim Paine said it best, at the end of the article



Initial WTC final squads, which will be 15 players, need to be submitted to the ICC by May 11 but can be amended until the end of the month. After that, the technical committee's approval will be required for any injury replacements. Australia are expected to have a couple of travelling reserves with them in England, from where they head straight to the West Indies for a three-Test series.



Kagiso Rabada cleared to play again after serving doping suspension​

He will be available for South Africa for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia next month

South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has served a one-month ban, commuted from three months, for drug use during the SA20 earlier this year.

A statement issued by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sports (SAIDS) confirmed Rabada had failed a doping test on January 21, after the match between MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants, and he was notified of the result on April 1 when he was in India for IPL 2025. On April 3, his IPL franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) said Rabada had returned to South Africa for personal reasons after playing only two matches this season.

Rabada's sanction is in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) punishment for use of a recreational drug - including cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine or diamorphine. A similar punishment was handed to New Zealand's Doug Bracewell last year after he tested positive for cocaine during the Super Smash.

However, there are instances of longer suspensions, which are up to individual boards. Last year, Zimbabwe's Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta were banned from playing for four months each and fined 50% of their salaries for three months after testing positive for a recreational drug. In that instance, Zimbabwe Cricket chose to impose a sanction longer than the WADA recommendations.


"It stinks. I don't like this use around 'personal issues', and it being used to hide stuff that isn't a personal issue," Paine told SEN Radio on Monday. "If you have a professional sportsman that's tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn't fall under personal issues for me. That falls under you have broken your contract.

"That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life. Taking drugs - recreational or performance enhancing - is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa, and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he's already served his ban."

ESPNcricinfo contacted CSA and SACA officials multiple times after Rabada returned home from the IPL and were told he was dealing with a "personal issue", while some officials claimed not to know anything about why he had come home
 

King-Gutho94

Coach
Messages
17,613
Going to be a cracker I reckon, and nothing better than watching the South African choke
Yep seeing the Saffas shit the bed in every cricket tournament is a joy to watch.

Imagine if they won in 1999

Australia might not have got that unstoppable aura in big games. It's basically grown from there.

While the Saffas just find different ways to lose.

What a sliding doors that semi final that was.

"Thankfully Donald didn't Run"
 

Chins

Juniors
Messages
1,557
Green in for Labs please and the quicks pick themselves don't try and squeeze Boland in.
 

Fangs

Coach
Messages
16,549
On these wickets SA will be a challenge. Concerned about our batting against their seam attack.

Can't wait though.
 

TheParraboy

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
70,416
Green in for Labs please and the quicks pick themselves don't try and squeeze Boland in.

Playing county cricket for Gloucester
3 matches in (hasnt bowled)
His first dig was 112
followed by 3, 4, 2 and 8

Marnus about to play two matches for Glamorgan
 

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
155,025
Harris's form in country cricket has been outstanding, geez the bowlers must be crap
 

Fangs

Coach
Messages
16,549
Called for it ages ago. Labs to open, Smith back to 3 and room for another down the order (Green).

Why now though? Give special K a go in England against the Saffas. Gives him a small taste before our next Ashes tour. Youth needs a run in an ageing squad.

Appears our selectors are turned on by having two all-rounders bowling seamers.
 

Chins

Juniors
Messages
1,557
Yeah Labs opening should have been tried before now but I'd just drop him at this point. He's probably as likely to last as long as Konstas each innings but score no runs.
 

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
155,025
Well its just speculation at the moment but I dont see Manus opening as being an improvement.

Big Sam has a ton of natural talent which is yet to be nurtured and refined, Manus is Manus so anything can happen.

I guess if we do this, then Green and Webster bat in the middle order.
 
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Chins

Juniors
Messages
1,557
Green doesn't need to even bowl to make the side imo. Best young bat in Australia
 

Mr. Shaman

First Grade
Messages
9,626
Green doesn't need to even bowl to make the side imo. Best young bat in Australia
All he needs to do to be the best all rounder the world has ever seen is develop a beer guy, lose some follicles, and become a systemic racist.
 

Bazal

Post Whore
Messages
106,052
I can see it now...young Sammy Konstas strides to the crease on a greentop with that cocky smirk, takes his guard against crazy Coetzee or Rabada Mk 2 Maphaka, faces up, drops to one knee to ramp him, cops a hooping inswinger square to the dick that deflects onto off stump and is stretchered off for a globe.
 

JJ

Immortal
Messages
33,169
I can see it now...young Sammy Konstas strides to the crease on a greentop with that cocky smirk, takes his guard against crazy Coetzee or Rabada Mk 2 Maphaka, faces up, drops to one knee to ramp him, cops a hooping inswinger square to the dick that deflects onto off stump and is stretchered off for a globe.
briefer but more elegant than want Labs will do, with much the same result...

I see Marcus Harris is on fire!!
 

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