***INDIA's TOUR OF SA 2021-22***

[Kool_SRG]

India to tour SA for three Tests, three ODIs in rejigged tour; T20Is postponed

Tour to start on December 26 in Centurion as India's arrival in South Africa delayed by a week

India's tour of South Africa has been given the go-ahead by the two boards, but only for the three Tests and three ODIs as part of a rejigged tour. The four T20Is that were also part of the original schedule will be played later. A CSA release on Saturday morning local time further said the dates and venues for the tour were set to change as the Indian team's arrival in South Africa, originally scheduled for December 8 or 9, had been delayed by a week.*

 

ESPNcricinfo has learned that the first Test will now begin on December 26 in Centurion, the second from January 3 in Johannesburg and the third from January 11 or 12 in Cape Town, which will also host all three ODIs.

 

As per the original schedule, the Tests were to start on December 17, 26 and January 3 in Johannesburg, Centurion and Cape Town respectively, followed by the three ODIs on January 11, 14 and 16.

 

There has been a lot of doubt around the tour to South Africa because of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, in the country that has led to a surge in cases and hospitalisations, especially in the Gauteng province where India are scheduled to play the first two Tests.

 

"With the Proteas men's team having already participated in no less than eight international cricket BSEs, CSA is pleased to announce that this tour will also take place under the strictest Covid-19 guidelines, as contained in the BSE protocols," the CSA release said.

 

"CSA is also pleased to confirm that the allocation of match venues will still be in respect of the Bubble Safe Environment (BSEs) and therefore the decision on the allocations will take into account the need for safer playing environments. CSA has instituted these world-class standards and measures to ensure that all players, staff and officials are protected within this environment. CSA's main focus is to safeguard the cricket biosphere by managing strict entry standards and limited movement outside of its cordon. CSA will confirm the venues in the next 48 hours."

 

The Netherlands team had recently cut short their tour of three ODIs after playing the first game in Centurion, before they flew back home as many countries, especially from the European Union, imposed travel restrictions on southern Africa.

 

CSA had also postponed three games of round four of Division 2 four-day matches after some players tested positive. The one-day matches due to take place on December 16 were also pushed back to 2022.

 

The India A team has, however, stayed back for their three four-day games in Bloemfontein. The second of those concluded on Friday and the third is set to begin on Monday.

 

India captain Virat Kohli had said on the eve of the ongoing Test against New Zealand in Mumbai that it was natural for such a tour to involve a lot of planning and preparation.

 

"Look, it is pretty natural [for them to wonder and worry and talk about whether the tour will go ahead and what the protocols will be]," Kohli had said on Thursday. "We are not playing in normal times anyway. So there is a lot of planning that is involved, a lot of preparation that is involved in terms of understanding exactly what is going to go on. There are players who are not part of the group right now who will be entering quarantine to join the team bubble to fly in a charter."

 

When exactly the BCCI and CSA agree to play the four T20Is remains to be seen as another T20 World Cup is approaching in 2022, and both teams already have packed schedules for the coming year.

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

Rohit Sharma Set To Replace Ajinkya Rahane As Test Vice-Captain

India's T20I skipper Rohit Sharma is set to become the vice-captain of the Test team, sources told NDTV.

India's T20I skipper Rohit Sharma is set to become the vice-captain of the Test team, sources told NDTV. Rohit is set to replace Ajinkya Rahane as Virat Kohli's deputy from the upcoming tour of South Africa. India's tour of South Africa will go ahead despite growing concerns regarding the new variant of the coronavirus, BCCI secretary Jay Shah told ANI. Jay Shah also confirmed to ANI that while India will play three Tests and as many ODIs in South Africa, the four scheduled T20Is will be held at a later date.

Rahane, who missed the ongoing second Test against New Zealand in Mumbai due to an injury, is set to lose his vice-captaincy from the South Africa tour with Rohit Sharma primed to replace him, sources said.

"BCCI has confirmed CSA that the Indian team will travel for three Tests and three ODIs. The remaining four T20Is will be played at a later date," Shah told ANI.

 

Rahane has been woefully short of form in recent matches, and averages just 19 in 11 Tests this year. He has been under pressure to get back among the runs with new faces like Shreyas Iyer already making their presence felt in the longest format of the game.

Rahane's lackluster performance with the bat continued in the Kanpur Test as well. Leading the side in the absence of Kohli, the right-hander could only score a total of 39 runs in the two innings.

However, his outing as the captain of the side was lauded as India almost clinched the match in the last hour of Day 5 in Kanpur.

 

Meanwhile, India will tour South Africa for three Tests and three ODIs.

 

[Kool_SRG]

The updated schedule is as follows:

 

26-30 December 21 | 1st Betway WTC Test vs India | SuperSport Park, Centurion
03-07 January 22 | 2nd Betway WTC Test vs India | Imperial Wanderers, Johannesburg
11-15 January 22 | 3rd Betway WTC Test vs India | Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town

 

19 January 22 | 1st Betway ODI vs India | Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl

21 January 22 | 2nd Betway ODI vs India | Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl
23 January 22 | 3rd Betway ODI vs India | Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

[Raven_Rayes]

South Africa is the only place India has not yet won anukunta

awesome setting. final frontier

[Raven_Rayes]

I think South African cricket board will be forever in debt to BCCI because of this one tour.

India could've done the dickmove by pulling out of the tour like Aus/Eng did. surprising solidarity shown by BCCI.

hope it turns out to be the greatest test series of this century.

[Raven_Rayes]

I hope DeKock is allowed to come down the order, and Erwee made to open with Elgar.

[Raven_Rayes]

Rabada, Hendricks, Ngidi, Nortje.

doesn't seem like a fearsome attack

[Kool_SRG]

1 hour ago, Raven_Rayes said:

I hope DeKock is allowed to come down the order, and Erwee made to open with Elgar.

DeKock doesn't open in Tests he plays in Middle order..

[Raven_Rayes]

1 hour ago, Kool_SRG said:

DeKock doesn't open in Tests he plays in Middle order..

Oh

[BattalaSathi]

2 hours ago, Raven_Rayes said:

I think South African cricket board will be forever in debt to BCCI because of this one tour.

India could've done the dickmove by pulling out of the tour like Aus/Eng did. surprising solidarity shown by BCCI.

hope it turns out to be the greatest test series of this century.

antha ledu le...cases are increasing in SA. manollu last minute lo "memu jumpu" anna ascharya padakkarla.  Let's not thigh slap yet.

[r2d2]

ippudu veellani pampa kunda.. already akkadey vunna India Blues team tho tour continue chesestey sari...  Telugu Tejam #HanumaVihari captain..