Springboks leave out experienced trio for Australia tests
The experienced trio are on a stand-by list in case of injury as coach Rassie Erasmus named a 37-player group on Wednesday to meet the Wallabies in Johannesburg on August 16 and in Cape Town a week later.
Recent new caps Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward) have all been included.
Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the English Premiership, while number eight Jasper Wiese, the brother of Cobus, is serving a four-week suspension.
Erasmus has already used almost 50 players in three tests this year as he looks to add depth to the squad with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind.
"It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands (in wins over Italy and Georgia this month), but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship," Erasmus said.
"We probably have three players who can cover each position. One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world."
The Springboks have also invited three players from South Africa's victorious side at the recent Under-20 World Cup to train with the team to gain experience.
They are loose-forward Bathobele Hlekani, wing Cheswill Jooste and scrumhalf Haashim Pead, the stand-out performer in the tournament.
South Africa squad:
Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese.
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse.
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England vs India fourth Test, day five: Score and latest updates
Latest updates 27 July 2025 9:56am 9:54AM Kevin Pietersen is wrong to say batting was harder 20 years ago Kevin Pietersen did not often bowl, although he first came to English attention when he represented KwaZulu-Natal as an off-spinner on England's 1999-2000 tour of South Africa, but he has delivered some bouncers at Joe Root. Root in the course of his 150 at Old Trafford rose to second place in the all-time list of Test run-scorers. But this was not enough to impress Pietersen. Far from it. He declared, like a real old-timer, that batting was twice as hard back in his day. 'Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago!' Pietersen posted on X. 'Probably twice as hard back then.' 9:53AM Nation prays for Stokes' hamstring as India dig in Just like Denis Compton's right knee or David Beckham's metatarsal, Ben Stokes's hamstring will have a nation holding its breath this winter. Can he stay fit and play his full part as an all-rounder, firstly to finish off the fourth Test against India, and then carry England home in Australia? If the answer is no, then their hopes fade to black. After dominating with bat and ball for three days - becoming only the fourth England player to score a century and take a five-for in the same match - Stokes spent two session directing the traffic as India rallied. Without his bowling, England's attack was toothless once Shubman Gill and KL Rahul started the fightback and the shine went off the new ball. England ran out of ideas and Stokes, the series' leading wicket-taker, did not bowl a ball despite being in his best form as a bowler for eight years. 9:43AM Good morning Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live, over-by-over coverage of the final day of the Old Trafford Test between England and India. It's the fourth Test in a row that has gone to the final day, and we shouldn't be surprised if it goes to the final hour. Rain is forecast either side of lunch so England could find themselves in a race against time to seal a series victory. India will resume on 174 for 2, a deficit of 137, after a wonderfully defiant partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. They came together at 0 for 2, with India in disarray and Chris Woakes on a hat-trick. But they played will skill, courage and an even temper to bat throughout the last two sessions. They were rewarded for surviving a fiendish new-ball spell from Woakes and Jofra Archer with increasingly benign conditions. Rahul and Gill have been together for 62.2 overs, India's longest partnership in a Test in England since 2002. The second new ball, due in 17 overs, can't come soon enough for England. They sorely missed Ben Stokes' ability to abracadabra a wicket with the old ball; he did not bowl due to an unspecified injury, possibly to a hamstring, and will be assessed this morning. 'We're hoping so [that Stokes is fit to bowl]. He's a bit stiff and sore,' England's assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said 'He's had quite a big workload in the last few weeks... we're hoping that with another night's rest and a bit more physio work overnight that he'll be back and doing a bit.' England will have the option of resting Stokes for the final Test at the Oval - but only if they get the job done today. If not, India will return to London with the chance of a 2-2 series draw. For England, given the position they were in at lunchtime yesterday, that scenario is unthinkable. Ben Stokes hits century but Shubman Gill & KL Rahul put up India resistance 🏴 🇮🇳 #LateCut — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 26, 2025
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8 hours ago
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Where Hugo Keenan's try ranks among the greatest Lions moment of all time
Andy Farrell's class of 2025 made themselves true Lions greats by winning a classic Test match on Saturday to seal a series victory in Australia. Hugo Keenan scored a last-gasp try, with Australia crying foul about Jac Morgan's contact on Carlo Tizzano in build-up, leading to some raucous dressing room celebrations. Where does Keenan's try stand in the pantheon of imperishable Lions moments? Recency bias and more readily available video clips mean the modern tours have greater representation in this list. Here are my greatest 25 British and Irish Lions moments. Click here to vote for your favourite among our top 10. 25. Monye's run to redemption, 2009 Selected for the opener of a brutal series against the Springboks 16 years ago, Ugo Monye was dropped for the second Test after a scruffy performance in a tight defeat. He returned for a dead rubber in Johannesburg and put the Lions on course for a restorative win by intercepting Wynand Olivier and sprinting 70 metres. Defence coach Shaun Edwards followed his wing most of the way. 🗓️ #OTD in 2009 @ugomonye raced clear to secure a 28-9 @lionsofficial 🦁 victory over the @Springboks 🇿🇦 😲 Was this really eleven years ago?! Want to remind yourself of what went on that day? 📺 HIGHLIGHTS 👉 — Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 4, 2020 Monye was not the only player to achieve catharsis, either. Phil Vickery, undone by Tendai Mtawarira a fortnight previously, was far more robust in the scrummaging exchanges and left the field chanting 'Beast' to mimic South Africa 's supporters. 24. Irvine's high five, 1977 While exploits in Test matches have been prioritised here, Andy Irvine's five-try performance against King Country-Wanganui set a record and is worthy of inclusion. The fourth was sparked by a Phil Bennett jig in the back-field that looks similar to the start of Gareth Edwards's score for the Barbarians in 1973. Bennett jinked past two before Irvine arrived on the scene to exchange passes with Steve Fenwick. The pace and balance of the Scotland full-back was condensed in a finish in which he confounded three more defenders. 23. Shaw's Test shirt, 2009 Noble defeats, of which the Lions have endured many, have been kept to a minimum on this list. But Simon Shaw's contribution to a frankly savage encounter at Loftus Versfeld also represented a first Test for the lock, 12 years after he had first toured with the Lions in 1997. He was monumental. Having poured his soul into a mighty individual performance, Shaw was heartbroken. 'I would rather have been taken off at half-time for playing poorly and have won this game than been man of the match,' he told Graham Simmons of Sky Sports in a memorable post-match interview. 22. Gibbs breaks down the door, 1997 As physical statements go, the clattering carry with which Scott Gibbs bounced off Os du Randt, the colossal Springboks prop, was immensely powerful. The Lions were trailing 10-6 at that stage, just after half-time of the second Test, yet would overhaul their hosts from there. Gibbs's offload to Jeremy Davidson complemented his trademark charge. Happy 50th Birthday to the fastest prop in world rugby, Scott Gibbs 😆 As if we needed another excuse to watch Car Crash bouncing off Os du Randt… 😏 #LionsRugby — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) January 23, 2021 21. Gadget Geoff, 2013 He would only end up with three caps for the Wallabies, but Jesse Mogg was in electric form in 2013 and had already beaten the Lions twice, with the Brumbies and then in the second Test, when the series decider rolled around. Off the bench early, he latched onto a Kurtley Beale offload and glided into open space. Geoff Parling's desperate – and somewhat unlikely – tap-tackle forced a turnover, foreshadowing a comprehensive win for Warren Gatland's men. 20. Itoje and The White Stripes, 2017 As those who toured South Africa in the grip of Covid and played in deserted stadiums will attest, Lions tours are made by the hordes of travelling supporters. That connection was illustrated beautifully as Maro Itoje, just 22 and in the midst of an extraordinary breakthrough, left the field after a 24-21 defeat of the All Blacks in Wellington. 🎶 Oooooooo (happy birthday) Maro Itoje!!! 🎶 Ooooooo (happy birthday) Maro Itoje!!! One of the sounds of the summer - Happy Birthday Maro! — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) October 28, 2017 Tries from Taulupe Faletau and Conor Murray had rescued the Lions, and fans were rapturous. 'Oh, Maro Itoje', to the rhythm of Seven Nation Army, echoed around the Cake Tin. Alun Wyn Jones, on the third of his four tours, watched his junior engine-room partner soak up the adulation. 19. Robinson tears up the script, 2001 Despite the code-hopper plundering five tries in a warm-up game against a hapless Queensland President's XV towards the beginning of the tour, there were still doubts hanging over the decision to pick Jason Robinson for the Test series. Happy Birthday to @Jason15Robinson - scorer of *THAT* try in 2001! Have a great day Jason 🎂 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 30, 2017 Those were dispelled – obliterated, really – before three minutes had elapsed. Quick hands from Scott Quinnell, Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Perry found Robinson close to the touchline. Chris Latham, the Wallabies full-back, was unbalanced and bamboozled in the space of a phone box. Robinson slammed the ball into the Brisbane turf and punched the air. A compelling series, eventually won by the hosts, was under way. 18. Davies the one-man wall, 2017 Winning a player-of-the-series gong against the reigning world champions is about as good as it gets and Jonathan Davies should be viewed as a great Lion. His 2013 tour in Australia was about trucking runs. Four years on against the All Blacks, his defensive contributions were more prominent. One thumping tackle on Jordie Barrett at Eden Park, causing the latter to slice a clearance into touch, sticks in the mind. 17. Kangaroo court, 1997 The presence of two fines sessions in this list is not meant to champion irresponsible drinking. Instead, it should indicate the importance of what goes on behind the veil. Clearly, there is a balance to be struck and some aspects of the Lions must remain sacrosanct. That said, Living with the Lions in 1997 was the original and best documentary. Players and coaches weren't going to be able to get away with anything in 1997, not with The Honourable Lord Chief Justice Fester presiding 👨⚖️ Happy Birthday Keith Wood 🎉 #LionsRugby — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) January 27, 2021 From Martin Johnson's stitches against Natal to an episode that depicts journalists waiting for a Scott Gibbs disciplinary, it is a fascinating watch. An old-school kangaroo court, with Ieuan Evans and Keith Wood wearing wigs and Neil Jenkins sporting an eye-patch, is riotous. It also leaves you with the sense that various threads of rugby union run from the grass roots up to the elite level. 16. Hastings ousts the All Blacks, 1993 While the 1993 trip to New Zealand yielded an overall record of six losses from 13 matches, the Test series was taken to the wire thanks to a win in Wellington that is regarded as one of the finest results the Lions have achieved. 🏉Morris➡️Guscott➡️Underwood🙌 #OnThisDay in 1993, Rory Underwood scored a sensational try as the Lions beat New Zealand 20-7 #AllForOne — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 26, 2017 Captain Gavin Hastings played through the pain of a hamstring issue to land four penalties, Rory Underwood bagged an excellent try and burly Ben Clarke was a focal point for the pack. 15. An angle to die for, 2013 You could pick out a few defining images from the 41-16 thrashing of Australia that vindicated the Wales-heavy line-up assembled by Warren Gatland. Alex Corbisiero, a late replacement, rolled over the whitewash to set the tone and both Leigh Halfpenny and Johnny Sexton were exceptional. What a moment in 2013 and one we won't forget anytime soon! Happy Birthday @Jamiehuwroberts We hope you've been practising those running lines... 😉 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) November 8, 2019 Jamie Roberts's running line for the fourth and final try, which carved the Wallabies directly from a line-out, put a powerful full stop on a big win in Sydney. 14. Telfer takes on Everest, 1997 We have been treated to several special team talks and there should be honourable mentions for Andy Farrell's 'hurt arena' as well as Alun Wyn Jones's 'no tomorrow' in 2013. Sir Ian McGeechan's pre-match tears in 2009 remain moving, as well. Jim Telfer was on ferocious form in this department in 1997. His ode to the 'honest player' is magnificent, though the Everest imagery in a forwards meeting prior to the first Test crystallises the essence of the Lions. "This is your Everest" Wishing Lions legend Jim Telfer a very happy birthday with a speech that never gets old... — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) March 17, 2017 'The easy bit is past,' he told a group including Tom Smith and Keith Wood, with orange netting across chairs in the meeting room to signify how low their body positions would need to be. 'Selection for the Test team is the easy bit. You have an awesome responsibility on the eight individual forwards' shoulders. Awesome responsibility. This is your f------ Everest boys. Very few get a chance, in rugby terms, to topple Everest. You have a chance today… to win for the Lions in a Test match is the ultimate.' Telfer went on to reinforce what South Africa thought of the Lions scrum; that is to say, not very much. When he was done, the circle sat in silence for 20 seconds or so, spines tingling, no doubt. It was a formidable piece of oratory. 13. Waltzing O'Driscoll, 2001 Two tries from the same Test match might seem excessive. Brian O'Driscoll's surge up the guts of the Gabba, though, deserves to go up in lights. From the very start of the second half, the Lions moved the ball to their left before coming back into the middle. The 22-year-old O'Driscoll, who had already set up a score for Dafydd James in a sensational all-round performance, took a pass from Jonny Wilkinson and pierced the Wallabies line between Jeremy Paul and Nathan Grey. Oh. My. BOD. What a try from the talismanic @BrianODriscoll 👏 @SkySports are showing all three of the 2001 Tests against Australia back-to-back on Sky Sports Arena tomorrow morning from 7am 🤩 #LionsRugby — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) January 12, 2021 Matthew Burke was promptly beaten by a step off the centre's right foot and O'Driscoll had the pace to stave off a covering Joe Roff as well. Almost a quarter of a century later, the tone of the television commentary from Miles Harrison perfectly encapsulates its wonder: 'Oh, he's gone through… Ooooh, he's going!' 12. Warburton's diplomacy, 2017 Kieran Read might not care for this memory, given he was imploring referee Romain Poite to stick with his initial decision to penalise Ken Owens for offside from the restart that followed Owen Farrell's long-range penalty, which had tied the scores at 15-15 in a tense decider at Eden Park. On his second tour as captain, Sam Warburton somehow encouraged Poite to reconsider. 🗓️ #OTD in 2017... Romaine Poite's "deal"!!! Warren Gatland re-lives the tense final moments of the 3rd @lionsofficial test v @AllBlacks in the company of @JamesGemmell_TV & @skysportsmiles. Was it the right call!? Full Episode 👉 — Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 8, 2020 The secret, as the back-rower would later explain, was maintaining a veneer of calm and keeping quiet. 'I went up to Romain and said: 'You have to check.' I didn't say what for, but I remember saying: 'You have to check the video. You've got to take a look.'' Television match official George Ayoub was enlisted and the Lions escaped with an accidental offside thanks in part to the composure of their captain. 11. North announces himself, 2013 A two-for-one entry here, chiefly to fit in as many moments as possible and spread them around the tours. George North's try in the first Test in 2013 should rank among the greatest ever individual efforts for the famous invitational side. Fielding a clearance from Berrick Barnes, the hulking wing put on some dainty footwork to leave two defenders sprawling. North appeared to stumble thanks to James O'Connor's desperate flail, but accelerated into the open and bounced off his right foot to go around Barnes. This simply never gets of the greatest test tries in Lions history! Happy Birthday @George_North 😃 #LionsSA2021 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) April 13, 2020 The gesture towards Will Genia was apt in a competitive series, which featured another formidable feat from North a week later. Israel Folau was lifted onto the back of the Lions No 11 in a brief yet eye-popping show of strength. 10. Keenan on the buzzer at The G A wet, wild and wonderful second Test between the Lions and Australia, who bounced back from a poor performance in the first Test to show their true blue selves, came to a compelling climax in front of over 90,000 spectators. In a hole at 23-5 down, and then indebted to Tom Curry's miraculous tackle on Joseph Suaalii to keep them in the contest, Andy Farrell's charges rallied to register the biggest Test comeback in their history. Hugo Keenan scurried over for the winning try, but a move that went through 14 phases as supporters from both teams watched through their fingers represented an appropriately thrilling finish that required the Lions to dig extremely deep as a collective. HUGO KEENAN WINS IT FOR THE LIONS! 🦁 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) July 26, 2025 9. Dawson's dummy, 1997 'Call out their names, think about them now: Kruger, Venter, Teichmann – they're all gonna get it.' Martin Johnson's gee-up in the Lions changing room prior to the first Test at Newlands, where he identified the famed Springboks back row, came home to roost in the second half when two of the trio – André Venter and Gary Teichmann – ate up an outrageous, hooked dummy from Matt Dawson. Dawson's cheek... #OnThisDay in 1997, @matt9dawson 's audacious dummy saw him score in the corner More: — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 21, 2017 André Joubert, the South Africa full-back, and opposite man Joost van der Westhuizen also fell for the audacious faint, allowing the Lions scrum-half to bustle over the try-line after foxing four defenders. 8. O'Brien caps a stunner, 2017 The series opener in 2017 amounted to a tactical clinic from the All Blacks, who were good value for a 30-15 victory. They narrowed up their attack to nullify the Lions' rush defence and pulled clear thanks to Rieko Ioane's double. There were flashes of defiance from the tourists, the brightest arriving five minutes before half-time from Aaron Cruden's hooked chip. With the Lions trailing 13-3, Anthony Watson turned to gather and located Liam Williams deep inside the tourists' 22. #OTD in 2017 a moment of greatness was forever etched into #LionsRugby history 🦁 That moment was @SeanOBrien1987 's try 💯🔥 #LionsRugby — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 24, 2021 A gorgeous step evaded Kieran Read and Williams slipped between Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams with the help of Ben Te'o's subtle block. Jonathan Davies linked up with his full-back and Elliot Daly injected impetus. When Davies received a return pass, the Lions were about 15 metres from glory and a spinning offload allowed Sean O'Brien to dive over. 7. Ballymore fisticuffs and a forgotten finish, 1989 Condoning violence is not the way to go, but Lions stories cannot be told without it. There was at least a somewhat comical slant to how a scrap between two scrum-halves – Robert Jones and Nick Farr-Jones – instigated a mass brawl at Ballymore in the second Test. Indeed, the punch-up was so spectacular that Jeremy Guscott's solo try, from a grubber that the youngest player in the squad recovered in the shadow of Australia's posts, is perhaps underappreciated. Finlay Calder was another hero of a pivotal performance inspired by Sir Ian McGeechan's bold selection. 6. Evans' opportunism, 1989 Chris Handy, the Australian commentator, who delivered a scathing line that will have reflected the view of a nation as David Campese threw a surprise pass to Greg Martin that fell into the lap of Ieuan Evans. 'You don't wear a green and gold jersey to pull out that sort of Mickey Mouse rugby,' fumed Handy. Evidently familiar with the unpredictable excellence of Campese, Evans had been ready for any eventuality and pounced to score the try that snuck the Lions to a 2-1 series win. 5. More clutch Guscott, 1997 The Guscott-McGeechan double act would vanquish South Africa eight years later, too, the Bath centre slotting a close-range drop goal to get past the wounded Springboks in Durban. It more than made up for Guscott's ballooned effort in Cape Town the previous weekend, which caused Jim Telfer to growl in the stands. #ThrowbackThursday to this day in 1997 when Jeremy Guscott kicked *that* drop-goal to secure victory over South Africa... 🙌 #TBT #OnThisDay — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 28, 2018 4. JJ seals immortality, 1974 Scoring a brace of tries in two of the four Test matches as part of what is widely considered to be the greatest Lions tour of all time; what a feat for JJ Willliams. His second in the third Test at Boet Erasmus Stadium, from a kick-return that featured JPR Williams and Dick Milliken, showcased the wing's speed and put the result beyond doubt. A word here, too, for JJ Williams' second in the second Test at Loftus Versfeld, fashioned by another breakout from Phil Bennett, who was close to untouchable on that tour. The forwards linked beautifully and Gareth Edwards scampered down the touchline – sound familiar? – before JJ Williams followed up. 3. 'The King' ascends, 1971 This aims to recognise Barry John's majesty on the 1971 tour as a whole. If it must be captured by one moment, let Gareth Edwards to describe a try from 'The King' in a victory over New Zealand Universities. Edwards had spun a pass back into the pocket to find his fly-half, and enjoyed a perfect view thereafter. John was poised for a drop-goal attempt, but slipped to his left, sold a dummy and stepped to the right. 'He decided to run the ball, which most people wouldn't have because, defensively, they were all there waiting to devour him,' Edwards said. 'I can only describe it as mesmerising; waltzing through and scoring a try with the opposition clapping him.' 2. JPR strikes for glory, 1971 Another brilliant intervention that would cause jaws to drop today, JPR Williams's 45-metre drop goal was a fitting way for the 1971 Lions to rubber-stamp their triumph over the All Blacks. Mervyn Davies was a star, but the resolute full-back had the final word. The ball reached him after a string of flung offloads. Williams took aim and sent it sailing over the crossbar. #OnThisDay a full 48-years ago... @WelshRugbyUnion legend JPR Williams kicked a monster drop-goal in the fourth and final match of the 1971 Tour of New Zealand to draw the match and ensure we won the series. We're loving the black and white footage! 👌 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) August 14, 2019 Even if he would have had a while to weigh up the opportunity, his conviction was quite something. As it happened, the decisive kick, which led to a 14-14 draw that won the series 2-1 for the Lions, had been foretold by Williams himself. 'It was the end of a long tour and at that stage a lot of the guys were a little homesick,' he later recalled. 'On the bus going to the game I thought I would try to make them all laugh. I said I would drop a goal. Obviously no one believed me.' 1. The Battle of Boet Erasmus, 1974 This revered and rugged occasion has already been alluded to via the scoring spree of JJ Williams, but the victory as a whole – and how it sealed the major achievement of an unbeaten, 22-game tour – puts it at the pinnacle. The names of those that landed it have been committed to folklore. Ian McGeechan was in the centres, with Ian McLauchlan and Bobby Windsor in the front row alongside Fran Cotton. The Lions back row comprised Roger Uttley, Fergus Slattery and Mervyn Davies. And, of course, captain Willie-John McBride is arguably the most totemic figure in Lions history. His '99' call symbolised a desire for the Lions to stick together and stand up for themselves, which they did magnificently to prevail 26-9 in a primal contest of the utmost intensity. There were four matches left for the 1974 Invincibles, including a 13-13 draw in the final Test, though Port Elizabeth was where legends were forged. Have your say...
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Telegraph
Kevin Pietersen is wrong to say batting was harder 20 years ago
Kevin Pietersen did not often bowl, although he first came to English attention when he represented KwaZulu Natal as an off-spinner on England's 1999-2000 tour of South Africa, but he has delivered some bouncers at Joe Root. Root in the course of his 150 at Old Trafford rose to second place in the all-time list of Test run-scorers. But this was not enough to impress Pietersen. Far from it. He declared, like a real old-timer, that batting was twice as hard back in his day. 'Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago!' Pietersen posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Probably twice as hard back then.' Pietersen names 22 bowlers of his time and dares the cricket follower of today to name 10 bowlers to compare with them. Of his contemporaries, he nominates four Australians: Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne; four Pakistanis in Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed; three Indians in Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Harbhajan Singh; three New Zealanders in Shane Bond, Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori; three South Africans in Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and, bizarrely, Lance Klusener but not Dale Steyn; two Sri Lankans in Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan; and two West Indians in Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. A single England bowler was nominated by Pietersen in Darren Gough. His colleagues in the Ashes-winning attack of 2005 seem not to have impressed him. Most of the variable factors in Test cricket have changed little in this century: balls, pitches, DRS and so forth. The biggest change has been the impact of T20 – the first professional T20 tournament was started in England in 2003, by when Pietersen was starting out for Nottinghamshire. My interpretation, therefore, would be that Pietersen is wrong to say that the standard of pace bowling has gone down. The finest seamers today are a match for their equivalents of '20/25 years ago'. Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then! Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali,… — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 26, 2025 'Please name me ten modern bowlers that can compare to the names above,' Pietersen goes on to say. Well, in that case, Australia's Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon can all compare; South Africa's Kagiso Rabada is up with his forebears, not bowling so fast but moving the ball more; Mark Wood and Jofra Archer have been timed as England's quickest ever; New Zealand's Will O'Rourke is a serious customer, as is Jayden Seales, even if West Indies are nowhere near what they were; while a case for Jasprit Bumrah being rated the best of all time has been made, although he has been down on pace in the Old Trafford Test. Where Pietersen is right, although he does not spell it out, is that the standard of finger-spin bowling in Test cricket has decreased, while that of wrist-spin has plummeted. And this is where T20 must have had its impact: spinners bowl a higher percentage of the overs in a T20 game than they do in a red-ball or Test match, but it is a different sort of spin: fired in, flat, at the batsman's legs, denying him room. It is a distant relation of flight and dip and turn and defeating the batsman past either inside or outside edge. The presence of finger-spinners in international cricket has faded. If the Test match is in Asia, they will have their say all right, but elsewhere? New Zealand and West Indies might not select one at home. Pakistan, to defeat England last autumn, had to dust down a couple of veterans. It is Lyon and South Africa's Keshav Maharaj who keep this show on the road outside Asia. Of wrist-spinners, Pietersen had to face Warne, Kumble and Mushtaq, and he might have added Yasir Shah who took five wickets per Test for Pakistan. Their successors are not visible, in England or anywhere else: India do not select Kuldeep Yadav, and while Afghanistan have Rashid Khan, they have been able to play only 11 Tests. England have been as culpable as any country in allowing spin to decline, whether in the county championship or the national side, and especially wrist-spin. In almost 150 years of Test cricket only one wrist-spinner has taken a hundred Test wickets for England, Doug Wright, and only one other has managed 50 wickets, Adil Rashid.
