Proteas face Zimbabwe before World Test Championship Final
This will serve as key preparation for the Proteas ahead of their all-important World Test Championship Final at the Oval against Australia starting June 11.
South Africa last featured in the longest format in a 2-0 home series win over Pakistan in January 2025, and this warm-up against their neighbours will provide them with a chance to acclimatise to red-ball cricket ahead of the Ultimate Test.
South Africa Squad for the WTC 2025 Final: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, are coming off a historic appearance in a one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge, their first Test on English soil in two decades, a landmark moment in their cricketing journey. Despite England winning the contest by an innings and 45 runs, Zimbabwe had plenty of moments to remember from the game, especially Brian Bennett's fighting ton in the first innings.
Zimbabwe will be without the services of Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, but are otherwise expected to field a strong outfit, with the likes of Sean Williams, Bennett, Victor Nyauchi, Clive Madande, and Craig Ervine in the mix.
The warm-up fixture against South Africa marks another significant step for Zimbabwe, serving as a key rehearsal ahead of their two-Test home series against the same opponents in Bulawayo, slated for June and July.
Zimbabwe Squad: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Alex Falao, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams.
The Chevrons are also slated to host New Zealand for a two-Test series later in the summer. ICC World Test Championship Final, 2025NewsSouth AfricaZimbabwe
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Dubai Eye
Palmer double fires Chelsea past PSG to Club World Cup glory
Cole Palmer produced a scintillating first-half masterclass as Chelsea demolished a flat Paris St Germain 3-0 to win a one-sided Club World Cup final at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The English attacking midfielder scored twice and provided an assist for Joao Pedro in a devastating display in the revamped tournament's decider that left the European and French champions, who finished with 10 men, shell-shocked. US President Donald Trump paid homage to football great Pele after being met with boos and cheers from the crowd. He was on his feet in the same VIP suite, pumping his fist as congratulatory music blared. After a stunning season, PSG were heavy favourites, while Chelsea arrived in the US after winning Europe's third-tier Conference League and on the back of a domestic campaign in which they just managed a top-four Premier League finish. Prior to the match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was expecting a "game of chess" against PSG coach Luis Enrique, but what transpired was a quick checkmate for the Italian who gave a tactical masterclass. Chelsea, who won the 2021 Club World Cup in its previous format, struck first in the 22nd minute when PSG fullback Nuno Mendes gifted possession to Malo Gusto. While his initial effort was blocked by Mendes, Gusto collected the rebound and found Palmer unmarked in the middle and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting a tidy finish just inside the left post. Palmer doubled the lead after the 30th-minute cooling break with a goal of sublime quality. Latching onto a precise through ball from Levi Colwill, he cut inside before faking a pass to dummy a defender and firing into the bottom-left corner. Palmer then turned provider, running up the channel before finding Joao Pedro, who took the ball in his stride and beat the offside trap before chipping his finish beautifully over keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. PSG's misery was completed when Joao Neves was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair in the 83rd minute, as PSG's players grew in frustration as the match progressed. The encounter turned ill-tempered at the end, with players going at each other after the final whistle, but the flare-ups quickly dissipated as Chelsea's players went to celebrate with their fans. "It's a great feeling. Even better because everyone doubted us before the game, we knew that. To put a fight on like we did, it's good," Palmer said. Maresca's team employed a relentless high press and emulated the tactics used by Brazilian outfit Botafogo, who had beaten PSG 1-0 in the group stage and were the only team to score against Luis Enrique's side in the previous eight games. Their press caused PSG all sorts of trouble and when Maresca's side couldn't regain possession, they sat deep, frustrating the European champions, who were unable to play their usual game. The direct and pacey football we had become used to seeing from PSG was Chelsea's game on Sunday, with Palmer, Gusto and Joao Pedro picking apart the PSG defence, especially on the left side. Other than an early golden opportunity for PSG's Desire Doue that was wasted, the first half was all Chelsea's and, after they opened their three-goal lead, the French side could never recover. "Chelsea were more effective than us, they worked well on our slight weakness," PSG captain Marquinhos said. "Tactically, they caused us problems in the first half and we took a while to react. These are things we'll need to change going forward. I think all teams will now study us closely to see what we do well and what we do badly. It's up to us now to always be at the top of our game."
Int'l Cricket Council
a day ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Historic WTC25 Final display seals Player of the Month award
Aiden Markram's pivotal all-round performance in the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord's has earned him the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for June 2025. The 30-year-old made 136 runs and claimed two important wickets to help the Proteas break their 27-year wait for a senior ICC trophy. The South African opener delivered when it mattered most, scripting one of the finest performances in the history of the competition to guide his side to their maiden World Test Championship triumph. "It is a privilege to receive this award. To contribute to a ICC World Test Championship win for our team and South Africa is something that means a lot to me," Markram said upon winning the award. 'Winning the final at Lord's is a historic moment for South African cricket, and it is something we will all remember forever. This victory was only possible due to the combined efforts of the entire team, with crucial contributions from KG (Kagiso Rabada) and Tembs (Temba Bavuma)." Markram's impact began with the ball, when he was called upon to break a growing Australian partnership between Steve Smith and Beau Webster. He responded instantly, removing Smith with just his sixth delivery, setting the tone for what would become a match to remember. His first outing with the bat didn't go as planned with the right-hander being dismissed without scoring by Mitchell Starc. But it was in the second innings that Markram truly came into his own. With South Africa trailing by 74 runs and Australia adding a valuable 59-run 10th wicket stand, the pressure was firmly on. Markram stepped up, taking the final wicket of Hazlewood before turning the tide with the bat. Chasing a daunting target of 282, he anchored the innings with poise and determination. Despite the early loss of Ryan Rickelton, Markram forged vital partnerships with Wiaan Mulder and captain Temba Bavuma. When Bavuma suffered an injury scare and doubted his ability to continue, Markram's reassurance in the dressing room spurred a gritty partnership with his captain that took South Africa to the brink of glory. Markram eventually fell for a masterful 136, in an innings filled with composure, grit, and shot-making of the highest order. His knock didn't just win a final, it etched his name into history in a long-awaited triumph. Men's Player Of The MonthNewsAiden Markram
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Paris police to deploy en masse for Bastille Day, PSG game
Paris will be under tight police surveillance Sunday and Monday for a key football match for local champions PSG, and France's national holiday, with both events potentially creating public disturbances, police said. Some 11,500 officers will be deployed in the French capital and surrounding areas for the FIFA Club World Cup final between English side Chelsea and French champions Paris Saint-Germain, which coincides with festivities on the eve of France's national holiday on Monday, known as Bastille Day, that can degenerate into violence. No crowd gatherings will be allowed on the Champs-Elysees, the prestigious Paris thoroughfare that has often been the scene of violence on such occasions. Although the Club World Cup final is played in the United States, PSG fans will be out in numbers in the streets of Paris. When the club won the Champions League final on May 31, several violent incidents in France led to around 200 arrests and 20 police injuries. On the Champs-Elysees that night, store windows were smashed and shops looted. "For now we are not aware of any risks, but we nevertheless always prepare for public disturbances," Paris police chief Laurent Nunez told the BFMTV broadcaster on Saturday. The police deployment in Paris and suburbs would be "very dense", he said. "We will act with great firmness," Nunez warned, adding he had given the order for any gathering on the Champs-Elysees Sunday evening to be dispersed. No fan zones or pavement TV screens would be allowed between Sunday evening and the small hours of Monday. The avenue will on Monday be the scene of the traditional July 14 military parade, for which police will put in place points for body and bag checks for guests. The event is followed Monday evening by a classical concert near the Eiffel Tower, and traditional Bastille Day fireworks lasting 20 minutes, for which a crowd of 60,000 is expected. Agence France-Presse
