Latest news with #ZimbabweTour
CNA
08-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Williamson, Bracewell skip New Zealand's tour to Zimbabwe
Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell will skip the upcoming two-test tour of Zimbabwe with the blessing of New Zealand Cricket, while paceman Ben Sears has been ruled out by a side injury. Rob Walter, who replaced Gary Stead as coach last month, named his first test squad on Tuesday, awarding a call-up to uncapped young fast bowler Matt Fisher and recalling experienced hands Ajaz Patel and Henry Nicholls. "Kane and Michael were up front with New Zealand Cricket about their availability for this tour during the contracting process," Walter said in a news release. "While all test matches are hugely special and important, the fact these tests aren't part of the World Test Championship did influence the discussions on this occasion. "We will obviously miss their talent and class, but it allows an opportunity to others and we're lucky to be able to call on the likes of Ajaz and Henry who are both proven performers at test level." All-rounder Bracewell has been allowed to miss the tour to play in The Hundred in England, while paceman Kyle Jamieson has elected to stay in New Zealand for the birth of his first child. Jamieson's absence offers potential opportunities for Fisher and Jacob Duffy, who has played short-format matches for New Zealand but is yet to win a test cap, in the two matches in Bulawayo in late July and early August. Team: Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Yusuf prepares for 'most important game' of his career after maiden call-up to Proteas
Lions fast bowler Codi Yusuf has earned his maiden call-up to the Proteas Test squad after an impressive few months this year. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Now that the ICC World Test Championship celebrations are over, the Proteas Test team switch focus to this week's first of two Test matches against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The series falls outside the new World Test Championship cycle. However, it still carries significant weight as South Africa's fringe players will get a taste of Test cricket, further widening the talent pool for head coach Shukri Conrad to choose from for the 14 Tests that lie ahead in the new cycle. Five key Test players will be rested for the series, including Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen. In addition, captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the WTC final at Lord's earlier this month. Proteas Men set sights on Zimbabwe Tour 🏏🇿🇦 Our Proteas Men are ready to extend their red-ball dominance as they head to Bulawayo for an exciting Test series against Zimbabwe 💪. Stay tuned for all updates, and don't miss a moment of the action! 🔥#WozaNawe — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 23, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ With most of the experienced heads sitting out the Zimbabwe tour, the likes of Codi Yusuf have earned their maiden Test call-ups, alongside Lesego Senokwane and Lhuan-dré Pretorius. Yusuf, who enjoyed an impressive domestic season for the Lions and a stint with Durham in the County Championship, is well aware of the magnitude of the opportunity. 'I would say this is probably the most important game in my career so far,' Yusuf told Independent Media. 'I haven't had a taste of international cricket yet, but it would be unbelievable to go and make a mark there and show people that I can perform at the highest level. "I personally believe in myself and feel like I can do that, and I know a lot of other people do as well. I know Shuks does as well, and that's why he would have chosen me to be part of his squad. 'I don't want to put too much pressure on the game and on the moment, but it would definitely be up there as probably the most important game in my career so far.' Yusuf has enjoyed a career-defining few months — going from being omitted from the South Africa 'A' squad for the Caribbean tour and instead named in the South Africa Emerging team for the Bangladesh tour, to playing county cricket in the UK, and now earning a spot in the Test squad. The 27-year-old was in the UK when he received a message from Proteas team manager Volvo Masubelele, followed by a phone call from Conrad himself to inform him of his maiden Test selection. Like any youngster receiving a long-awaited call-up, Yusuf shared the news with his family. 'It's very weird how things can change and how quickly things can happen,' said Yusuf. "I was supposed to be in that Emerging squad. I had applied for my visas, and just before everything got finalised, Durham came along for me to come play some county cricket. That on its own was a very proud moment for me, my family and also a very proud moment for my wife 'Shuks gave me a call after I had played about four County games and asked me how the UK was going? He asked if I was still there. I was like, 'yeah, it's good. I'm enjoying my time'. 'Actually, Volvo first sent me a message, and I was like, okay, maybe there's some sort of sniff coming my way. I think it was about two minutes later when Shuks gave me a call. 'Shuks told me that I'd been chosen to be part of the squad travelling to Zimbabwe. He just wished me congratulations and told me that I'm deserving of the opportunity and that he looks forward to having me involved in the squad. 'I was at my house when that happened, and as soon as I got off that call, I called my wife and we spoke about it — she was over the moon — and then shortly after that, I called my parents. "They were also over the moon. My family members were there as well, and there was just a lot of cheering and celebration on the phone. 'It's been a dream for me to play for my country, so when I got that call, I was like, oh wow, okay, this is really happening. I'm very excited to get into that environment and see what it's about, and experience what it's like playing at an international level,' he concluded. Proteas Test squad for Tour of Zimbabwe Keshav Maharaj (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf.
CNA
06-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
New prospects get test opportunity as South Africa name squad to tour Zimbabwe
CAPE TOWN : South Africa handed an opportunity for test debuts to five uncapped players who were named on Friday for the two-test series in Zimbabwe later this month. Several senior players are to be rested for the two tests in Bulawayo with coach Shukri Conrad picking a 16-player squad to be led by captain Temba Bavuma. There is a first call-up for the batting duo Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Lesego Senokwane and fast bowler Codi Yusuf while hard-hitting Dewald Brevis and off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen return to the squad in search of a first cap. The 19-year-old Pretorius had a breakout domestic season in both first-class and Twenty20. He struck three centuries in five first-class games at an average of 72.66, while Senokwane, 28, was a significant run scorer in the Cricket South Africa 4-day competition. The 27-year-old Yusuf finished the domestic season with a bowling average of 22.39. The squad also sees the recall of batsman Zubayr Hamza, who last played a test against New Zealand in early 2024. Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs will be rested for the Zimbabwe trip while the fast bowling trio of Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams were not considered for selection because of fitness issues. "We've opted to rest some players to manage their workload ahead of a busy season," said Conrad at a virtual press conference, but for the others "this tour provides the ideal platform to expose them to the demands of Test cricket and see how they respond". South Africa, who meet Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's starting on Wednesday, take on Zimbabwe in their first test at the Queens Club from 28 June-2 July with the second at the same venue from July 6-10. Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf.
