GLuvsMtb

The way I understand it, is that you need to apply for an NOC for each tournament you wish to play in abroad, be it BBL, IPL, MCL or even County Cricket. CSA has historically scheduled local tournaments and international tours around IPL, as many of our players participate in the IPL. It is probably the biggest reason that we only play on average 9 tests a year, opposed to England's 15 a year as England's schedule continues, regardless of the IPL. The way forward would surely be some sort of "release" paid to the franchise for players to participate in tournaments that clash with local competitions. This way the unions can contract some international players to participate in our local tournaments, but with the transformation charter as it is, there does not seem to be room for overseas pro's in our sides as they per definition are excluded from the transformation numbers (Gayle, for instance would not count as a transformation player in a local tournament, regardless of his skin colour).

http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/965433.html What is everyone's take on this? It seems to me that transformation (or the lack thereof) may be at the root of this. In the last week, the Lions lost 2 transformation players in Bodi and likely Tsolikile, now Alviro wants to miss some game time too. Robin Petersen and Rory Kleinveld (along with Levi) seems to have been released by the Cobras, CSA is refusing to let them go. I wonder how you remain motivated at your current franchise if you could have been earning good money overseas.

In a way it makes things easier when Steyn / Vern is fit again. Its a pity that our next test will only be in August.

And Rabada grabs Compton as well. Faint edge and England wastes a review!

I think it would have been dead if any of the following happened (or did not happen):Did not happen: - wifey blew her gaskit on Twatter - buddy who sponsored him for years didn't toilet his name and his company on Twatter Did happen: - Evans made a clear statement on why he is not contesting the charges - CSA and SAIDS made a clear statement on whether it was only the period after his medical situation that returned suspicious numbers or whether other tests also pointed to systematic doping. Now we have experts querying the vague and open-ended statements made by Evans, SAIDS and CSA, some very knowledgable people commenting here and on other platforms and the rest of us ordering popcorn.

Brilliant by Morkel! Both openers in the hut. Come on boys. 1 more before close.

Bodi gets 20 years... http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/965455.html Now lets see what happens to Tsolikile... Has Bodi released an official statement yet? Can't seem to find one.

Our best chance of a result would be to try and get another 60 or 70 quickly and have at least 10 overs at them tonight. Hopefully Rabada and Morkel can knock a few over, making tomorrow's work a bit easier. Even with a specialist bowler down, I can't see England scoring at 100 runs per session on this track.

How to toilet your name, and that of Rush Sports in one fell swoop. If I was in Brandon's shoes I would have used the opportunity to distance myself (and my company) from a confessed doper and I would have initiated legal action to recover some of the sponsorship I have provided to the doper (I am sure that there would have been a doping clause in the contract of some sort).

Nr 7 for Rabada! This kid's got GAME!

I can't speak for the guy, but if I received a snotty attorneys letter on a commentary that was speculative at best, and then the dwis who's attorney sends the letter gets nailed for exactly that on which I was speculating, I'd call him out on it. Perhaps he got a little over-excited, but Kari did them no favours with her response.

Tsk tsk. Those thai-dye hippies in the Knysna bush... Tsk tsk.

475 is a solid effort on this track. Our opening bowlers can now have a go before tea and be fresh after tea for a second bite at the cherry.

Well played Quinton!

jinxed it!

Hash plays late and deflects onto off stump. AB at his home ground...

So Cook moves past van Zyl's runs for the whole series in one innings...

100 up! Our best start by far in 2 series.

Jacques Kallis would not have been so il disciplined. It reminds me of Gibbs. The difference is that Gibbs had the talent to pull those shots off. Elgar looks better when he is compact and playing the ball along the ground.

1st wicket down. Elgar having a brain fart and forgetting that its test cricket... ai.

thats like asking our Pres to have a zero-tolerance stance on corruption. The pot... the kettle... the colour black (and this is not a racist thread).

In many ways doping is more relevant to the sport than other non-racing news. It like watching Rally racing. We all watch for the crashes, and when it happens, we ask why the sport is so dangerous.

Ok so the side is: S Cook (van Zyl out) Elgar Amla AB JP (Faf out) Bavuma de Kock (Villas out) Abbott (Morris out) Morkel Rabada. Piedt (Viljoen out) I like the look of this side, bar probably the Morris / Abbott change. Morris seems to offer a lot more with the bat. I hop Abbott proves me wrong. I am also pleased to see that Faf does not have a guaranteed place in the side. JP at least offers some bowling options bowling last on this pitch.

why would the press office start a Friday fred on a Wednesday? WHY!?!

One of the tragedies in this case is something like the Cape Epic. Kevin will not be allowed to be involved with anything Cape Epic in the future. He could have made a killing being a team manager, or he could have given some of his or the event sponsors some good race exposure participating non-competitively (I think back on Mannie on his fatbike, what a treat!). Instead he now can only watch from the side lines and the event cannot call on him to do any promotion of the event now that his reputation is tainted with doping.