World Test Championship

[Andy]

I think at this time we should spare a thought for the brave Australian team who just got soundly beaten by South Africa.

[Andy]

Nah of course I did not mean it. 

Well done the rainbow nation for beating the not New Zealand nation.

[nat]

Nah of course I did not mean it. 

Well done the rainbow nation for beating the not New Zealand nation.

Rarely have I seen the Lords crowd so united in their support of SA.

[bwildered]

 Heard them say Bosche had just gone off, presume this was last years OS player. Would be a decent signing until end of season has he was a tad quicker than our battery of bowlers .

[Crisp]

Its not Ethan, its his brother, Ethan was selected as a non travelling reserve.

[Cartero]

The WTC format is flawed but just viewed in isolation, I thought it was an excellent match for the neutral but let's face it, even for a neutral it was the result most hoped for! A proper Test opener's innings by Markram and a brave battle against pain by Bavuma.
The depressing aftermath however is that SA don't have a single home Test in their forthcoming 25/26 summer.

[dazedpenguin]

It was a hard fought, enjoyable match and a great advert for test cricket. Made even better by the Aussies losing, of course. A great innings by Markram and such determination shown by Bavuma for battling through his injury.

On TMS they explained the situation with South Africa's lack of home tests in 2025/26. They will be playing tests away in Pakistan in November and December 2025, and that's when tours of South Africa often take place. They have another 2 tests in Zimbabwe earlier this year, so a total of 6 for the rest of this year.

Because of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the SA 20 will start on Boxing Day 2025 and SA needs that to pay the bills, so no tests and only a T20I tour before the World Cup starts. The lack of tests also allows the grounds to be re-developed in time for the 2027 50 over World Cup hosted in SA, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

So not quite as bad as I initially thought when I heard about there being no home tests for SA in 2025/26. They are still playing a reasonable amount of test cricket and Australia have a test tour in SA starting in September 2026.

[bwildered]

 Yes, made a welcome change having the bowlers on top and the bats having to eek  out there runs together with the wicket conditions changing.
Interesting debate on which dressing room board batting and bowling feats would be recorded .