Ken Borland

South Africa limited-overs captain AB de Villiers on Wednesday expressed his support for a new-look T20 side to be chosen for the series against New Zealand later this month.

The Proteas squad for the three T20 internationals between December 21 and 26 will be announced in Cape Town on Thursday and De Villiers expects fresh faces after South Africa’s disappointing ICC World T20 exit before the semi-final stage.

“You’ve got to keep the T20 team fresh and exciting and it’s a great vehicle to get youngsters through into international cricket. We want to try fresh faces and there will definitely be a few new names because there are youngsters who have really performed at domestic level and we need to give them a chance,” De Villiers said at the Wanderers on Wednesday, where he attended the announcement of KFC as the title sponsors for both the New Zealand and Pakistan T20 series.

“These new players will bring different talents and skills, which is exciting.”

The general trend in international cricket has been for countries to use T20 specialists rather than relying on their Test players and De Villiers said it was clear South Africa would have to go further down that route.

“The Test players have played a big part in the T20 side, but that might change in future and you’ll probably see a team with a whole different look,” De Villiers said.

De Villiers, fresh off his thrilling hundred in the series-clinching Perth Test victory over Australia, returned to limited-overs action over the weekend with a century for the Titans, albeit in a losing cause against the Cape Cobras in their Momentum One-Day Cup eliminator.

“That was one of my better hundreds because it was against a really good attack. You can tell the standard of domestic cricket is very good from that match and I like to play domestic cricket when it’s like international cricket,” De Villiers said.

New Zealand have suffered two major blows with the loss of injured spinner Dan Vettori and the unavailability of former captain Ross Taylor, and De Villiers conceded South Africa should beat the Black Caps if they play to their full potential.

“New Zealand are always a dangerous side, they beat us in the World Cup and they’re really tough to beat when they get things right. But we know we’re the favourites and if we play good cricket, then we should win. We have a mental advantage over them because we beat them over there at the beginning of the year.

“They have had a lot of changes to their Test side, which is still trying to find its feet, but they’re definitely more dangerous in T20. They’re a very busy team, very good in the field,” De Villiers said.

But even if fresh faces such as Aaron Phangiso, Hardus Viljoen, Chris Morris, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Andrew Birch are included, South Africa’s T20 strategies are not going to undergo any dramatic change.

“We may have new players, but we’ll use the same strategy and follow the same game-plan,” De Villiers said.

Which means De Villiers will definitely retain the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

“Yes I’m glad I’m a wicketkeeper now, after 50 overs in the field against the Cobras I’m a bit stiff!” he joked.

Probable squad – Faf du Plessis, Richard Levi, AB de Villiers, Farhaan Behardien, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Justin Ontong, Robin Peterson, Roelof van der Merwe, Chris Morris, Hardus Viljoen, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel, Andrew Birch, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Opponents of the current Gauteng Cricket Board executive committee were left aghast at the AGM on Monday night when nobody from their ranks spoke up against the interim body continuing to run the game in the province.

No election of office-bearers was held as, after hearing the reports of the CEO, Cassim Docrat, and the chief financial officer, Arno Fourie, the club representatives at the AGM failed to bring up any matters for general discussion.

Those clubs looking to overturn the running of cricket by the interim, three-chambered board set up by the Langa Commission had been expected to call for an election at that time.

“We were shocked. We had all these meetings before the AGM to strategize, but when the time came, nobody said anything and nothing happened,” one club representative told Business Day.

The current board, made up of representatives from the black, Indian/coloured and white chambers, will now continue to run Gauteng cricket at least until the end of January. The three chambers will now consult their affiliated clubs and, if they want to change their nominees to the board, that can be done at the next board meeting at the end of next month.

Fourie presented a gloomy financial report that detailed a R7.392 million deficit for Gauteng cricket over the last financial year, while Lions cricket, the professional franchise, made a loss of R1.94 million.

But Fourie said they expected a profit in the next financial year due to Bidvest paying R5.8 million for the naming rights to the Wanderers, more international matches in 2012/13, a once-off Cricket South Africa grant of R3 million and the Highveld Lions’ lucrative participation in the Champions League T20 competition.

Despite a spectacular loss to England in their last match of 2012, it was clear throughout the year that world champions New Zealand remain the benchmark in world rugby.

Their unbeaten run – extending to 20 Tests from the start of last year’s World Cup – came to a shuddering halt in London as England beat them 38-21, giving some hope to the chasing pack that are busy growing sides for the 2015 showpiece tournament.

It was a fabulous end to the year for the Red Roses after promising much but delivering little in losing three times to the Springboks and once each to Australia and Wales.

South Africa were also busy building a team, having lost the likes of John Smit, Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Bakkies Botha, Jaque Fourie and Danie Rossouw. Their new coach, Heyneke Meyer, seemed to have developed a sturdy, hardy outfit as they ended the year with an unbeaten northern hemisphere tour, but there were few flashes of brilliance from the Springboks and the rugby they played was generally dull.

Australia endured a troubled year, beset by injuries and speculation over the future of coach Robbie Deans, but if the crop of talented youngsters they have reach full bloom, then they will certainly be a major threat at the next World Cup.

Argentina immediately showed the benefits of joining New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship (replacing the Tri-Nations) for the first time, and the game can only grow in that country.

France, under new coach Philippe Saint-André, are also developing rapidly into another formidable outfit.

Wonderful attacking flair was once again the hallmark of the All Blacks’ success, but their game was also based on a steely defence and the core of experience that ran through the side was also a great help. By the end of the year, Tony Woodcock (96), Keven Mealamu (102), Owen Franks (45), Richie McCaw (116), Kieran Read (48), Dan Carter (94), Ma’a Nonu (76), Conrad Smith (66), Cory Jane (41) and Piri Weepu (69) had 753 caps between them, compared to the 431 the entire Springbok team had for their last Test of the year, also against England in London.

But South Africa had won – albeit by just a point – in the rain at Twickenham the week before against the same England side that then put the All Blacks to the sword and the other indication that they are not impossibly far off the world champions came in Dunedin in September when they tied New Zealand down for long periods. They would ultimately pay for Morne Steyn’s poor goalkicking and Dean Greyling’s lack of discipline in that match, going down 21-11.

In their return meeting in October, the iconic FNB Stadium would prove to be no protection from the attacking brilliance of the All Blacks as they swept to a 32-16 victory in their most impressive display of the year. Without the amulet of forward dominance, the Springboks were made to look second-best and the anti-Meyer chorus grew louder.

But even the All Blacks’ attacking brilliance is no protection from defeat if they lose the forward battle, as England showed two weeks ago when their pack put their bodies on the line in such impressive fashion.

The good news for the Springboks is that it is easy to see their pack developing into a world-class unit. Despite the absence of Bismarck du Plessis for most of the year through injury, Adriaan Strauss stepped in and enjoyed a superb season in the middle of the front row. Jannie du Plessis manfully filled the tighthead berth throughout the year, but there is no lack of loosehead talent with Tendai Mtawarira, Gurthro Steenkamp, Heinke van der Merwe and Coenie Oosthuizen all in the frame.

Eben Etzebeth showed signs that he will fill the considerable boots of Bakkies Botha, while, despite several injuries, the loose forward stocks still look strong with Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee and Duane Vermeulen all having an impressive year.

It is among the backs where the future looks cloudy for the Springboks.

Burly inside centre Francois Steyn only played half of the Tests in 2012 due to injury, captain Jean de Villiers slotting into the number 12 jersey in his absence. With problems inside of them – Morne Steyn was in poor form at flyhalf, Johan Goosen was then injured before Pat Lambie eventually played in Britain and Ireland – there was little inspiration from the backline when it came to attack.

In Meyer’s defence, his first year in charge was always going to be a conservative one. In 2013, he should be able to build on the positives of 2012, most notably some incredible defensive displays, to ensure the Springboks are no longer left in the wake of the All Blacks.

http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-12-12-rugby-2013-the-all-blacks-will-still-be-the-team-to-beat

Two of the things I love the most about Pilanesberg National Park is how tame the avian life often is and the wonderful mix of bushveld and arid western birds you get in the popular Big Five reserve.

And so our trip around Pilanesberg the day after the Nedbank Golf Challenge finished at Sun City was marked by outstanding views of Jacobin Cuckoo and the lovely Scalyfeathered Finch, a seedeater of the drier country west of Johannesburg.

We were driving along the Kgama Drive, north of Lengau Dam, heading east, when two Jacobin Cuckoo flapped their way over the road. Being used to cuckoos being unobtrusive, I was in a rush to see them through the binocs and point them out to my wife. Little did I know that one would settle in a bush a couple of metres from the car and proceed to pose for us! Definitely my best sighting of this impressive black-and-white bird.

Jacobin Cuckoo

The Scalyfeathered Finch were on Mankwe Way, a delightful little party of them enjoying a relatively cool afternoon in the Pilanesberg, the temperature ranging between 21° and 25° and the previous day’s rain having given way to a lovely, mild sunny day. Some were on the ground nibbling at grass seeds, while others were on the brances overhanging the road, contentedly chirping away.

I had a feeling it would be a good drive when we entered through Bakubung Gate and immediately saw a Mocking Chat at reception!

From there we turned westwards on to Kgama Drive, which was busy with birds as the clouds cleared.

There was a lot of activity particularly around Lengau Dam, with Whitewinged Widow, the ever-present Marabou Stork, a group of Waterbuck, Sabota Lark, European Bee-Eater, Brownhooded Kingfisher and the Jacobin all being spotted.

A short detour for a comfort break at the Kubu picnic site allowed us to pick up Lilacbreasted Roller, both Streakyheaded and Yellowfronted Canaries in the same tree, Elephant and Plumcoloured Starling.

Mankwe Way is dominated more by thornveld and we saw Neddicky, Kalahari Robin, the Scalyfeathered Finch, Rufousnaped Lark (the signature Pilanesberg bird for me) and Yellowthroated Sparrow.

We exited the park via Tshwene Drive, which provided Redbreasted Swallow, Wahlberg’s Eagle and a good Blackchested Snake Eagle sighting, as well as Hippopotamus and Whitebrowed Sparrow Weaver at Tilodi Dam.

Sightings list

Mocking Chat

Southern Masked Weaver

Spotted Flycatcher

Greater Striped Swallow

Cape Wagtail

Goldenbreasted Bunting

Blackeyed Bulbul

Dabchick

Blacksmith Plover

Whitewinged Widow

Impala

Blue Wildebeest

Southern Greyheaded Sparrow

Blue Waxbill

Egyptian Goose

Marabou Stork

Sacred Ibis

European Swallow

Waterbuck

African Darter

Sabota Lark

European Bee-Eater

Brownhooded Kingfisher

Jacobin Cuckoo

Grassveld Pipit

Plains Zebra

Red Hartebeest

Cinnamonbreasted Rock Bunting

Familiar Chat

Glossy Starling

Lilacbreasted Roller

Streakyheaded Canary

Yellowfronted Canary

Rattling Cisticola

Elephant

Plumcoloured Starling

Neddicky

Giraffe

Warthog

Kalahari Robin

Scalyfeathered Finch

Rufousnaped Lark

Pied Crow

Crested Barbet

Yellowthroated Sparrow

Lesser Striped Swallow

Redbreasted Swallow

Springbok

Ostrich

Diederick Cuckoo

Wahlberg’s Eagle

Leopard Tortoise

Hippopotamus

Yellowbilled Hornbill

Whitebrowed Sparrow Weaver

Blackchested Snake Eagle

Threebanded Plover

Helmeted Guineafowl