Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Saudi Deputy FM meets Lt. Gen. Al-Burhan of Sudan    Al-Khateeb: Saudi Arabia is the largest global investor in tourism sector "Saudi Land" pavilion inaugurated at World Travel Market in London    Saudi Crown Prince, Japanese PM discuss over phone efforts made to achieve peace in the region    Saudi Arabia, in its drive to enrich Arab culture, launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris    Neymar exits Al Hilal match with muscle injury, leaving fans disappointed    AlHisn Big Time Studios unveiled to transform film and TV production in Riyadh    Saudi Arabia approves cooperation agreement with US for the use of outer space for peaceful purposes    Quality of Life Program CEO highlights Saudi urban transformations at UN-Habitat conference in Cairo    Almarai wins 'Best Corporate Sukuk' at Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards    Top climber falls to death after rare Himalayan feat    US voters flying home in time for election    Drones and snipers on standby to protect Arizona vote-counters    India's Modi condemns violence after Canada temple incident    Elon Musk can keep giving $1m to voters, judge rules    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Quincy Jones, titan of US music, dies aged 91    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



SA stability depends on de Villiers' decision
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 28 - 01 - 2016

For the first time in a decade, South Africa has been forced to acknowledge it is on the decline following back-to-back series losses to India and England that have knocked it off the top of the Test rankings.
And things could get worse still if its captain, AB de Villiers, decides that his future lies away from the five-day format of the game in the coming months.
However, following South Africa's 280-run win over England at Centurion Park Tuesday, there is a growing hope that it can reverse its recent slide as a number of much needed pieces in the puzzle have started falling into place.
The emphatic victory does need to be placed into context — England had already claimed the four-Test series and played with less intensity, while South Africa won a crucial toss on day one.
But there were some outstanding individual performances from the home side that answered a number of its most pressing questions.
Not least the 13 wickets for 20-year-old fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who has all the attributes to become a match-winner for the side over the next decade.
He is one of the most exciting pace prospects to hit the Test scene in a number of years and, with Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander expected to return from injury for the next Test series against New Zealand in August, the fast bowling stocks look healthy.
There were excellent centuries too for debutant opener Stephen Cook and young wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who has the potential to bat higher than his current seventh position, possibly allowing for an extra bowler.
Cook, at 33 years of age, is not a long-term solution to the team's opening batting woes but he is organized enough to hold the fort for the next few years until a longer term replacement can be found.
Temba Bavuma showed maturity and no shortage of skill with an unbeaten 78 in the second innings at Centurion Park to follow his hundred in Cape Town.
Perhaps the biggest factor in South Africa's renaissance, though, will be the decision that de Villiers makes about his own future amid uncertainty created by his own words.
He has spoken of a desire to lighten his workload and should he end up retiring from the five-day format, Test cricket would certainly be poorer for it.
De Villers' departure would not only significantly weaken the South African top six but also be a crippling blow to morale at a time when it has recently also lost two giants of the game in Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. South Africa can ill afford to lose another.


Clic here to read the story from its source.