Archive December 30, 2025

The state of South Africa’s Test cricket game appears to be in decline.

This summer, there won’t be any red-ball action in the nation for the first time since apartheid’s athletes had been isolated. Fans should instead enjoy watching Indian-owned T20 franchises compete in the SA20.

The Proteas will play whites on their own soil in October 2026, 21 months after hosting Pakistan in January of that year.

Despite having a historically bad health, the Test team’s year 2025 proves to be pivotal.

With a victory over Pakistan of 2:0, Ryan Rickelton recorded his nation’s first double century in nine years. South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in June with a superb fourth-innings 136 from Aiden Markram and a nine-wicket match haul from Kagiso Rabada.

South Africa are now on track to reach a third WTC final after the choker’s tag has been finally removed and momentum is finally behind them.

When Wiaan Mulder declared himself on 367 against Zimbabwe in July, threatening Brian Lara’s record for the highest Test result. In Rawalpindi, Keshav Maharaj scored a seven-for in the series opener against Pakistan in October.

As South Africa defeated India 2-0 in their own backyard, Simon Harmer took 17 wickets in two Test matches, making it the first South African team to win away from India since 2000.

Sunuran Muthusamy, the spin-bowling all-rounder who recorded his maiden century in the 408-run victory over India, describes it as “a remarkable time for us.”

Hope and uncertainty both permeated the year.

There was a sense that the group had come to a crossroads following a nerve-wracking two-wicket win over Pakistan in the 2024 Boxing Day Test.

Only sustained success would keep it visible, relevant, and valued in a year when tradition and goodwill could no longer be used.

Shukri Conrad, the team’s bullish coach, who left a disorganized side in late 2022 to take over a team that was in disarray, says, “We needed to become a winning machine.”

The balance of the side has made that clearest of all. South Africa has long relied on elite fast bowlers, but this style of attack has evolved beyond brute force.

Rabada, a generational talent, continues to be the spearhead and is now complemented by a breadth of skill and variety that makes the Proteas compete in all environments.

While Marco Jansen, a two-metre-tall left-armer who can swing it both ways at pace, provides real X-factor, Maharaj and Harmer offer control and a wicket-taking threat.

The batting’s transformation, however, has been the most remarkable.

South African batters only beat Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in the Test centuries recorded between January 2020 and February 2023. In the same period, England scored 38.

South Africans have now surpassed one hundred per Test, up from their previous lean spell, which included 23 victories. There have been 10 hundreds this year alone, including Mulder’s record-breaking knock and three first-time centurions and one first-time double centurion.

The number of contributions down the list was perhaps the most impressive. This year, South Africa’s lower order, which is seven down, averaged 29.51, which is comfortably the best among Test sides. The only other teams with averages over 20 are England and Ireland.

Muthusamy, whose 109 in Guwahati included a 97-run stand with Jansen, continues, “We all share the responsibility and take pride in what we do.” We never lose. That’s the message that the leadership group has conveyed to us.

The WTC final demonstrated that resilience most clearly. South Africa finished day one 43-4, 169 runs back of Australia.

They were set for the second-highest successful chase at Lord’s on day three, 282, which was set for lunch. In a historic victory that rewrote the classic tale of teams with great talent but fragile under pressure, they clawed their way back on both occasions.

A bumper 2026 is now the object of attention.

England travels to South Africa for three matches over the holiday season, including a two-test shootout with Bangladesh and three matches against Australia, their first in South Africa since the 2018 sandpapergate scandal.

Two series victories should secure a spot in the WTC final.

That scenario makes the conflict at the heart of South African Test cricket more acute.

A resilient, balanced, and growingly ruthless side has emerged on the field.

Off it, the format is still constrained by unbalanced governance and commercial priorities. The players themselves bear the cost of maintaining the environment because there is no political will.

The state of South Africa’s Test cricket game appears to be in decline.

This summer, there won’t be any red-ball action in the nation for the first time since apartheid’s athletes had been isolated. Fans should instead enjoy watching Indian-owned T20 franchises compete in the SA20.

The Proteas will play whites on their own soil in October 2026, 21 months after hosting Pakistan in January of that year.

Despite having a historically bad health, the Test team’s year 2025 proves to be pivotal.

With a victory over Pakistan of 2:0, Ryan Rickelton recorded his nation’s first double century in nine years. South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in June with a superb fourth-innings 136 from Aiden Markram and a nine-wicket match haul from Kagiso Rabada.

South Africa are now on track to reach a third WTC final after the choker’s tag has been finally removed and momentum is finally behind them.

When Wiaan Mulder declared himself on 367 against Zimbabwe in July, threatening Brian Lara’s record for the highest Test result. In Rawalpindi, Keshav Maharaj scored a seven-for in the series opener against Pakistan in October.

As South Africa defeated India 2-0 in their own backyard, Simon Harmer took 17 wickets in two Test matches, making it the first South African team to win away from India since 2000.

Sunuran Muthusamy, the spin-bowling all-rounder who recorded his maiden century in the 408-run victory over India, describes it as “a remarkable time for us.”

Hope and uncertainty both permeated the year.

There was a sense that the group had come to a crossroads following a nerve-wracking two-wicket win over Pakistan in the 2024 Boxing Day Test.

Only sustained success would keep it visible, relevant, and valued in a year when tradition and goodwill could no longer be used.

Shukri Conrad, the team’s bullish coach, who left a disorganized side in late 2022 to take over a team that was in disarray, says, “We needed to become a winning machine.”

The balance of the side has made that clearest of all. South Africa has long relied on elite fast bowlers, but this style of attack has evolved beyond brute force.

Rabada, a generational talent, continues to be the spearhead and is now complemented by a breadth of skill and variety that makes the Proteas compete in all environments.

While Marco Jansen, a two-metre-tall left-armer who can swing it both ways at pace, provides real X-factor, Maharaj and Harmer offer control and a wicket-taking threat.

The batting’s transformation, however, has been the most remarkable.

South African batters only beat Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in the Test centuries recorded between January 2020 and February 2023. In the same period, England scored 38.

South Africans have now surpassed one hundred per Test, up from their previous lean spell, which included 23 victories. There have been 10 hundreds this year alone, including Mulder’s record-breaking knock and three first-time centurions and one first-time double centurion.

The number of contributions down the list was perhaps the most impressive. This year, South Africa’s lower order, which is seven down, averaged 29.51, which is comfortably the best among Test sides. The only other teams with averages over 20 are England and Ireland.

Muthusamy, whose 109 in Guwahati included a 97-run stand with Jansen, continues, “We all share the responsibility and take pride in what we do.” We never lose. That’s the message that the leadership group has conveyed to us.

The WTC final demonstrated that resilience most clearly. South Africa finished day one 43-4, 169 runs back of Australia.

They were set for the second-highest successful chase at Lord’s on day three, 282, which was set for lunch. In a historic victory that rewrote the classic tale of teams with great talent but fragile under pressure, they clawed their way back on both occasions.

A bumper 2026 is now the object of attention.

England travels to South Africa for three matches over the holiday season, including a two-test shootout with Bangladesh and three matches against Australia, their first in South Africa since the 2018 sandpapergate scandal.

Two series victories should secure a spot in the WTC final.

That scenario makes the conflict at the heart of South African Test cricket more acute.

A resilient, balanced, and growingly ruthless side has emerged on the field.

Off it, the format is still constrained by unbalanced governance and commercial priorities. The players themselves bear the cost of maintaining the environment because there is no political will.

According to UK Sport chairman Nick Webborn, the Olympic and Paralympic teams will need to use artificial intelligence and collaborate more closely to maintain their dominance at the recent Games.

The executive director of the elite sport funding agency stated to BBC Sport in his first interview since taking the position: “We’ve been a really successful nation, and we’re going to have to do things differently to maintain that position or even go higher.

It’s about how we think smarter now, how we play sports with AI effectively, and how we collaborate as different sports bodies rather than in silos.

“I believe that we are now in a mindset where we are all united and moving together, and that sports’ information sharing is much more prevalent than ever,” she said.

And we’ll need to do that to stay on the medal table.

Webborn now wants the technology to improve performance, and UK Sport announced this year that British athletes would be able to receive new AI-based protection from online abuse.

We already make the most of AI by assisting athletes online, and we know it has a lot more potential,” he said.

“We are looking into how it can be used to complement coaches and improve athlete performance in areas like performance analysis, load management, injury prevention, paralympic classification, and talent identification,” according to the statement.

The total medals won by Team GB at the last summer Olympics in Paris in 2012 were on par with those in London in 2012.

However, their medal table ranking dropped to its lowest position in 20 years with their tally of 14 golds, dropping them from fourth to seventh.

We want to go above and beyond. Webborn resisted saying, “We always have done.”

“And it’s those trivial things that help us turn those silvers into gold,” she says.

The Paralympic team has done a fantastic job, finishing second behind China for the past few games but being challenged by other countries. However, I think the British people’s character and innovation will keep them there forever.

“Olympic and Paralympic sports have never worked together better. That is absolutely evident in the discussions they are having. We are acquiring new knowledge from one another.

Webborn is optimistic despite the fact that UK Sport has not yet released a medal target for the upcoming Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.

As the most senior athlete in the British Olympic and Paralympics, Webborn also claims that he wants to place a new emphasis on “valuing the athletes who enter our high-performance sports system, and preparing them for their later life, so that the skills they learn from being a high-class athlete actually make them a better person, a happier member of society.”

Because you only compete for a certain number of years, you spend a lot more of your life, I believe we need to concentrate on that.

Following a string of athlete welfare controversy following Rio 2016, UK Sport’s “no-compromise” approach, which relies on funding to medal potential, came under intense scrutiny. The body then declared it would win “the right way” and introduced a number of reforms to improve duty of care under the leadership of Webborn’s predecessor, Dame Katherine Grainger.

When questioned about whether winning medals or medals was more important to him, Webborn replied, “No, they both are.” To win and to win well is key.

“It’s critically important to me how we win, both in clean sport, and how people and behaviors are maintained throughout the entire high-performance system, with the coaches and the support staff,” he said.

There have been safety and behavior issues in the past in sports, and changing that ethos will help improve both athletes and people in the future by making them feel valued and cared for throughout their time playing the sport.

What does understanding what happens to those people after they graduate from college help me understand, because if you’re a parent considering enrolling their child in a high-performance system, you want to know more than just “are they going to win a gold medal,” what kind of person they will be as a result, and what their future will look like afterward. ‘.

I want athletes to leave the system feeling content with their care and effort.

“We do have a challenge from Middle Eastern countries] where] cost is no option, but we do have a challenge from them,” Webborn asks. “But will they provide the value and bring the crowds that we can do in the UK”?

When will be the next time the Olympics and Paralympics are held in the UK, according to “I think what we need to think about].”

We’re probably going to be looking at 2040, but it’s always a goal in your head. That was brilliant in 2012, wasn’t it? I’d like that the British public also has those memories.

When asked if a bid was feasible and if it should be staged in London, Webborn responded, “I don’t think we can talk about aspiration now, we can talk about realism.” It might be hosted by Liverpool and Manchester, or it might have two cities. So, I believe we must be open and creative when conceiving ideas.

When Webborn, 25, sustained a severe spinal injury during a rugby match, saying it “completely transformed my outlook on life.” He then served as a research pioneer into the needs of paralymps after months of rehabilitation, serving as the association’s representative at 13 Paralympics.

“I’ve seen this evolution, the impact lottery funding has had on high-performance sport in the UK, and how that’s changed people’s lives, changed sport, and the amazing success we’ve had as a country,” he said.

We need to rediscover that pride in the country, which I believe has been somewhat lost, because the country is currently experiencing a difficult economic environment. At this moment, there is discussion and disagreement. Sport can bring people together to celebrate timeless, iconic television moments. In a few months, we’ll see in Milan-Cortina and in Los Angeles in 2028.

According to UK Sport chairman Nick Webborn, the Olympic and Paralympic teams will need to use artificial intelligence and collaborate more closely to maintain their success at the recent Games.

The executive director of the elite sport funding agency stated to BBC Sport in his first interview since taking the position: “We’ve been a really successful nation, and we’re going to have to do things differently to maintain that position or even go higher.

It’s about how we think smarter now, how we play sports with AI effectively, and how we collaborate as different sports bodies rather than in silos.

“I believe that we are now in a mindset where we are all united and moving together, and that sports’ information sharing is much more prevalent than ever,” she said.

And we’ll need to do that to stay on the medal table.

British athletes will be able to access a new type of AI-based online abuse protection, according to UK Sport, and Webborn wants the technology to aid in talent identification, injury prevention, and remote classification assessments in paralympic sport.

The total medals won by Team GB at the last summer Olympics in Paris in 2012 were on par with those in London in 2012.

However, their medal total of 14 dropped them from fourth to seventh, which is their lowest position in 20 years.

We want to go above and beyond. We have done it all along, says Webborn.

And it’s those trivialities that make those silvers into gold that just lift you up a little bit higher on the medal table.

The Paralympic team has done a fantastic job, finishing second behind China for the past few games but being challenged by other countries. However, I think the British people’s character and innovation will keep them there forever.

There has never been a better partnership between Olympic and Paralympic sports. That is absolutely evident in the discussions they are having. We are developing our own skills.

Webborn is optimistic despite the fact that UK Sport has not yet released a medal target for the upcoming Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.

As the most senior athlete in the British Olympic and Paralympics, Webborn also claims that he wants to place a new emphasis on “valuing the athletes who enter our high-performance sports system, and preparing them for their later life, so that the skills they learn from being a top athlete actually make them a better person, a happier member of society.”

Because you only compete for a certain number of years, you spend much more of your life, “I think that’s something we need to focus on.”

Following a string of athlete welfare controversy following Rio 2016, UK Sport’s “no-compromise” policy, which equates funding with medal potential, faced intense scrutiny. The body then declared it would win “the right way” and introduced a number of reforms to improve duty of care under the leadership of Webborn’s predecessor, Dame Katherine Grainger.

When questioned about whether winning medals or medals was more important to him, Webborn replied, “No, they both exist. To win and to win well is key. That is the guiding principle of UK Sport.

It’s critically important to me that we win, both in terms of clean sport, and also about the people and behaviors that exist throughout the entire high-performance system, including the coaches and the support staff.

“Sport has historically had issues with safety and behavior, and changing that ethos, which will make people feel valued and cared for throughout their entire sporting career, will improve them as athletes as well as as as people in the future,” he said.

What’s important to me to understand after I’ve got a job is understanding what happens to people after I’ve got a high-performance system because if I’m a parent thinking about enrolling my child in a high-performance system, I want to know not just “are they going to win a gold medal,” but also “what will their future look like after I’ve got a gold medal.” ‘.

The best advertisement for parents to enroll their children in the high-performance system is “if we can give them that confidence.”

According to Webborn, “I believe what we need to think about is] when will we bring the Olympics and Paralympics back to the UK.”

We’re probably going to be looking at 2040, but it’s always a goal in your head. That was brilliant in 2012, wasn’t it? I’d like that the British public also has those memories.

When asked if a bid was feasible and if it should be staged in London, Webborn responded, “I don’t think we can talk about aspiration right now. It might be hosted by Liverpool and Manchester, or it might have two cities. So, I believe we must be open and creative when conceiving ideas.

When Webborn, 25, sustained a severe spinal injury during a rugby match, saying it “completely transformed my outlook on life.” He then served as a research pioneer into the needs of paralymps after months of rehabilitation, serving as the association’s representative at 13 Paralympics.

He states, “I’ve seen this evolution, the impact lottery funding has made on high-performance sport in the UK, and how that’s changed people’s lives, changing sport, and the amazing success we’ve had as a country.”

We need to rediscover that pride in the country, which I believe has been somewhat lost, because the country is currently experiencing a difficult economic environment. At this moment, there is discussion and disagreement. Sport can bring people together to celebrate timeless, iconic television moments. In a few months, we’ll see in Milan-Cortina and in Los Angeles in 2028.