I always intend to blog and then someone asks for French toast and I am back in the kitchen in mom mode.

To be honest, I have enjoyed nesting for a few weeks after the end of the cricket season in April, and my three children have been so grateful to have me around.

Then I looked back and it’s already been 21 days since the cricket ended… Where did all the time go? It was a long summer of cricket, and it was such a pleasure to be hosting and commentating once again for SABC Sport.

Yes, the competition before India and Australia arrived did not challenge the Proteas as much as they would have wanted. It did, however, give team management an opportunity to realign the team in the absence of superstars, and with brand new talent in attendance.

India gave South Africa a run for their money and, had they arrived earlier for the Test series and acclimatised to the conditions, they may well have won it. The ODI series was absolutely one sided, as India blew SA away. 

The T20 series went India’s way too, as young talent continue to emerge for the team in blue across the different formats.

After the conclusion of the India series, South Africa awaited Australia, and they looked like a well-oiled machine when they landed.

The first Test match, they blew South Africa away through a fired up, reverse swinging Mitchell Starc.

South Africa hit back through an AB de Villiers-led effort that saw the series all square going to Cape Town… And then it all fell apart.

Australia’s Cameron Bancroft caught on telly using a hard yellow object to work on the ball. Cameras caught him and his image flashed on the big screen. I was on radio commentary at the time and I could hear the corridor go quiet as everyone rushed to replay screens to see if they could believe their eyes… What just happened? What?

I tried to play it cool, but I knew the lid was going to blow, and did it…

Bancroft and Smith made the media wait over 90 minutes for their arrival at the end of day’s presser, and then their lone figures cut an awful sight as they trudged across the turf at Newlands from the players change-room to the awaiting pack in the media centre.

What happened after that is well-documented…  It was sandpaper, not sticky tape!!!

A hard fought series had become the biggest news event of the year, and took the gloss off SA’s historic 2-1 series win over SA – the first since unity on home soil against the Aussies.

But away from the ball tampering saga, I managed to enjoyed the guests we hosted throughout the Australia Test series, with the likes of Brian McMillan, Paul Adams and Garth le Roux reminiscing about their playing days.

Hosting legendary Australian commentator, Jim Maxwell, was also a wonderful highlight, as he celebrated 45 years in cricket commentary. What a milestone! What an incredible human being. Learnt a lot from him while he was here.

What a summer! One for the memory bank, for sure 🙂

 

Photo 1 caption: Celebrating the legendary Jim Maxwell with colleagues from Radio 2000, ABC Grandstand and SABC Sport

Photo 2 caption: Teamwork makes the dream work. Celebrating the end of a great season with the team that keeps us on air

Photo 2 caption: I really enjoyed chatting to Proteas legend Paul Adams during the third Test at Newlands