Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 2 September 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# First up, we have cricket news: The Proteas, fresh from a mixed-outcome white ball series in Australia, face England in the first of three one-day matches at Headingly in Leeds today. South Africa won the ODI series against the Aussies 2-1 after losing 1-2 in the T20 series. The Proteas are currently sixth in the ODI world rankings and England eighth. The remaining ODI’s will be played at Lord’s on Thursday and South Hampton on Saturday, followed by T20s in Wales, Manchester and Nottingham from next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 300 South Africans and 241 overseas players were named for the auction for SA20s fourth season, taking place in Johannesburg next Tuesday. The league received an unprecedented over 800 player registrations this season, whereafter the list was shortened after the six teams’ reviews. Among the strong local contingent are Proteas T20 captain Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, and Dane Paterson. The internationals include England veteran Jimmy Anderson, his compatriot Moeen Ali, Australian D’Arcy Short and New Zealander Devon Conway.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says the decision not to include Asenathi Ntlabakanye in the squad for the two-Test tour of New Zealand was to protect him. The 26-year-old tested positive for a banned non-performance substance, which SA Rugby confirmed he was prescribed by a sports doctor to address a health issue. Erasmus says if Ntlabakanye were on tour, many questions would’ve been directed at him, and that could’ve taken away his focus for the game ahead.

Erasmus is meanwhile only expected to name his squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks in Auckland on Thursday. He is still waiting on news on injured captain Siya Kolisi and veteran Willie le Roux, while experienced scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was called up to New Zealand after hooker Bongi Mbonambi opted to stay at home to attend to family matters. Erasmus says they are not quite sure what the All Blacks will put out:

# And finally, athletics: Rising sprinter Bayanda Walaza has been named in a 49-strong South African team for the World Athletics Championships that kicks off in Tokyo next Saturday. The 19-year-old pulled up in the 100-metre final of the Diamond League meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, last Thursday, in what appeared to be a thigh muscle injury. His inclusion in the squad, comprising 32 men and 17 women and 11 relay-only athletes, is apparently not a guarantee of fitness.

Stay tuned for more news………….