Weekly Column

RIP – Robin David Jackman

 December 31, 2020
 neil manthorp
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Jackers didn’t enjoy flying at the best of times but it was particularly grueling in mid-90s India before the airports had all been upgraded and expanded. Delays were inevitable and long and many of the Air India planes looked and felt like they’d seen better days. In order to move their cameras and cabling around […]

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A toast to Michael Vaughan and the Aussies…hopefully

 December 23, 2020
 neil manthorp
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Soon after England’s players decided to abandon their short tour of South Africa – and make no mistake, it was the players’ decision – former England captain Michael Vaughan climbed slightly too easily on the ‘bash CSA’ bandwagon and declared that there was “no way” Australia would tour here in Late February and March for […]

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Is yet another boardroom war looming?

 December 16, 2020
 neil manthorp
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Last week’s online discussion between the CSA Interim Board chairman, judge Zak Yacoob, and the media provided a sobering reminder of the prevailing attitude of so many administrators towards the truth – and a worrying glimpse into the future. Rihan Richards (pictured), the acting president of the CSA Members Council on the basis that he […]

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“Difficult” decisions – hope for CSA future

 December 9, 2020
 neil manthorp
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Sometimes the quietest days can be the busiest and, as the England team wiled away their final hours in South Africa and packed their bags for the charter flight home, South African Cricket’s better legs were kicking furiously beneath the surface attempting to undo the damage caused by the abandoned tour. It will take some […]

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ODI series crucial amidst admin change

 December 3, 2020
 neil manthorp
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The Proteas’ 3-0 drubbing in the T20 International series against England may – or may not – have consequences as we head towards the T20 World Cup in eleven months time. The series itself counts for nothing. The ramifications, good and bad, will be a distant memory for all but the combatants once the world’s […]

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Belt and Braces Bubble.

 November 19, 2020
 neil manthorp
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For most sportsmen and officials who have experienced life inside a ‘Covid Bubble’ it is not necessarily the rules and regulations of living such a limited life but the lack of choice. Many of them are perfectly happy to spend days in their hotel room on tour, and have done so in the past, but […]

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The Madness must stop

 November 15, 2020
 neil manthorp
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On Friday evening Cricket South Africa’s lawyers advised the Members Council that, should they choose to defy the Minister of Sport and refuse to appoint and cooperate with the Interim Board of directors, and the Minister cancelled England’s tour of South Africa as a result, then they would have a strong case against him in […]

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Civil war is amongst us – let the good guys win

 November 12, 2020
 neil manthorp
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The skirmishing has ended. Civil war is now amongst us. Cricket South Africa’s Members Council has discarded its final chance to retrieve any respect or dignity and has declared open hostility against the players and supporters of cricket in this country. There can be no peaceful outcome now. Perhaps this is the way it should, […]

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Running on driveways, eating seagulls

 November 6, 2020
 neil manthorp
 No Comments

Most human beings are remarkably resourceful in dealing with adversity. Fishermen have survived at sea for months living on rainwater and seagull flesh. Others have been dragged from collapsed buildings weeks after survival hopes had apparently been extinguished. Often it is not until long after they have been rescued that the strain of what they […]

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Bad-mouthing media is as cheap as it gets

 October 29, 2020
 neil manthorp
 No Comments

In years gone by, in happier more prosperous times, Cricket South Africa held its annual Awards dinner at a fancy hotel or conference centre in Johannesburg. They were lavish affairs, to be sure. Pretty much everybody who was anybody involved in cricket was there. The senior administrative teams from the provinces and franchises were invited […]

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