Colin Ingram’s unbeaten 56 saw the Warriors qualify for their first T20 final in five seasons since the 2011-12 summer

Firdose Moonda13-Dec-2016
Scorecard Colin Ingram struck a half-century to lead the Warriors to victory (file photo)•Getty ImagesColin Ingram’s unbeaten 56 saw the Warriors qualify for their first T20 final in five seasons since the 2011-12 summer. The Warriors finished second in the league phase and beat the third-placed Lions in a playoff on a slow Port Elizabeth pitch to set up a meeting with the table-topping Titans on Friday.The home side had their bowlers to thank for setting up a straightforward chase after the Lions squandered a strong start. They slipped from 77 for 2 at the halfway stage to add just 59 runs in the last 10 overs, in which they also lost four wickets for 10 runs. None of the Lions batsmen scored more than 32 runs.Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks put on 30 in the first three overs but Kyle Abbott pulled them back with a strangling second over which exposed the Lions’ batsmen. They played as though they were at altitude but the big hits did not get over the boundary. Van der Dussen swung and missed, Temba Bavuma and Hendricks swung and holed out and it was up to the middle order to post a competitive total.Mangaliso Mosehle looked likeliest to anchor the second-half of the innings but was bowled by Jon-Jon Smuts and that sparked the collapse. Nicky van den Burgh went back to an Ingram delivery and missed the cut shot while Wiaan Mulder and Hardus Viljoen were dismissed in the space of three balls in the penultimate over to leave the Lions well short of a winning total.Warriors paced their chase well and even though they lost Smuts in the third over and Clyde Fortuin as the Powerplay came to an end, they were in a strong position at 48 for 2. Ingram had only faced nine balls at that stage and was content to rotate strike and let his team-mates attack while he settled in.None of the Lions’ attack was able to maintain the control needed to put pressure on the Warriors and Ingram bided his time until he was joined by Christiaan Jonker. With the right mix of aggression and caution, the pair put on 78 runs off 64 balls and eased the Warriors to victory with 10 balls to spare. Ingram’s fifty came off 43 balls and was his third of the tournament. Smuts continued to lead the run charts, 14 ahead of Farhaan Behardien, who he will go head-to-head against in the final.

Sri Lanka must win at the Wanderers to keep the five-ODI series alive, but the odds are against them

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando03-Feb-2017Match factsSaturday, February 4, 2017
Start time 1330 local (1130 GMT)Sri Lanka’s young batsmen have struggled but coach Graham Ford has been encouraged by the starts•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesBig pictureTwo matches in, Sri Lanka are already faced with having to save the five-ODI series, and are yet to crack 200. Instead of being concerned by the lack of runs from his top order, coach Graham Ford has been encouraged by glimpses of good batting from the younger players. Ford is coach until at least 2019, and has clearly set his sights on the long term. If Sri Lanka are to avoid a series defeat in Johannesburg, however, there will have to be at least some immediate improvement. In addition to the crumble-prone batting, lack of penetration through the middle and back end of the opposition innings – problems that have plagued Sri Lanka since as far back as the 2015 World Cup – may have to be righted.South Africa’s top order is a powerhouse, in contrast. Four of the top five have hundreds on this tour, the only exception being AB de Villiers with whom a century never seems far. On Wednesday, the bowling only had to be disciplined rather than destructive, with such a formidable score to defend, but thanks to some breathtaking catching, Sri Lanka failed to be competitive beyond the first ten overs of the chase.In short, South Africa have out-batted, out-bowled, out-fielded and out-bumpatted their visitors, and are primed to continue doing so. Sri Lanka’s best hopes may lay, as ever, in the wrists and fingers of their spinners.The teams encountered a green Wanderers track in the Tests, and a tawny one in the T20s, but pink will be the dominant colour at Saturday’s ODI, as the South Africa team and the venue deck themselves out in support of breast cancer awareness. For what it’s worth, South Africa have never lost in pink – de Villiers memorably hitting the fastest century ever, in the pink ODI two years ago. Why they have not deployed this kit in World Cup knockout matches is a question that demands answers.In Sri Lanka, the island will be celebrating its 69th anniversary of independence from the British.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)South Africa: WWWWW
Sri Lanka: LLWWL
In the spotlightDavid Miller may have snatched the attention towards the end of South Africa’s innings in Durban, but it was Faf du Plessis who beat the back of the spinners after they had begun to wrap their tendrils around the South Africa innings. He didn’t always pick the direction of Lakshan Sandakan’s turn, but du Plessis’ reading of length was immaculate, and clinical footwork always seemed to furnish him with a bail-out shot should the ball surprise him. In six ODI innings since October, he has four fifty-plus scores, including two centuries. Sri Lanka will always worry about Hashim Amla and de Villiers, but du Plessis is the man in form.For a long time Sri Lanka’s fandom has been unsure what to make of Upul Tharanga – clearly one of the most gifted batsmen in the country, but one susceptible to long stretches of modest returns. Now the selectors and team management (which includes himself, as he is captain), seem unsure what to do with him as well. Should he bat in the lower-middle order, where he has had some success in recent years, or at the top: the scene of his famed 13 centuries? On Wednesday he produced a heart-swelling, glorious 26, which detractors will say is the quintessential Tharanga innings. Sri Lanka will look to him for leadership with the bat, as well as on the field.Team newsWith Miller out of the series due to a finger injury, Farhaan Behardien is likely to take his place. There are unlikely to be too many other changes for South Africa.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Andile Phehlukwayo, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Imran TahirSri Lanka’s XI is fluid, as ever, but having tried stacking their side with left-arm spin on Wednesday, they may seek to beef up their seam attack at the Wanderers. Lahiru Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara could be in line for ODI debuts.Sri Lanka(possible): 1 Niroshan Dickwella, 2 Sandun Weerakkody, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Upul Tharanga (capt), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva/Lahiru Madushanka, 7 Asela Gunaratne, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Lahiru KumaraPitch and conditionsThe Wanderers has generally been a 300+ venue in recent years, and another batting-friendly pitch is expected on Saturday. The weather is expected to remain good for the duration of the match.Stats and triviaSouth Africa have breached 300 on each of the six most-recent occasions in which they have batted first at the Wanderers. They have twice made scores of above 400 at the venue – one of those was batting second. This match will be Faf du Plessis’ 100th ODI. Sri Lanka had successfully chased South Africa’s 312 for 4 when the teams last met in an ODI at this venue. A hundred from Kumar Sangakkara and a 69 from Lahiru Thirimanne had helped carry Sri Lanka to 314 for 8.Quotes”Unfortunately none of our batsmen converted starts but they certainly showed they have got the talent to play at this level and to make an impact at this level.”

Leeds United will be well aware of the dire ramifications their relegation will bring, with their finances set to plummet, their stature likely to fall even lower, and therefore the allure of the famous Elland Road to go amiss until they can mastermind a return to the Premier League.

It will be of paramount importance for the 49ers to ensure that their Championship stay is short-lived, so shrewd transfer investments must mirror the appropriate appointment.

With the latter sure to be wrapped up soon, the former is yet to really kick into gear, likely stuttered due to the longevity of their manager search.

However, that has not stopped the rumours of those who might depart Yorkshire, with Wilfried Gnonto high up on that list. The Italian teenager truly made a name for himself last season, starring for a lacklustre Leeds team on that left flank.

His trickery and dynamism made him an instant fan favourite, and therefore their demotion has attracted suitors. Juventus are one such club, although the likes of Everton and Chelsea have also been thrown into the conversation too.

For all the heartache his exit would induce, should Saturday night's reports detailing their interest in Manchester United's Amad Diallo be true, they could secure an instant replacement for the Italy international, who already boasts the experience of challenging for promotion at this level.

Is Amad Diallo as good as Wilfried Gnonto?

Despite his splendid theatrics and physical assets, a return of eight goal contributions across all senior English competitions from the 19-year-old is hardly irreplaceable.

Especially given the Ivory Coast wide man notched 13 goals and a further three assists in the Championship last term for Tony Mowbray's Sunderland side, spearheading their run to the playoffs.

Such blistering form unsurprisingly led to some inspiring individual actions too, with Sky Sports commentator Gary Weaver remarking of his ability to produce a "moment of magic",

The £28k-per-week loanee added tangible figures to a similarly silky campaign, arguably making him an upgrade on Gnonto, although he would only be a temporary one.

That could be all that is needed though, to guide them back to where they will feel they belong with immediacy.

With Diallo's 1.1 key passes and 1.7 successful dribbles per game too, numbers that better Gnonto's one key pass and 0.9 dribbles per match, he would add that creativity and flair that might go amiss, should their star youngster actually depart. It is no mean feat to find such a capable stand-in for someone branded a "pocket rocket" by pundit Tam McManus.

To swap one young, exciting winger for another, whilst likely gaining a big financial boost too, could be the necessary evil in order to give their new boss the best possible chance of bouncing straight back into the Premier League.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe confessed last month that he would love to target a 'marquee' signing this summer after his side defied expectations and ended a two-decade absence from the Champions League with a fourth-place Premier League finish.

Thus far, the work plied on the transfer front has been calculated and diligent, with the imperious defence in particular consisting of Kieran Trippier (£12m), Dan Burn (£13m) and goalkeeper Nick Pope (£10m) – all signed since the revolution created by the lucrative PIF takeover in October 2021.

Different now, is the allure of European nights, and there are indeed few outfits more tantalising than Newcastle, who could now use their newfound success to bring in someone such as Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who is set for departure in Bavaria after signing for £35m from Liverpool just one year ago.

According to BILD, the Senegalese forward fronts Thomas Tuchel's proposed summer clear-out strategy as he prepares for a major rebuild, with the German newspaper – via Caught Offside – also recently linking Newcastle and Manchester United with a move for the 31-year-old who could cost £30m.

Should Newcastle sign Sadio Mane?

Mane is on the wrong side of 30 but would bring a wealth of illustrious experience and prolific potency at the highest level to St. James' Park at a time when the club could do with such a star to galvanise the troops as they search for silver-laden success of their own.

During his time in the Premier League, the £363k-per-week forward plundered 111 goals and 47 assists from 263 appearances for both Liverpool and Southampton, earning praise from former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp for his "world-class" credentials as an unrelenting "machine".

While the balance within the Magpies ranks is just right at present, targetting first-class signings to enrich the different facets of Howe's system could pay dividends as silverware and successive seasons in the Champions League are targetted.

And Mane could well hold the key to ensuring such endeavours are successful; he may even emulate his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah on Tyneside.

Indeed, the Egyptian is considered the second most comparable player to Mane on FBref's 'Similar Players' model, with the Bayern star ranking among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

Salah, comparatively, ranks among the top 3% for rate of non-penalty goals and also ranks among the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90, and given that the 30-year-old has posted 30 goals and 16 assists across all competitions this term, Mane could match such heights under Howe's tutelage.

Mane has indeed demonstrated his aptitude and then some across his career and, despite not quite integrating as hoped in Germany, he could reignite his distinguished career on Tyneside.

Leeds United forward Crysencio Summerville has told chiefs that he wants to leave Elland Road, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

When did Crysencio Summerville join Leeds?

The Dutchman first arrived in Yorkshire back in September 2020 when he joined the U21s from Feyenoord's U19s, before getting promoted to the first-team the following summer, but he’s never quite been able to receive the regular game time he needs.

During the 2022/23 Premier League season, the 21-year-old was only handed 12 starts from 38 games and was viewed as more of a fringe player, so is obviously out of favour when it comes to getting consistent minutes under his belt.

The Whites’ right-sided winger may still have another three years to run on his contract but suffering relegation to the second-tier has seen several big names, including Tyler Adams, Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison, all linked with exits. The young attacker could be another following in their footsteps if the next update is to be believed.

Is Summerville leaving Leeds?

According to Dutch outlet 1908 (via Football League World), Summerville has “informed” Leeds that next season he “does not intend” to play his football in the Championship.

The LS11 academy graduate has already “made his position clear” regarding his future having told the hierarchy that he “will not be with the team” beyond the summer transfer window.

The Elland Road ace is attracting interest from the likes of Everton and former side Feyenoord so he won’t be short of potential suitors should he depart which, at this stage, is looking highly likely.

Should the 49ers keep or sell Summerville?

Leeds will know that Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce didn’t favour Summerville enough last season so he wasn’t given a proper chance to show what he’s capable of, but when he was in action, he more than displayed why he should be in the starting squad.

The Wasserman client, who pockets £15k-per-week, posted six goal contributions (four goals and two assists) in 28 Premier League appearances and was his outfit’s fourth best-performing offensive player, highlighting the positive impact he made in such a short space of time.

The Netherlands U21s international, who has the versatility to operate in five various positions across the grass, has also been hailed an “explosive” winger by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his creative flair in the final third, so the 49ers Enterprises should definitely try to retain his services and bring in a manager that will allow him to get a more consistent run in the team next season.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bolster Ange Postecoglou's playing squad early this summer and with one deal complete, a move for David Raya is edging ever closer…

Tottenham transfer news – David Raya

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Lilywhites have agreed on personal terms with the Brentford goalkeeper ahead of a potential switch to north London.

He tweeted:

"David Raya: “I have ambitions to make the next step in my career. I want to try to win titles and to compete in Europe”

""There are options out there but it’s not just my ambitions, the club also needs to let me go”, told Times.

"Personal terms agreed with Tottenham."

It comes after Spurs announced the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus following a successful 18-month loan spell in the capital. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year deal and is believed to have cost around £25m.

Now the north Londoners must look to strike a deal with the Bees, who are reportedly holding out for £40m for Raya, despite already signing his mooted replacement in Mark Flekken.

Will David Raya replace Hugo Lloris at Tottenham?

It's no secret that the no.1 spot is a contentious issue heading into the summer for Spurs and their new manager.

Long-serving stalwart Hugo Lloris, 36, has been inconsistent over the past few seasons, but his blunders this campaign particularly stood out amid the club's struggles under Antonio Conte and then two interim managers.

Only five teams conceded more goals than the Lilywhites in 2022/23, three of whom were relegated to the Championship.

The World Cup-winning shot-stopper confirmed earlier this month that he wanted to leave Tottenham for a new challenge, claiming: "It’s the end of an era" to French newspaper Nice-Matin (via the Guardian). He does, however, still have one year to run on his £100k-per-week contract.

Raya, 27, seems a sensible replacement as Postecoglou will look to get Spurs back into Europe at the first time of asking.

The Barcelona-born titan was ever-present for Brentford in the Premier League last season, playing every single minute of every single game. And his performances saw him rated as Thomas Frank's fifth-best performer with an average WhoScored rating of 6.97.

By comparison, Lloris earned a paltry 6.59 rating from his 25 league appearances, whilst only four teams conceded fewer goals than the Bees, all of whom finished in the top four.

Having been lauded as an "incredible" goalkeeper and capable of wearing "the number 10 shirt" by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, the 6 foot 1 glovesman could be an ideal second signing after Kulusevski as Postecoglou will no doubt want to address Tottenham's shocking defensive record, sooner rather than later.

Whilst £40m may be a pretty penny to pay, there are few better alternatives available on the market this summer.

Leeds United have a great history of academy production, with a steady stream of top talents having emerged in Yorkshire and gone onto big things. James Milner, Fabian Delph and Kalvin Phillips are just a few who spring to mind.

However, following their relegation, they will likely need to rely on their youth more than ever given the financial implications a stint in the Championship can have.

Fortunately for them, they have a few readymade stars who have already shown their quality at this level, suggesting they could well play a huge role in earning an instant return to the Premier League.

One such example is Charlie Cresswell, who enjoyed a fine spell at Millwall last term, in which the Lions narrowly missed out on a playoff spot. His domineering displays at the back suggest a bright future for the combative 20-year-old colossus, but he will need the right guidance to ensure his growth is measured and consistent.

Given Patrick Vieira remains one of the top targets for the managerial vacancy, he would arguably be the ideal man to lead the youngster forward and develop him into one of the country's top defenders.

Who is Charlie Cresswell?

Having been at the Yorkshire outfit since 2013, the 6 foot 3 goliath has made just seven senior appearances for his boyhood club, suggesting a steady rise towards additional first-team opportunities.

However, after the year he has just enjoyed, that spot must now be a certainty.

Under the tutelage of Gary Rowett, the hulking centre-back would maintain a 7.13 average rating in which he would record 1.5 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game in the Championship, via Sofascore.

For comparison, were these figures put into Leeds' squad from last term in the top flight, he would be their top performer by some distance, and boast their joint-third-most clearances.

It is no surprise that Rowett would therefore wax lyrical about his on-loan star, noting:

"He has really calmed down and matured in how he thinks about the game. He’s getting the benefit from it because he has got amazing attributes for a young centre-back – aggression and desire, sometimes you can’t find them as much nowadays. Honing them is easier than finding them in the first place."

The justification for Vieira's expertise in nurturing young talent is best shown through Marc Guehi, whose rise to prominence is largely owed to the vision of the former Arsenal legend.

He was the one who tempted the 22-year-old to Selhurst Park, only to forge him into one of England's best young centre-backs.

Indeed, his 7.03 average Sofascore rating from the 2021/22 season serves to supplement this, as he went from Chelsea's academy to an England international in just one year under his stewardship.

His 92% dribble success rate, 87% pass accuracy and 3.5 clearances per game that year (via Sofascore) are just a small window into what the future might hold for Cresswell, as he will seek to emulate this ball-playing titan.

The defender will be well aware of Guehi's meteoric rise, and likely be hoping that Vieira is the chosen man to take over at his club.

Should he be hired, perhaps the Frenchman could sprinkle some more of his magic onto Leeds' top youngster, allowing him to flourish further in the second division before hopefully taking the top flight by storm as Guehi has.

Jatin Paranjape and Gagan Khoda will be removed from the men’s selection committee, which will be trimmed to three going forward. That is because the Lodha Committee has told the BCCI to adopt its recommendation on the selection committee, which was approved by the Supreme Court of India on July 18 last year.The next big assignment for the senior men’s selection panel will be to pick the squad for the one-off Test against Bangladesh, which is scheduled from February 8 to 12.The BCCI used to pick five-men selection panels through a zonal process, but the Lodha Committee recommended the panel be trimmed to three selectors, all of whom would be Test players retired for at least five years. Paranjape, the former Mumbai batsman, and Khoda, who led Rajasthan, will be removed from the existing selection committee considering neither has played Test cricket.On Friday, both Paranjape and Khoda were present at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai along with selection panel chairman MSK Prasad, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh to pick India’s limited-overs squads for the England series. Before that meeting started, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri wrote to the Lodha Committee on January 4 to check whether the existing five-man selection panel could pick up the squad for the England series.In response, Lodha Committee secretary Gopal Sankaranarayanan told Johri that the five-man panel could pick the squad but this was being permitted only as “an exception”. The Lodha Committee also told Johri that he could continue as convenor of the selectors until the BCCI holds elections to elect new office bearers in keeping with the committee’s recommentations. “Going forward, it will have to be strictly in terms of the Supreme Court judgement,” Sankaranarayanan told Johri. Johri then informed both Paranjape and Khoda about the development.At its last AGM in September 2016, the BCCI had defied the court order and picked a five-man selection committee through an interview process. It also modified the eligibility criteria, allowing Paranjape and Khoda to sit on the panel.

أعرب لاعب الفريق الأول بنادي ليفربول، كونور برادلي، عن سعادته بعد الفوز على سبارتا براج في الدوري الأوروبي، مضيفاً أن لاعبي الريدز يريدون الفوز بالألقاب هذا الموسم من أجل يورجن كلوب.

وفاز ليفربول بنتيجة 6/1 في إياب منافسات الدور الـ16 من مسابقة الدوري الأوروبي على ملعب “أنفيلد”.

وبهذا الفوز، تأهل ليفربول إلى منافسات الدور ربع النهائي من مسابقة الدوري الأوروبي.

اقرأ ايضاً.. أفضل من ميسي.. رد فعل جماهير ليفربول على تألق محمد صلاح أمام سبارتا براج

وقال كونور برادلي في تصريحات صحفية بعد المباراة لشبكة “TNT SPORTS”: “ليلة سعيدة جدًا، لقد بدأنا المباراة بشكل جيد، تسجيل الأهداف الأربعة بعد 10-15 دقيقة كان أمرًا جيدًا حقًا، لقد كان أداءً احترافيًا”.

وأضاف برادلي عن رحيل يورجن كلوب: “عندما تلقينا الأخبار كنت حزينًا حقًا، إنه المدرب الوحيد الذي عملت معه في ليفربول، نريد الفوز بكل الألقاب من أجله”.

وعن اللعب مع زملائه في فريق الأكاديمية أوضح برادلي: “إنه يجعل الأمر أسهل، ومن الواضح أن هناك الكثير من اللاعبين الشباب، هارفي، ماتيوس، إنه أمر رائع اللعب مع هؤلاء اللاعبين”.

وأكد برادلي: “أحيانًا يُطلب مني القيام بأمور مختلفة، طُلب مني اليوم أن ألعب في دور مزدوج اليوم كمحور وظهير، أريد الاستمرار بالتعلم”.

Kyle Abbott’s international career has been effectively ended following the second Test against Sri Lanka after talks with Cricket South Africa failed to dissuade him from accepting a Kolpak deal with Hampshire

Firdose Moonda at Newlands05-Jan-2017Kyle Abbott’s international career has effectively been ended following the second Test against Sri Lanka after talks with Cricket South Africa failed to dissuade him from accepting a Kolpak deal with Hampshire.ESPNcricinfo broke the news of Abbott’s signing on Tuesday, of which CSA had no knowledge. The board has spent the last two days in meetings with Abbott’s agent, Weber van Wyk, but they were unable to come to any arrangement that will convince Abbott to stay in South Africa, and his contract has been terminated with immediate effect. It was also confirmed that batsman Rilee Rossouw will be joining Abbott at Hampshire , also on a Kolpak deal.”It has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make but it is the right decision for me,” Abbott said after the second Test concluded. “There have been a few evenings where I have gone to sleep wondering if I made the right decision and woken up in the morning knowing I have. The last few months [since I made the decision], it’s about playing with the weight off my shoulders. In the last few months, I have never felt far away from being dropped. I’ve now played thinking if I do, it doesn’t matter. I am really enjoying it. If I wasn’t committed to South African cricket, I would have done this a long time ago.”February would be four years since my international debut. Ever since I played in South Africa, at every level, there has always been a quota system. I have never used it as an excuse and I won’t now. I need to pay bills, I need to buy groceries.”Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s captain, said: “That was not the way we wanted. It was something that we didn’t expect and it was out of our control. We did get together and spoke to Kyle and tried to change his mind. Kyle had already set up what he wanted to do. Then it was just about me making sure the boys were focused on the job at hand. The boys were brilliant. Even Kyle. He wanted to make sure everything was about the team. I’m a little bit upset that Kyle couldn’t get one or two wickets. I would have liked to see him do well in his last outing.”Addressing the broader issues which have led to Abbott’s decision to turn his back on international cricket at the age of 29, du Plessis said there were factors that needed to be addressed.”It’s a red flag,” he said. “We have to address it. As the Proteas and as CSA, we need to make sure it doesn’t happen. It is always going to be a challenge. The foreign currency is something that will always be there. It’s too important and too valuable to say that whatever happens, happens and there will be players to fill the gap. That’s not good enough.”Opportunity, money, transformation. There are a lot of factors guys will look at as their excuse or as their reason. What Kyle’s is, I am not sure. Every single reason is a concern. He is someone who has not been sure for a period of time. He wants security.”On the reasons for Abbott not being given the final Test, du Plessis said: “I want him playing for South Africa. He is not going to be part of our team so if he is not going to be part of our team, it’s time to move on. I respect his decision but I don’t agree with it.”Six months ago, I could have understood it more. Sitting here today, I don’t understand it as well. I am extremely surprised. I care so much about him that I want him to play for South Africa, I want him to do well and perform on the biggest stage on the world because I think he is an amazing cricketer and that’s the place to be. I am disappointed for those reasons.”Hampshire have confirmed that Abbott’s county deal is for four years – Rossouw is joining the club on a three-year deal – and, with the series already decided, it is understood the selectors viewed Abbott’s impending exit as an opportunity to blood another bowler ahead of tours to New Zealand and England later this year.Wayne Parnell is already in the squad as a reserve seamer but, with four seamers being a possibility in Johannesburg, and Morne Morkel yet to recover fully from a back injury, Knights seamer Duanne Olivier, who tops the first-class wicket charts, has been called up.Several other South Africans are believed to be considering similar options to Abbott and Rossouw.”If somebody gives up their right to play for the Proteas, there’s not much more we can do,” said Haroon Lorgat, CSA’s chief executive. “Instead of crying over spilt milk, we will invest in future Proteas.”