With the second and final Test between the West indies and South Africa scheduled to start on Wednesday in Johannesburg, West Indies Test Captain Kraigg Brathwaite is urging his team to build on positives he saw in the first Test last week.

The tourists lost the first Test by 87 runs but had some bright spots, including bowling out the hists in both innings.

“I think it was very good for us as a bowling group to get 20 wickets. That was very important. I think it shows we are not far off,” Brathwaite told reporters in a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

“It gave us that belief that we could do it and just have to keep believing and it doesn’t matter which team we’re playing, we’ve always got to believe. We had a lot of positives in the first Test and we must just keep improving,” Brathwaite added.

With that being said, the Windies had another tough game with the bat, being dismissed for 212 and 159 in their two turns at the crease.

Brathwaite says this has to change if they are to tie the series.

“As a batting unit, we have got to improve. We have got to spend more time out there. South Africa will come hard, no matter the eleven they play, so we must be ready for it,” he said.

“South Africa is a tough team at home and with a little more application from the batsmen, myself included, we could do well here in these conditions,” he added.

South Africa have turned to spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer as they attempt to secure a 2-0 Test series whitewash of West Indies at the Wanderers.

The Proteas started a new era with Temba Bavuma as captain and Shukri Conrad head coach with an 87-run victory over the Windies at SuperSport Park.

Bavuma has since been dropped from the Twenty20 International team and replaced as skipper by Aiden Markram.

South Africa start the second and final Test in Johannesburg on Wednesday knowing third place in the World Test Championship is there for the taking.

Maharaj and Harmer come into the side along with batter Ryan Rickelton and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder.

Anrich Nortje was ruled out with a groin injury, while Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy and Keegan Petersen also drop out of the team.

The tourists are unchanged despite crumbling to 159 all out in the first Test, Kagiso Rabada doing much of the damage with brilliant figures of 6-50.

Both sides turn their attention to trying to qualify for this year's 50-over World Cup after this match, with South Africa not playing again in the longest format until taking on India in December.

West Indies have won only one of their 16 Tests in South Africa, that coming back in December 2007 and have lost 13 of those matches.

South Africa will be striving to secure a 20th Test win at the Wanderers, a tally they have already reached at Newlands and SuperSport Park. 

The Proteas have won both Tests against the Windies at this venue, the last of those triumphs coming in 2003.

Opportunity knocks for Rickelton

Rickelton returns for his fourth Test and Conrad says the 26-year-old left-hander has earned the chance to show he belongs in the middle order.

He said: "Rickelton deserves his crack at it.

"I still feel Keegan has a big role to play in the middle order rather than at the top of the order. I think his best position might be number five going forward in terms of the way he plays.

"But again this Test batting unit is still a work in progress."

Reliable Roach

Kemar Roach has produced the goods time and again for West Indies and he put them in the hunt to win the first Test by taking 5-47 in the second innings, with the Proteas skittled out for only 116.

The paceman has a strike rate of 42.3 against South Africa in Tests, his best against any team in the format.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and MatchWornShirt (MWS) have launched a new partnership giving fans the opportunity to bid for and own an authentic worn and signed West Indies Team shirts.

The West Indies will be the first international cricket team to give fans the opportunity to own authentic signed team shirts via global digital auctions held on MatchWornShirt.com’s website.

Starting from March 8, fans can bid to own any of the West Indies Test squad’s team shirts from the current South Africa Series, with each shirt individually signed by the respective player.

“Team and players’ shirts have always been a much-desired piece of memorabilia and for West Indies fans, there is no exception. With West Indies supporters spread across the Caribbean and the world, we believe this partnership with MatchWornShirt provides an exciting and fair platform to bid for and own an official match-worn West Indies shirt signed by one of their heroes, or even the entire West Indies squad,” said CWI Commercial Director Dominic Warne.

“The partnership delivers an engaging, reliable and user-friendly auction experience, accessible from anywhere in the world, with safe and secure delivery to fans’ homes.”

CWI and MatchWornShirt will create auctions to go live with the first ball bowled in a match or shortly after the match has been completed. In 2023, this will include Test, One Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) matches against India as well as T20I and ODI matches against England.

West Indies fans will not just be able to witness a match-winning moment or performance, they will have the chance to swap shirts with their heroes and own a piece of sporting history.

Fans’ desire to own team and player memorabilia continues to rise strongly, in parallel with the growth of live international sports, especially cricket.

The first auction will go live to coincide with the start of second Test Match, South Africa versus West Indies on March 8, 2023 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The first auction will run for two weeks until 22 March 2023.

To celebrate this new partnership, fans will have the chance to win fast bowler Alzarri Joseph’s genuine match-worn and signed shirt from the first Test match when he took his first-ever Test match five-wicket haul for the West Indies. This opportunity will be live on MatchWornShirt’s Instagram page from Monday, March 6.

Head of Business Development at MatchWornShirt, James Flude, is excited about the collaboration.

 “We have been excited to venture into cricket for a while now and so we are delighted to announce our first substantial partnership with such an iconic international team,” Flude said.

“The West Indies shirts are globally recognized and have been worn by some of the greatest players ever to play the game - so we are delighted to be bringing them to fans all around the world.”

An unbeaten 114-run second wicket partnership between Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt helped the Mumbai Indians secure a dominant nine-wicket win over the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their WPL fixture at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.

RCB made 155 all out off 18.4 overs after winning the toss and batting first. Wicket-Keeper Richa Ghosh scored 28 while captain Smriti Mandhana and Shreyanka Patil made 23, each for the Royal Challengers.

Matthews led the way with the ball for Mumbai with 3-28 from her four overs while Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr took two wickets, respectively.

The Indians, who made 207-5 in their first game against the Gujarat Giants, continued their excellent form with the bat by needing only 14.2 overs to reach 159-1 for their second straight win.

Matthews rounded out an exceptional all-round display with a top-score of 77 not out off 38 balls including 13 fours and a six. Sciver-Brunt provided excellent support with a 29-ball 55 invluding nine fours and a six.

Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 155 off 18.4 overs (Richa Ghosh 28, Smriti Mandhana 23, Shreyanka Patil 23, Hayley Matthews 3-28, Saika Ishaque 2-26, Amelia Kerr 2-30)

Mumbai Indians 159-1 off 14.2 overs (Hayley Matthews 77*, Nat Sciver-Brunt 55*, Yastika Bhatia 23).

Aiden Markram has taken over as South Africa's Twenty20 International captain after Temba Bavuma vacated the role following his appointment as Test skipper.

Bavuma was dropped from the T20I squad altogether for the upcoming three-match series against West Indies later this month after he was named Test captain in February.

The batter will continue to lead the ODI team, but Markram will captain his country in the shortest format having averaged 38.21 runs in 27 innings since making his debut in 2019.

South Africa director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said: "I would like to congratulate Aiden on his appointment as captain of the Proteas T20I team.

"Leadership is extremely familiar to him having successfully led on so many levels. He is a player that inspires confidence and he has all the qualities to succeed in the role. We have no doubt will help take South Africa to the next level.

"At the same time, we would like to thank Temba for filling the position so aptly over the past two years. He has done a commendable job during this period and now has a new role to fulfil within the national set-up."

The squad did not include Faf du Plessis, who was reportedly keen on making a return to the team under new white-ball coach Rob Walter after retiring from Test cricket early in 2021.

Meanwhile, fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada have been left out of the squad for the three upcoming ODIs, though they will return for the following T20I series.

Nortje was on Monday ruled out of the second Test against the Windies this week due to a groin issue.

Cricket South Africa also confirmed JP Duminy has been appointed as permanent white-ball batting coach.

Shakib Al Hasan became the first Bangladesh bowler to take 300 ODI wickets in a consolation 50-run win over England at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

The all-rounder was the star of the show in Chattogram on Monday, top scoring with 75 off 71 balls as the Tigers posted 246 all out in the day-night contest.

Shakib also excelled with the ball, taking 4-35 to make history at the end of a series that the tourists won 2-1 after they were dismissed for 196.

Sam Curran (2-51) had Litton Das caught behind in the first over and reduced the Tigers to 17-2 by removing Tamim Iqbal, who opted to bat first after winning the toss. 

Najmul Hossain Shanto (53) and Mushfiqur Rahim (70) then put on 98 for the second wicket before the number three was run out following a mix-up with the wicketkeeper-batter, who missed out on a hundred when he was bowled by an Adil Rashid wrong 'un.

Rashid (2-21) bowled Mahmudullah through the gate and Mehidy Hasan became debutant Rehan Ahmed's first scalp when he was caught and bowled, before Jofra Archer claimed (3-35) three wickets late in the innings.

England's openers got them off to a solid start prior to Phil Salt (35) being taken by Mahmudullah off the bowling of Shakib, who then rattled Jason Roy's middle stump with a quicker delivery after Dawid Malan fell for a second-ball duck.

Curran was removed by Mehidy for 23 after being sent in at number five and Shakib struck again to see the back of James Vince (38).

Taijul Islam (2-52) got in on the act by trapping Jos Buttler leg before and bowling Rashid, before Shakib sent Rehan on his way to reach the 300 mark, with Mustafizur Rahman getting Chris Woakes (34) caught and bowled to seal the win. 

Shakib makes history

Spinning all-rounder Shakib gave the Bangladesh innings some impetus, hitting seven boundaries as he scored at just over a run a ball in a staggering 52nd ODI half-century.

He then joined the 300 club in this format by dismissing Salt, Roy, Vince and Rehan, conceding only three boundaries in his 10 overs.

More encouragement for Archer

After such a long absence due to injury nightmares, Archer added to the two wickets he took in the opening ODI as he got through 8.5 overs.

With his workload being carefully managed, the paceman bowled with pace and showed the variation he has in his armoury.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the match schedule and venues for the final three rounds of the West Indies Championship, the region’s first-class four-day red ball tournament, which will be played in Trinidad and Guyana.

Two rounds have been played so far and the tournament will resume on 15 to 18 March with Trinidad & Tobago Red Force hosting current West Indies Championship leaders, Guyana Harpy Eagles at Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The other two matches in the third round will see Leeward Islands Hurricanes face Barbados Pride at Queen’s Park Oval inTrinidad and the Jamaica Scorpions facing Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Guyana National Stadium.

The fourth round will be played from 22 to 25 March with the fifth and final round from 29 March to 1 April.

“The first two rounds of matches last month offered great excitement and we are delighted to see the resumption of the West Indies Championship. Based on what we saw in the first phase of matches, we can expect more keen competition among the six teams as they vie for the prestigious Headley/Weekes Trophy," said Roland Holder, CWI’s Manager of Cricket Operations. "There is a lot to play for as players also have the opportunity to compete for places in the Headley/Weekes Series which will follow at the end of the West Indies Championship and prepare to compete for spots on the international stage.”

Heading into the third round, Guyana Harpy Eagles lead the points table after being unbeaten in their two matches to date with defending champions Barbados Pride in second.

The new Headley Weekes Series will follow the West Indies Championship and will feature three matches and three teams. Team Headley and Team Weekes will select from the best performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI. The new West Indies Academy will provide the third team in the new Series.

Team Headley and Team Weekes are named in honour of West Indies pioneers and legendary batting greats George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes, whose names are also honoured on the Trophy for the winners of the West Indies Championship. All three matches will be played from 18 April to 6 May at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua.

RESULTS

ROUND 1

31 January to 3 February

Windward Islands Volcanoes drew with Trinidad & Tobago Red Force

1 to 4 February

Guyana Harpy Eagles beat Barbados Pride by 183 runs

Leeward Islands Hurricanes drew with Jamaica Scorpions

ROUND 2

8 to 11 February

Barbados Pride beat Jamaica Scorpions by 6 wickets

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force drew with Leeward Islands Hurricanes

Windward Islands Volcanoes drew with Guyana Harpy Eagles

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

GNS – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana

BLCA – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

QPO – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

ROUND 3: 15 to 18 March

Jamaica Scorpions v Windward Islands Volcanoes at GNS

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Guyana Harpy Eagles at BLCA

Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Barbados Pride at QPO

ROUND 4: 22 to 25 March

Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Jamaica Scorpions at GNS

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Barbados Pride at QPO

Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA

ROUND 5: 29 March to 1 April

Guyana Harpy Eagles v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at GNS

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Jamaica Scorpions at BLCA

Barbados Pride v Windward Islands Volcanoes at QPO

Headley Weekes Tri-Series

All matches to be played at CCG, Antigua

Match 1: 19 to 22 April: Team Headley v West Indies Academy

Match 2: 26 to 29 April: Team Weekes v West Indies Academy

Match 3: 3 to 6 May: Team Weekes v Team Headley

-ENDS-

Anrich Nortje has been released from South Africa's squad ahead of the second Test against West Indies due to a groin issue.

Paceman Nortje took 6-84 as the Proteas claimed an 87-run victory in the first Test of the two-match series at Centurion.

However, the 29-year-old will not feature at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg after he after experienced what South Africa described as "mild groin discomfort" during the first Test.

South Africa have not called up a replacement for Nortje, who has taken 70 wickets in the longest format since making his debut in October 2019.

The second Test starts on Wednesday, with three ODIs and as many T20Is to follow.

Pat Cummins will not return to India before the fourth and final Test, meaning Steve Smith will again captain Australia in Ahmedabad.

Cummins headed back to Sydney after the second Test – a second defeat – to be with his mother, who is in palliative care with breast cancer.

Former skipper Smith led the Australia team in the absence of the regular captain and oversaw a dominant nine-wicket win in the third Test in Indore.

That victory secured Australia's place in the World Test Championship final, but they need another result in the final match of the series to earn a draw.

Smith will again deputise for Cummins, Australia confirmed on Monday.

Cummins, who is also the ODI captain, has been included in Australia's 50-over squad, with no decision yet made on his involvement in the white-ball series.

Fast bowler Jhye Richardson has withdrawn from that ODI series due to a hamstring injury with Nathan Ellis replacing him in the squad.

Mark Wood is not expecting to play a full role for England in the Ashes against Australia given Ben Stokes' wealth of Test bowling options.

The Durham quick was England's leading wicket-taker with 17 dismissals as the tourists succumbed to a 4-0 defeat in Australia in the 2021-22 Ashes series.

Wood has only played three internationals in the red-ball arena since that humiliation against England's old foes, in an attempt to manage his workload after repeated injury issues.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson continue to impress under captain Stokes in coach Brendon McCullum's side. England could also call on the likes of Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Chris Woakes and the fit-again Jofra Archer.

With such depth of bowling talent, Wood acknowledged there is little chance of him playing all five Tests against Australia in the home series that starts on June 16 at Edgbaston.

"I will definitely not play all five [Ashes Tests]," Wood told reporters in Chattogram, where he is away touring with England's white-ball team against Bangladesh.

"I was delighted to play four out of five in Australia. I was knackered, wrecked, exhausted, [but] that was a big tick in my box to say that in a big series, I can do it, if Stokesy or Baz [McCullum] want me to play.

"More than likely, with the bowling stock we have, especially at home, I probably won't even play four. They might even want me for one or two, if they need a pace element."

The frontline trio of Anderson, Broad and Robinson again combined well in the recent 1-1 Test series draw with New Zealand, in which England suffered a dramatic one-run defeat in the decisive second meeting.

"[Stokes] might want to mix it up to keep people fresh, but if people are playing well, I might not play any," Wood added, acknowledging the quality of his bowling partners.

"I very much doubt, from the way they have managed me, [that I will play] four. If they want three or four, I will put my hand up."

Wood was afforded a two-month break before the tour of Bangladesh to recover both mentally and physically.

The 33-year-old heads to the Indian Premier League with Lucknow Super Giants after England's ongoing white-ball series, before the Ashes, a set of limited-overs fixtures and the 50-over Cricket World Cup in India follow.

"With my record, I might get [through] two of them," Wood said.

He added: "I've done interviews in the past where I've said, 'Of course I'm thinking about the Ashes in the background', [but] I'm actually not.

"There's so much going on before: we've got this, the T20s, the IPL and then the Ashes after that.

"I've got the birth of my daughter in between that, so it's going to be a massive time, I'm not really thinking that far ahead."

Ricky Ponting believes David Warner missed the ideal chance to retire in style at the SCG after his double-century at the MCG in December.

Warner plundered his way to 200 from 255 deliveries in the Boxing Day Test, which was his 100th appearance for his country in the format, as Australia dismantled South Africa by an innings and 182 runs.

That knock came at the end of a difficult 2022 for the opening batter, who had scored only two half-centuries in his previous 19 innings.

The 36-year-old was included in Australia's squad for their tour of India, but managed just 26 runs in three visits to the crease before suffering concussion and subsequently withdrawing.

Former Australia captain Ponting thinks the perfect opportunity for Warner to bow out was at the end of the South Africa series, with his home ground in Sydney hosting the final match.

Ponting told the ICC Review podcast: "Look, I was on radio a couple of days ago, back here in Australia, and I thought the absolute best time for Davey to retire, if he was thinking about it at all, was after the Sydney Test match here in Australia.

"He'd just played his 100th Test in Melbourne, and obviously got 200 in the first innings down there. And to bow out in front of his home crowd is obviously the way that every player would like to finish their careers.

"Who knows now that opportunity might not come around again for Davey, you know. That's nearly another 12 months away."

Australia will feature in this year's ICC Test Championship final at The Oval, and Ponting thinks Warner will play in that match if he is fit.

Indeed, Ponting says it could well act as an audition for the Ashes, which start at Edgbaston on June 16.

"They're probably going to have similar things to think about when they get to the UK because David's record in the UK is not as strong as it is in some other places around the world," said Ponting.

"I think his career deserves to finish the way he wants it to.

"Sort of not to be dropped or tapped on the shoulder in the middle of an overseas tour and have his career end in that way. That's why I just hope he can find it within himself to score a lot of runs between now and next summer."

Will Jacks will miss the rest of England's white-ball tour of Bangladesh after he suffered a thigh injury during their second ODI victory on Friday.

The tourists wrapped up the series with a 132-run win on Friday ahead of a third and final 50-over game on Monday before three T20I matches.

But they will be without all-rounder Jacks, who is set to fly home in order to begin his rehabilitation after he suffered a thigh injury in Mirpur.

Jacks did the damage while fielding at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

"Will Jacks has been ruled out for the remainder of our tour of Bangladesh after suffering a left thigh injury," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a brief statement on Sunday.

"Jacks will fly home in the next 48 hours to begin his recovery."

Jacks will be hoping to regain full fitness in time for Royal Challengers Bangalore's Indian Premier League opener against Mumbai Indians on April 2.

England have elected to not call up a replacement for Jacks for their remaining four games against the Tigers, leaving them with just a 13-man party for a T20I series that starts on Thursday.

The Gujarat Giants have released a statement clarifying why Deandra Dottin did not join the squad for the Women’s Premier League. In it, they said they were unable to get medical clearance for the player before the stipulated deadline.

The franchise that bought the Barbadian’s talents for US$73,000 in February, stirred some controversy late last week after indicating that the Barbadian all-rounder’s absence stemmed from her ongoing recovery from a medical situation, only for the player to publish a tweet saying she was “recovering from nothing”.

"I really appreciate all the messages but truth be told I'm recovering from nothing but the Holy Ghost anointing thank you #GodIsGood #GodIsInControl", Dottin posted on social media.

However, in a bid to clear the air on the matter, the Gujarat Giants revealed in a statement early on Sunday that Dottin’s absence was due to their failure to get the required medical clearance for the player.

"Deandra is a world-class player and a wonderful signing for the franchise. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain a medical clearance before the defined deadline for this season, such clearances are a requirement of all players participating in the WPL,” the statement read.

"We look forward to seeing her return to the field soon. Subject to the clearance of her medical report, she will be part of the Gujarat Giants squad in the upcoming seasons."

West Indies bowler Kemar Roach and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva created a bit of history during the West Indies’ 87-run loss to South Africa at Centurion last week.

In a match that lasted less than three days, the accomplishments of both players were overshadowed by the loss but were no less significant in the rich history of great performances by players from the West Indies.

The 34-year-old Roach had match figures of 1-71 and 5-47 during the match in which he picked up his 260^th Test wicket and became the fifth most successful West Indies bowler behind Courtney Walsh (519), Curtly Ambrose (405) Malcolm Marshall (376) and Lance Gibbs (305).

His five-wicket haul in the second innings that helped bowl South Africa out for 116, was the 11^th of his career that has so far lasted 76 matches since he made his debut against Bangladesh in July 2009.

Joshua Da Silva, meanwhile, playing in his 21^st Test, joined now retired West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs in a pantheon of five ‘keepers who have had seven dismissals in one innings. Other than Jacobs, the only other players to have accomplished the feat were Pakistan’s Wasim Bari, England’s Bob Taylor, and New Zealand’s Ian Smith.

Both players will get the chance to add to their records when the second Test between the West Indies and South Africa bowls off on Thursday, March 8 at Wanderers. The West Indies will be hoping to produce a better performance with the bat and level the series that South Africa now leads 1-0.

Former West Indies ODI and T20I Captain Kieron Pollard made history on Saturday by becoming the third man to reach 12,000 T20 runs.

Pollard achieved the milestone in a Pakistan Super League game between the Multan Sultans and the Lahore Qalandars.

The 35-year-old entered the game needing just 16 runs to achieve the feat and made 39 off 28 balls including two fours and three sixes as his Sultans suffered a 21-run defeat at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Pollard, the all-time leader in T20s played with 620, brought up his milestone in 550 innings.

Overall, the Trinidadian now has 12,023 runs at an average of 31.15 including one hundred and 56 fifties.

Only two batsmen have scored more T20 runs than Pollard: Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik who has 12,515 runs in 509 matches including 77 fifties and, of course, Chris Gayle who has 14,562 runs in 463 matches including a record 22 hundreds and 88 fifties.