Friday, 19 July 2019
Lungani Zama is an international freelance sport and travel journalist, and a regular contributor to New Frame.
England and New Zealand produced a Cricket World Cup for the ages. There was no loser, but someone had to get the trophy and England brought it home. The good guys in black finished second, again.
The champagne and confetti are out, ready to celebrate England winning their World Cup and bringing it home. But cricket’s good guys want to spoil the party and make up for falling at the final hurdle four years ago.
A record number of spectators watched the Fifa Women’s World Cup, an entertaining spectacle that will only grow the game. Despite this, the fight for respect is not over for women.
Afghanistan may have been the whipping boys at this World Cup but with talented players, and a look to Bangladesh for inspiration, they could go from toothless to ferocious.
Edgbaston, the scene of South Africa’s 1999 nightmare, and a must-win game against New Zealand, their regular conqueror in World Cups, is the double whammy the Proteas must confront.
The Barbados-born fast bowler has won English hearts, while his countrymen understand his change in allegiance. But Archer’s worlds will collide when the West Indies and England meet.
The Proteas’ ship is on the brink of hitting an iceberg exactly where the Titanic started its disastrous voyage: Southampton. But how did we get here, their tournament on the brink of ending before it starts?
The most successful team in Cricket World Cup history is out to shake off the shame of Sandpapergate and, with their backs against the wall, Australia are in the exact circumstances under which they thrive.
The Proteas, like former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, were stunned by an opponent they thought they would easily knock out.
The Proteas frowned on the art of spin bowling until they found a man who could spin them out of sticky situations. More than that, Imran Tahir has revolutionised spin bowling in South African cricket.
India’s World Cup is much like ‘The Lion King’ in that Mufasa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will pass the baton to Simba, Virat Kohli. But will it be a transition of joy or sadness?
The Indian Premier League has blurred boundaries, with players from all over the world teaming up for two financially rewarding months a year. But how does this affect international cricket?
West Indies shouldn’t be among the favourites to win the Cricket World Cup, having needed a qualifier to book a ticket to the UK. But try
Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi plan to take their good cop-bad cop act to the World Cup and, unscarred by previous Proteas failures in the competition, return as winners.
Tiger Woods roared back to the pinnacle of golf at Augusta, earning his fifth green jacket. The win is immense for Woods and his pursuit of history. It is also good for the game.
With her European Tour card in hand, pro golfer Nobuhle Dlamini is ready to continue shattering barriers in a sport steeped in privilege and exclusivity.