No Rabada for India ODIs
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has released Kagiso Rabada from their squad for the three-match series against India. They do not want to take undue risk as they gear up for the tour to New Zealand for two Test matches next month. The ODIs against India end on 23 January, while South Africa will depart to New Zealand on 2 February.
In South Africa's 2-1 Test series win against India, Rabada finished with 20 wickets in three matches, the most in the series from either side. Marco Jansen is likely to make his ODI debut in the first game.
South Africa ODI squad for India Series: Temba Bavuma (c), Keshav Maharaj (vc), Quinton de Kock (wk), Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, George Linde, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne.
Matt Renshaw joins Somerset
Somerset has signed Matt Renshaw as their overseas player for 2022. Renshaw, who played 11 Test matches for Australia, had played for the club in 2018. He comes in as a replacement for Cameron Bancroft.
'I really enjoyed my time at Somerset in 2018 and I can't wait to go back, it's a special place and there's a great atmosphere around the whole Club,' Renshaw said. 'I've kept in touch with a lot of the guys there, and when I got the opportunity to go back, I jumped at the chance.'
Stokes, Root withdrew from IPL auction
Ben Stokes and Joe Root have withdrawn their names from the mega auction for the Indian Premier League 2022. Both decided to prioritise domestic cricket after getting thrashed 0-4 in the Ashes. While Root was unlikely to get an IPL contract, Stokes is one of the most sought-after names in T20 cricket.
'There's a lot that we need to do for this [Test] team, which deserves all of my energy,' Root said. 'I'll keep sacrificing as much as I can because I care so much about Test cricket in our country and trying to get us to where we want to be.'
Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 22 runs
Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka by 22 runs in the second ODI to level the three-match series. They rode on fifties from Sikandar Raza and Craig Ervine to post 302/8. Ervine scored 91, while Raza made 56 in 46 balls.
Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara then picked three wickets each to restrict Sri Lanka to 280/9. Dasun Shanaka scored 102 off 94 deliveries and Kamindu Mendis made 57.