SA board reaches settlement, NZ tour split

Graeme Smith: tough season ahead © Getty Images Enlarge

The South African board has finally reached a settlement with New Zealand Cricket regarding their impending tour, beginning in October. According to Gerald Majola, the CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA), the home series has been split into two visits, the first in October-November 2005, including five ODIs, and the second in April-May 2006, containing three Tests.

"This will allow us to field our best team, as well as to tour India [for five ODIs] in November at a critical time in our preparations to play Australia," said Majola during the release of the itinerary for the upcoming season on CSA's official website. "The 2005-06 tour schedule is tough, but we believe it will provide excellent preparation for Australia in the short term, and the next World Cup in the West Indies in 2007 in the longer term."

South Africa, who are scheduled to play as many as five series in the forthcoming season, would solely rely on one-day cricket to get in shape ahead of their Australian tour in December. Before this series, South Africa will travel to India for a five-match one-day series beginning on November 14. Majola said that it had been decided to tour India in November because "We owe India five ODIs in terms of the ICC schedule. We had no option but to play these matches in November because of the ICC Super Series blocking other periods."

Majola said that the Super Series between Australia and a World XI in Australia in October had complicated South Africa's schedule, with six players - Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Makhaya Ntini, Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock - included in the World XI squad. "Again, there were clashes with the ICC Super Series matches when several of our top players will be on duty against Australia."

South Africa's programme for the season

October 14 to November 6, 2005: New Zealand in RSA (5 ODIs, 1 Standard Bank Pro20)
November 14 to November 29, 2005: RSA in India (5 ODIs)
December 11 to Febuary 14, 2006: RSA in Australia (3 Tests and triangular series against Australia and Sri Lanka)
Febuary 24 to April 4, 2006: Australia in RSA (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 Standard Bank Pro20)
April 7 to May 9, 2006: New Zealand in RSA (3 Tests)