Cricket news roundup – 18th March 2019: Maiden T20I call-up for South Africa trio

South Africa have handed all of Aiden Markram, Anrich Nortje and Sinethemba Qeshile their maiden Twenty20 International call-ups for the series against Sri Lanka. Elsewhere, R Ashwin has called on bowlers to manage their workloads better ahead of the World Cup, and Afghanistan are on the brink of a maiden Test victory. 

Maiden T20I call-ups for South Africa trio

Aiden Markram, Anrich Nortje and Sinethemba Qeshile were called up to the South Africa squad for the Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka, starting Tuesday, March 19.

Markram and Nortje were impressive in South Africa’s 5-0 sweep of Sri Lanka in the ODIs, and have earned their spots in the T20I squad. Qeshile, 20, the newest face in the squad, boasts an impressive average of 48.11 in First-Class cricket.

JP Duminy will captain the side for those two games in du Plessis’ absence, while Hashim Amla remains unavailable due to personal circumstances.

Manage workloads wisely, Ashwin tells bowlers

With the World Cup 2019 just around the corner, R Ashwin has urged bowlers to manage their workloads wisely in the Indian Premier League, set to begin in Chennai on Saturday.

Ashwin has little hope of making the World Cup squad, although he maintains he is “no slouch”, but despite that, he insisted it was important all the bowlers ensure their fitness is fine ahead of the premier event in England and Wales.

“(Workload management) definitely stays at the back of the head because it is being spoken about a lot more right now,” he said. “I am sure the players are responsible enough, and more fitness-aware and able to handle it than they ever were.

“I don’t think going into the tournament people will be thinking about it, but as the tournament pans out, and the way it goes for each and every franchise and for each and every player, they will take decisions wisely.”

Rashid five-for sets Afghanistan up for victory

Rashid Khan returned a fine 5/82 – Afghanistan’s maiden five-for in Test cricket – to keep Ireland to 288 in the second innings. Afghanistan ended the third day at 29/1, and will need just 118 runs more to victory.

Ireland, meanwhile, will hope to trigger a collapse and build on the pressure to claim the nine wickets needed for them to win.

Ireland were helped along by half-centuries from Andy Balbirnie (82) and Kevin O’Brien (56), and strong contributions from the lower order.

However, at this point, Afghanistan are favourites to secure their maiden Test victory.  

‘Smith, Warner will have to prove themselves again’ – Ricky Ponting

Steven Smith and David Warner linked up with the Australian squad again, but Ricky Ponting, the former captain, believes they still have much to do to earn their spots back in the team.

The duo’s respective 12-month bans end on March 29, and both players are set to take the IPL route back to the national squad for the World Cup first and then the Ashes.

However, Ponting said they should be reintegrated into the team on the back of performances and not just reputation. “They still have to prove they are the best players, especially on the back of what has happened in the recent ODIs against India,” Ponting told The Times of India. “Those guys have not played any high-level cricket for a long time. IPL becomes really important for them.”