Nightwatchmen: Cricket Podcast Pete Ahmad

Newlands was a clear warning to the Proteas that the series balance was shifting in favour of the tourists. Instead of adapting and improving to meet this challenge, the Protea’s skill sets and application – evidenced at Cape Town -  were jettisoned in the "Friendly City" in favour of a cricket-brand not witnessed on home soil in recent memory. Exposed in all facets of the game, the Proteas are now  up against it to  secure an honourable draw. How did it come to this? Are England really THAT good or are the Proteas rally that distracted / poor? Both are teams "in transition" but presently, only one is standing up and being counted (in spite of injuries, sickness and touring pressures)! 
Ken and the Zoo Lake Opener ponder the challenges, self-inflicted and imposed by a rampant England and try and find green shoots for Johannesburg. In summary, there's little of those green shoots around...South Africa 1 England 2 (one to play) 
Recorded Jan 20th 2020

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A later than anticipated reflection on the 2nd Test at Newlands. Ken Borland celebrates his own 50* and reflects on the performances and efforts of the Proteas and the "Engerland". The first century of the series, catching records, a dogged fightback from the Proteas on days 4 and 5 and a nail-biting finish into the final session of day 5. So, not much to reflect on before proceedings get going in PE in a day or two! Meanwhile the Zoo Lake Opener tries to recover from late night listening and viewing of proceedings from Down Under, jet-lag and three continents of travel. Go easy on him as he forgets who is who in the England bowling setup and when the next test starts!
It's all set up for a magical conclusion and final two tests. 

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In this stripped-down ("naked") episode of the Nightwatchmen we look back at the Protea's win in the first test vs England at Centurion. We discuss the performers and the weak-links as well as the influence of the new-look Protea coaching team on the field. Recorded in Adelaide, Australia and Johannesburg, South Africa, Ken and the Zoo Lake Opener (who reveals his alias) also look ahead to the showpiece of the cricketing calendar: the New Year Test at Newlands.

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A concise refection on England's opening tour match in Benoni; the Protea's Test squad announcement and the return of King Kallis and Charl Langeveldt into the Protea setup in consulting roles. 
Also: A momentary refection on the Mzanzi Super League conclusion and [even] more off-field announcements... It's enough to declare the 2019 innings on! 
Next episode will follow at the conclusion of the Boxing Day Test.  
A warm welcome to the  England team and Barmy Army legions. Festive greetings to all our listeners!

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What a month it has been for Cricket South Africa…A mirror of our current national South African malaise and recovering captured State?  

Whilst rugby shows the nation what is possible with transformation, leadership and dedicated goal setting, CSA has imploded leaving players considering strike action;  sponsors re-assessing or withdrawing from future commitments; journalists locked out of grounds and denied the Constitutional Right to freedom of the press. And meanwhile the coffers are increasingly bare…You REALLY can’t make this up. 

The journalists targeted include Nightwatchmen co-host Ken Borland: one of the “disciplined” five well-known and respected South Afrcan sports journos in what appears to be an infamous own-goal of epic proportions – pun absolutely intended. Hear from Ken as he discusses on record and for the first time his reflections on the wild and the whacky goings-on. 

Before the end of the first week of December the landscape of the top-echelon has changed – temporary in some instances but merciful change nonetheless -  and coaching positions are filled with outstanding leaders and for the coming four years. Faul, Smith, Nkwe and Boucher become the foundation stones around which the future short-term destiny of South African Cricket will be shaped.  As Ken states: This is not over.

Hear from them and Ken as he assesses the lie of the land as the wind changes direction and the conversation begins to turn back to on-field issues and worries (at last).


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A series that started with excitement, talk of transition and new faces ends with a second straight innings defeat and whitewashed 3-0 result. It wasn't meant to be end like this was it? Or, was it ever going to be any different? The stats read like a horror show if you follow the Proteas. Ken and The Zoo Lake Opener reflect on what was seen and read respectively. Audio inserts from a fatigued skipper Faf also make for an interesting listen. Settle in for an extended dissection of the match which saw numerous changes to playing personnel and the series which ends without the Proteas registering a single point on their first series outing in the ICC Test Championship: Played 3: Lost 3: Points 0.  

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