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Explorer Mike Horn has been very important in South Africa’s preparations for their tour of England and he returned to their camp ahead of the final Test

Firdose Moonda14-Aug-2012With South Africa’s preparation for the final Test in the series against England almost complete, they have called on a special assistant to add the finishing touch. Explorer Mike Horn, famous for his solo full circle of the globe without motorised transport, has joined up with the camp in London to complete a journey that began at his home in Château d’Oex, Switzerland, before the tour began.The squad spent four days with Horn before arriving in England on an excursion that was focused on gaining mental strength through physical exertion. Their challenges included cycling up Alpine slopes, hiking for miles and skiing. Although they will not be doing anything similar with Horn this time, his presence will serve as motivation as they approach the match that will determine whether they are crowned world No.1.”He is an inspiration for us, he played a big role in our preparations before the tour and he will no doubt add value to our current team environment,” Gary Kirsten, South Africa head coach, said.Horn and Kirsten are friends who have worked together before, most notably during India’s 2011 World Cup campaign, which ended in victory. The Indian squad did not shy away from crediting Horn with helping them believe they could achieve and Kirsten is hopeful he will have the same effect on the South African side.”I can’t come here and teach the players how to bat or to bowl,” Horn admitted. “I am here to bring something away from the game. They have proven that they are a better team than before. There is a good ambience in the camp and the players are looking forward to performing better as a team. I’m not going to say much, I think my presence will say a lot.”Horn’s impact on the changes made to the South African mindset are obvious. Jacques Kallis referred to it as simply a “very positive frame of mind,” but it is more complex than that. There is a sense of confidence that did not run as deeply as before. Even Mark Boucher, the toughest, hardest member of the squad whose retirement was forced in the first match at Taunton after a horrific eye injury, admitted he had never been so severely challenged as he was in Switzerland.Along with Boucher, other members of the squad called the camp the toughest few days of their lives. Dale Steyn remembered the a day when they scaled a 3,300-metre peak, which included a rope climb and an ice-field which exhausted most of the squad but left Horn looking like he had “just pitched up home after a stroll in the park”.The day did not end there as Horn then led them to the top of a 750-metre peak, on an uphill cycle for 7 kilometres. “Players used every swearword in the book, until they were too exhausted to swear… and there was still more to climb,” Steyn wrote on his blog. “I had never been so physically exhausted in my life. But I was in Mike Horn territory, so I refused to get off my bike, refused to rest, refused to walk. I found reserves that I never knew I had.”AB de Villiers said that he had never been that exhausted before and that he pushed harder than he had ever had in his life. He now knew he could do more than he believed.”A lot of the rhetoric the team squad has sprouted since that trip has been of a similar nature. It sounds contrived and candyfloss but the expedition to the Alps appears to have made a major difference to the South African mindset. Often criticised for collapsing at the crucial moment, South Africa have shown displays of fortitude in the series so far.After a lacklustre start on the first day at The Oval, they returned to knock England back on the second morning and then batted them out of the match. When it looked like Kevin Pietersen was going to seize the series back for England at Headingley, South Africa returned to remove him swiftly the next morning. Having arrived in England with the mantra that winning crucial moments will win the series, South Africa have done that so far.Their most crucial moments await at Lord’s. Having Horn on the balcony to remind them of the things they have already conquered is what South Africa hope will spur them on to triumph in their biggest Test to date.

After six and a half years away from Test cricket, Zimbabwe soak in their triumphant return after beating Bangladesh

Firdose Moonda in Harare08-Aug-2011Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis and Alan Butcher, the Zimbabwe coach, were soaked in pink champagne and beer as they walked into their post match press conference after Zimbabwe’s historic win over Bangladesh. “Now I know what it means when they say you smell like a brewery,” Butcher said.What it really meant is that Butcher and his men had just sipped from the cup of victory, something Zimbabwe had not even had the chance to experience in the Test format in almost six years. To announce their return to the premier format of the game with authority was better than just a sip, it was gulp after gulp of satisfaction.”The good win might have silenced a few critics,” Taylor said. “Zimbabwe cricket invested in us and were patient with us encouraged us and we are really glad to replay that favour.”The new Test team represents a coming of age for some of the older players, who were once a group of young, inexperienced men thrown into the international scene out of need, not merit. After the player walkout in 2004, Zimbabwe had no choice but to field the best they had, even though many of them were not ready for the pressures of playing at the highest-level. Seven years have passed since then and their poise and self assurance has grown, their maturity is evident, and, finally, they appear ready. “It’s nice to see a lot us have stuck together,” Taylor said. “We’re a side that’s always worked really hard to try and improve.”The match had special significance for Taylor, who scored his maiden Test century in the second innings, at a time when the match was on the verge of tilting in Bangladesh’s favour. Zimbabwe resumed day four on 92 for 4, a lead of 175, but in a position that needed consolidation. “At the end of day three, we certainly felt a bit of pressure,” Taylor said. “I must commend Tatenda [Taibu] and Craig Ervine for the supporting role they played to get us back into a wining position.”Taibu scored 59 and Ervine, who was at the other end when Taylor reached his landmark, an unbeaten 35. “Getting the hundred was special but winning the match was more important,” Taylor said, taking the spotlight off himself and shining it on the collective effort. “The guys showed good courage and had smart heads on their shoulders.”Such a composed performance may seem somewhat extraordinary, given the length of time Zimbabwe has spent away from Test cricket, but it’s a testament to their domestic four-day tournament, which has become more competitive with the introduction of the franchise system two season ago, and the A team tours, such as the recent one against Australia A. “We prepared the best we could possibly prepare,” Taylor said, while Butcher added that even though the side lost to Australia A it showed them that could compete against big name players.One such big name player is Tamim Iqbal, who was named Test Player of the Year by the Wisden Cricketer magazine in 2010. The Bangladesh opening batsman was confident his side would chase down the target against an “ordinary” bowing attack. Instead, they crumbled, giving Taylor a reason to get his own back. “His [Tamim’s] performance was pretty ordinary too,” he said. “He is a quality player and his team were looking for him to get a big total and he got out pretty carelessly. He should let the performances do the talking and not concentrate too much with the mouth.”In particular, Tamim was made to eat his words about Jarvis, the bowler he called “just ok”, when Jarvis claimed the last two Bangladesh wickets after lunch to end with five for the match. Jarvis’ new-ball partner, Brian Vitori, also bagged five wickets and together they provided a big reason to be optimistic about Zimbabwe’s future. “They were outstanding,” Butcher said. “Every time they picked the ball up they looked a threat and made the Bangladeshis look uncomfortable.”With such an exciting side under his guidance, Butcher couldn’t hold back his smiles as he entered a new era with a Zimbabwe side that has gone from fractured to fertile under his tenure. “When I first took on the job, I felt that what the team needed was some love,” he said. “It seemed to me that any time that they did something wrong there were lots of people ready to jump down their throats. I have tried to instil a more positive outlook and culture and I think people have responded to that.”

Hosts Isle of Man and Italy moved to the top of their respective groups with their second successive victories of the tournament

Cricinfo staff28-Jul-2010Hosts Isle of Man registered their second win in as many games, with an authoritative 93-run win against Switzerland in Castletown. Openers Adam McAuley and Carl Wagstaffe were once again the architects for a good score, with a stand of 58 before the former was run out. Midhun Sandhya struck thrice in the middle overs, but had little impact on Ryan Burns who smashed 81 off 68 balls to take his side to 204 in the 40 overs. Captain Daniel Hawke then scuppered Switzerland’s hopes with a stifling spell of 3 for 9 in six overs. Harry Vines struck 41 as the innings meandered to 111 for 9.Italy’s bowlers set up an easy 60-run win against France in Castletown to take their side to the top of their group. Roshendra Abeywickrama kick-started Italy’s innings with 43 off 28 balls, but the rest of his side’s batsmen could not sustain the effort. Thomas Liddiard picked 4 for 46 in seven overs as Italy were bowled out for 155. Harpreet Singh then turned the tables on France with an incisive spell where he picked 4 for 15. France’s final score of 95 was an improvement of sorts, given they were 29 for 6 at one stage.Belgium brushed aside Greece’s challenge in quick time, racing to an eight-wicket win in a game that lasted under 40 overs in Tromode. Naman Parikh scythed through the Greek batting line-up with a six-wicket haul. Fraser McRae helped himself to three wickets as well, as Greece were shot out for 66. Things could have been much worse if not for Ioannis Vasilas and Georgio Kantas who scored 19 apiece. McRae followed it up with an unbeaten 45 as Belgium crossed the line in 16.1 overs.Germany ran Austria close in Crosby before losing by six runs in a tight encounter. Ciju Puthupally scored a patient 63 off 101 balls with only two boundaries as Austria laboured to 157 in their 40 overs. Jaskaran Singh and Tushar Marwaha picked three wickets each. Germany’s chase followed a similar template with opener Jaskaran scoring 55 off 83 balls, but without adequate support. Christoph Moslinger, Puthupally and Sohaib Farooq grabbed two wickets each as Germany lost one wicket too many, the last man departing off the penultimate ball with seven runs still required.

Sears, who made his Test debut against Australia earlier this year, is suffering from a knee injury

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2024Ben Sears, one of four frontline fast bowlers in New Zealand’s Test squad for their tour of India, will not be taking part in the three-match series because of a knee injury. Jacob Duffy, uncapped in Tests, has been called up as Sears’ replacement, and will leave for India on Wednesday morning, the first day of the first Test of the series.”Sears experienced pain in his left knee while training during the recent Test series in Sri Lanka and underwent scans in New Zealand last week,” a New Zealand Cricket statement on Tuesday morning said. “His departure to India was delayed after scans revealed a tear to his meniscus, and the first available medical consultation was sought in the hope that he might have been cleared.”However, following the medical advice, the decision was made to rule him out of the series. A plan on the best course of treatment and rehabilitation for the injury will be advised in due course.”Related

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In Sears’ absence, and without Duffy reaching India in time for the first Test, New Zealand will have to make up their fast-bowling attack from among Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke. Among frontline spin options, they have Ajaz Patel as their primary bowler, allrounders Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell, and the handy part-time spin of Glenn Phillips. New Zealand can also call upon the pace-bowling services of Daryl Mitchell if required.”We’re obviously disappointed for Ben, who made a strong start to his Test career during the home summer, and offers a genuine pace option,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said of Sears, who made his Test debut – his only appearance in the format so far – against Australia in Christchurch in March this year, and picked up five wickets in the game.”It remains to be seen how long we’ll be without him for, but we’re hopeful his road to a full recovery will be a short one. It’s an exciting opportunity for Jacob, who has been around Test the squad before. With three Tests ahead of us, he has every chance of making his Test debut.”Duffy, 30, has played six ODIs and 14 T20Is so far, and has 299 first-class wickets to his name.”Jacob’s recent experience playing for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship certainly pushed his place,” Stead said. “His performances in white-ball cricket for the Black Caps have always been impressive, and we’re confident he’ll be able to contribute if called upon.”New Zealand’s tour of India begins with the first Test in Bengaluru, before the series moves on to Pune and Mumbai.

Handscomb will still lead Victoria’s one-day team; Todd Murphy has been withdrawn from the Australia A squad

Alex Malcolm08-Sep-2023Will Sutherland has been named Victoria’s new Sheffield Shield captain and is also set to lead Australia A in three 50-over matches against New Zealand A in Queensland starting on Sunday.But his Australia A side won’t feature Test and Victoria offspinner Todd Murphy, who has been withdrawn from the series because of a niggle, which is understood to be minor.Sutherland, 23, led Victoria in four Shield matches late last season in the absence of long-time captain Peter Handscomb, who was touring with Australia’s Test side in India.His elevation as captain of both Victoria and Australia A is a sign of how highly he is regarded within the game. He has been named Australia A’s 50-over skipper ahead of Ashton Turner, who is also in the squad, despite Turner captaining Western Australia to the last two Marsh Cup titles and Perth Scorchers to the last two BBL titles.Victoria have made the last two Shield finals under Handscomb but have fallen short twice against WA. Handscomb, who will continue to lead Victoria’s 50-over Marsh Cup team, believes it is the right time to hand over the Shield role.”Will is a tremendous leader and has all the right attributes to succeed as a captain,” he said. “I have absolutely loved leading Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, but it’s now Will’s time to take our side forward.”I’m still excited to be captaining our one-day side and will be doing everything I can to support Will and the rest of the squad, both on and off the field.”Sutherland was full of praise for Handscomb and thrilled to get the opportunity to lead his state.”Pete has been a fantastic captain for us and has been incredibly supportive of me taking on this responsibility,” Sutherland said. “It’s an honour to captain Victoria. I loved the chance I had to captain the side last season while Pete was in India and am looking forward to taking on the challenge this season.”Knowing I have the support of Pete, Chris Rogers and the rest of the coaching and playing group fills me with a lot of confidence and I can’t wait to get started.”Meanwhile, Caleb Jewell has been added to the Australia A 50-over squad to face New Zealand A following his stunning 131 in a losing cause in the second four-day game against New Zealand A in Mackay.Melbourne Renegades fast bowler Tom Rogers has also been added to the squad. Wes Agar (back), Ben Dwarshuis (back) and Murphy (general soreness) have all been ruled out.Agar was due to play in the four-day matches but was ruled out with a back complaint and has not recovered in time. Dwarshuis injured his back during the second four-day game in Mackay.Murphy had been training with Victoria, having not played since the final Ashes Test in July, but suffered a slight niggle in the lead-up to travelling to Queensland and is understood to have been withdrawn as a precaution.Australia A 50-over squad: Will Sutherland (capt), Ollie Davies, Liam Hatcher, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Matt Short, Mark Steketee, Ashton Turner

The former fast bowler had held a similar role when Sri Lanka visited Australia for a T20I series in February

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2022Lasith Malinga, the former fast bowler and captain, has been appointed Sri Lanka’s bowling strategy coach for the white-ball leg of the team’s home series against Australia, which gets underway on June 7 in Colombo.”Malinga, during the tour, will support Sri Lanka’s bowlers, providing tactical insight and technical expertise to help the on-field execution of strategic plans,” SLC said via a press release.Malinga had held a similar role when Sri Lanka visited Australia for a five-match T20I series in February this year. While Sri Lanka lost 4-1, the bowlers did manage to keep a lid on the scoring to an extent. The highest total that Australia could manage across five games was 164 for 6.Related

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“Sri Lanka Cricket is confident that Malinga’s vast experience and renowned death-bowling expertise, especially in the T20 format, will help the team immensely going into this all-important series,” the release added.Malinga, one of the greatest limited-overs fast bowlers Sri Lanka has produced, retired from all forms of the game in 2021. He was the leading wicket-taker in T20Is at the time with a tally of 107 in 84 outings, before being overtaken by Shakib Al Hasan.Malinga served as bowling mentor of Mumbai Indians, back in IPL 2018, and more recently, was Rajasthan Royals’ fast-bowling coach, in 2022. The Sanju Samson-led Royals reached the final of the tournament for the first time since winning the trophy in 2008 but lost to Gujarat Titans by seven wickets. Through the course of the season, several Royals players, including the likes of Trent Boult, praised Malinga for his ability to simplify the art of T20 bowling.Sri Lanka will host Australia for three T20Is, five ODIs and three Tests. Cricket Australia had been monitoring the ongoing unrest in the island, sparked by an economic crisis, but they were always confident the tour would go ahead as planned.Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwanidu Fernando earned maiden call-ups for the T20I series, while there was no place in the team for allrounder Dhananajaya de Silva or wicketkeeper batters Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella, all of whom played a key role during Sri Lanka’s 1-0 win in the two-Test series in Bangladesh last month.Pathirana, 19, earned a call-up on the back of an impressive stint with Chennai Super Kings, in the IPL. While he played only three matches, his unorthodox action turned a lot of heads.

Ben Dwarshuis, who was out with a groin injury, included in Sydney Sixers squad, but might not be ready for action yet

Matt Roller12-Jan-2021Daniel Sams is set to return to the Sydney Thunder side in their derby fixture against the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night in Canberra following a break because of concussion. Sams missed the Thunder’s last two games after being subbed out of the defeat against the Brisbane Heat under concussion protocols, but has been added to an enlarged 19-man squad for Wednesday’s game at Manuka Oval.”He’s tracking really well,” Callum Ferguson, the Thunder captain, said. “He felt like he was really good and ready to play within a day or two of copping the head knock, but protocols don’t allow that. Obviously his health is the most important thing; not just now but in the long-term future.”Ben Dwarshuis has also been included in the Sixers’ 18-man squad after missing the win against the Heat with a groin injury he picked up against the Perth Scorchers, though stand-in captain Daniel Hughes said that he was a doubt for Wednesday’s fixture.”I think tomorrow might be a bit of a stretch but we’re not sure yet,” Hughes said. “He’s probably more likely to be ready for the game on Saturday against the Scorchers.”Related

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Meanwhile, the Heat have applied to add Morne Morkel to their squad ahead of Thursday’s game against the Melbourne Renegades, but have lost Mujeeb Ur Rahman to international duty earlier than expected.They had hoped Mujeeb would be available for the Renegades fixture before flying to the UAE ahead of Afghanistan’s series against Ireland, but a change in travel plans means that he has played his final game of the BBL season.”Unfortunately, he had to leave a little sooner than we had both anticipated and we will miss him,” Darren Lehmann, the Heat head coach, said. “But he has been excellent, and we wish him all the best with representing his country and for his cricket this year.”Morkel, a Sydney resident, signed a deal to play as a local in this season’s BBL but is yet to make an appearance after a prolonged period of rehabilitation following an ankle injury. Joe Denly has been cleared of a fracture after dislocating his finger against the Sixers.For the Renegades, leading run-scorer Shaun Marsh will return to the side after missing two games when he went on paternity leave. English allrounder Benny Howell could return to the squad with Mohammad Nabi on international duty and Rilee Rossouw injured, though coach Michael Klinger hinted that he would prioritise giving opportunities to young players with qualification for the finals in jeopardy.”Getting games into these guys now is going to develop them even quicker,” Klinger said. “With the injury to Rilee Rossouw and now with Nabi being away, these guys are going to keep getting opportunities. If they can be involved in winning teams it’s going to be huge for them.”Thursday night’s game will be the first of the season staged in Melbourne. Victorian public health officials have capped attendance at 15,000 for games in the city, at both the MCG and Docklands Stadium.

Sri Lanka could only make 8 for 85 in the second T20I and Australia knocked off the runs in under 10 overs

Andrew McGlashan at North Sydney Oval30-Sep-2019Australia women produced a dominant display in the field as Sri Lanka Women were overwhelmed in the second T20I at North Sydney Oval. The captain, Chamari Atapattu, could not match her heroics of the previous night as Sri Lanka managed just 8 for 85 which Australia knocked off with more than 10 overs to spare.On a chilly evening under lights, Sri Lanka were never in the contest after electing to bat. Tayla Vlaeminck struck in a wicket-maiden opening over and Australia cut off Atapattu’s favoured scoring areas more effectively than the previous night when she clubbed 113 off 66 balls. Any hope Sri Lanka had of posting a decent total disappeared when Atapattu was run out by a direct hit from Georgia Wareham in the 10th over.Atapattu managed 12 fours and six sixes herself the day before, but this time the entire Sri Lanka innings featured just nine – with two coming off the final two deliveries – against an Australia outfit that were threatening throughout.Delissa Kimmince (knee) and Ashleigh Gardner (hamstring) were rested and replaced by Nicola Carey and Erin Burns. Vlaeminck, handed the opening over in a change of tactics, was too quick for Yasoda Mendis, who swung widely and lost her off stump and Anushka Sanjeewani was cleaned up by Megan Schutt. The six-over powerplay brought 22 runs and included just three boundaries.There was no let-up outside of the fielding restrictions as Australia’s sharpness in the field stood out, typified by the direct hits by Wareham and Burns. Wareham’s first two overs then cost just two runs, and included the wicket of Harshitha Madavi, after she was the seventh bowler used by Meg Lanning before Carey claimed her first T20I wicket by bowling Nilakshi de Silva.Carey bowled her four overs for just nine runs and contributed one of three maidens in the innings – the most Australia have produced in a T20I. The stranglehold continued almost until the end, but Ama Kanchana managed three boundaries in the last two overs including dispatching the last two balls from Ellyse Perry.Alyssa Healy, playing her 100th T20I, gave the chase a brisk start before falling to an outstanding catch as de Silva ran back from mid-on and held a steepling chance as she dived full length. Australia’s fielding had been top draw, but that pipped everything.Burns was given the chance to bat at No. 3, taking the chance with an unbeaten 30 off 18 balls, and Beth Mooney followed her century in the opening match with a neat 28 as victory came at a canter.

Durham’s surge to the top of North Group is the season’s heartwarming story – as for Northants, they are now consigned to bottom spot

ECB Reporters Network10-Aug-2018
ScorecardDurham went top of the North Group of the Vitality Blast, and qualified for the quarter-finals in the process, with a 12-run win at Northamptonshire as their Twenty20 season continued to bring pleasure where for most of the financially-stricken past two years there has been only pain.Having set 174 for 7 after being sent in, Durham chipped away in the second innings and just as Northants reduced the equation to 34 needed from 20 balls with five wickets in hand, the visitors took three wickets in four balls to end the contest.A tenth defeat consigns Northants to last place in the North Group and they were behind in this game from the first over that cost 17.Tom Latham pulled Nathan Buck for his first boundary and pulled another that drifted away on the breeze for the night’s first six over deep square leg before cutting Brett Hutton for four more and pulling Ben Sanderson for a third boundary as the Poweplay yielded 59 for the loss of Graham Clark for 16. But trying to pull Seekkuge Prasanna, Latham dragged the leg-spinner into his stumps to fall for 26.Latham and Paul Collingwood moved Durham to 74 for 1 after seven overs buts after Latham fell, Collingwood went four balls later for 26 as the visitors reached halfway 82 for 3.Collingwood skipped down the pitch to lift Buck over mid-off for four and pulled Hutton backward of square for six. Outside the Powerplay he stepped out to slap Rory Kleinveldt wide of long-on for four but trying to run Ben Sanderson to third man, got a thin edge to Ben Duckett stood up to the stumps.Ryan Pringle heaved Sanderson wide of long-on and reverse-swept Prasanna for four but was trapped lbw by the leg-spinner for 13. Stuart Poynter slog-swept over deep square for six and pulled Buck for a boundary but having reached 31, top-edged a cut stroke and was very well caught by Ben Curran running back from point.Ryan Davies pulled Sanderson for a flat six in front of deep square before slapping two boundaries past extra-cover in a useful 21 from 13 balls before Mark Wood pulled and then cut boundaries to end the innings with a 17 from 9 balls.In reply, the Northants’ Poweprlay was of stark contrast. Ben Duckett was missed on 5 by Nathan Rimmington who simply lost a skied pull shot in the floodlights. Duckett then pulled Rimmington for four but it was a struggle in the first six overs where only 37 were scored.Josh Cobb flicked Rushworth over midwicket for six and cleared his front leg to heave Wood over mid-on for four but trying to hit over the off side, edged Wood into his off stump to fall for 14, after Ricardo Vasconcelos slapped Rushworth straight to point for 1 in the opening over of the chase.Outside the Powerplay, Charlie Thurston cut Paul Collingwood to deep cover but Duckett hit Ben Whitehead’s leg-spin either side of long-on for boundaries and swept Collingwood past midwicket for four more.104 were needed from 10 overs and Alex Wakely edged a boundary just out of the reach of the wicketkeeper and Duckett reverse-swept narrowly over short-third man’s head. But Wakely edged Collingwood behind for 16 and Duckett was lbw for 40.Seekkuge Prasanna was promoted to No. 6 and, with 82 needed from 42 balls, hammered two boundaries past extra-cover and lifted a six over long leg. 60 were needed from 30 balls and the Sri Lankan hit Collingwood for six, went down on one leg to lift Rimmington over deep square but holed out next ball and the chase collapsed.

Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has been released from South Africa’s Test squad ahead of the third Test against New Zealand, which starts on March 25 in Hamilton

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2017Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has been released from South Africa’s Test squad ahead of the third Test against New Zealand, which starts on March 25 in Hamilton. The move left South Africa with only Wayne Parnell as back-up to the quicks – Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, and Morne Morkel. Chris Morris had been released from the squad midway through the second Test in Wellington.South Africa’s spin department, however, has been bolstered by the addition of offspinner Dane Piedt, who joined the squad last weekend.Olivier, 24, made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg in January this year, claiming match figures of 5 for 57 in South Africa’s innings victory. Olivier will now have to wait until at least July, when South Africa tour England, to add to his maiden Test cap.