Test Cricket Tours - South Africa to Bangladesh 2007-08
Tour of
Bangladesh 2007-08Captain: Graeme
Smith
42nd official
Test tour
Second
Test-playing tour of Bangladesh
by South Africa
(February
- March 2008)
South
Africa's selection panel included only four
coloured players in the squad for Bangladesh
despite reminders about the transformation policy guidelines from the
President of Cricket South Africa that there
should be seven. He was over-ruled by Gerald Majola, the Chief Executive
Officer.The President's power of veto
was then removed. The squad was announced after a delay of nearly a week and
only one day before the team were due to depart from South Africa for Bangladesh.
The South Africans were able to
treat the Bangladeshi tour as a preparation for the Test series against India.
South Africa's
batsmen scored huge totals. Although they were restricted in the ODIs by the Bangladesh
spin bowlers, the home side's batting proved very fragile, as it had in the
Tests.Smith questioned whether it
would not be better for himself, Kallis and Boucher to miss the tour and
rest, giving other players some Test experience. As it was, Smith continued
playing but Kallis and Boucher were rested before the forthcoming encounter
with India.
Joubert Strydom (convenor of selectors),Mustapha Khan and Shafiek Abrahams
Mickey Arthur (coach) was taken off the national selection
panel on 9 February.
Selection
Unavailable: -
Tour Party Announced :12 February 2008.
Not selected :Herschelle
Gibbs, Charl Langeveldt, Monde Zondeki
Neil McKenzie (calf
injury) and Andre Nel (neck injury) were selected after passing fitness
tests.
Withdrawal :Paul Harris
(surgery on an abcess)Robin Peterson
was then called up to replace him on 13 February.
Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Makhaya Ntini were given a break
for the ODI series in Bangladesh.
Time between selection and departure from South Africa
x days
(12 February to depart in Saf)
Travel
The team arrived at Zia
International Airport,
Dhaka, on 15 February 2008.
Five one-day players (less Vilander who tore a
hamstring and withdrew from the ODI squad) left South Africa on Tuesday afternoon
4 March to join the touring party and arrived in time for Wednesday
afternoon's practice.
•With South Africa behind on first innings at
Mirpur, Kallis took 5 for 30 to bowl Bangladesh out.
• Neil McKenzie and
Graeme Smith put on 415 for the first wicket at Chittagong. This beat the world record for
Test opening partnerships that had stood for 52 years.
• Steyn took 7 for 101 in
the match at Chittagong,
while Robin Peterson had his first five wicket haul in Test cricket with
5-33.
Tour Summary
P
W
L
D
Aban
Test Matches
2
2
0
0
0
Other first-class matches
0
-
-
-
-
†Minor matches
2
0
0
1
1
§
One-day internationals
3
3
0
0
0
All Matches
7
5
0
1
1
† not first-class
§one-day international
Return to South
Africa
Kallis, Boucher, McKenzie,
Ntini, Prince and Peterson returned home after the second Test.
The South African management
changed the plans to travel directly from Bangladesh
to India, so the remainder
of the team flew back to South Africa
on Saturday 15 March and would have less than a week at home before flying to
India
for another three-Test series.