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New Delhi, April 14, 2006- ESPN STAR Sports, Asia's number one
broadcaster, will telecast Live and exclusive, New Zealand's African
Safari starting April 15, 2006. The islanders play a 3 test series
against the Proteas in continuance to their 5 ODI series in October
2005. New Zealand is the second team from the pacific to tour the
African country this month after Australia.
Kiwi premier bowler, Shane Bond, has been cleared to play the First
test despite a niggling knee injury that kept the fast bowler sidelined
during warm up matches. The lanky bowler has been a proven match
winner for the Kiwis with an impressive record of 64 wickets in
14 tests at an average of just 17.57 runs per wicket.
On the other hand, South African skipper Graeme Smith is struggling
with his finger injury to be fit for the first test. The young Proteas
captain and opening batsman has been fighting to be in shape since
the last test he played against Australia in the first week of April.
Jacques Kallis, who captained South Africa in that test, is on stand
by to lead them in case of Smith not being declared fit.
Kallis or Smith, the Proteas will have a big task on hand after
a demoralising first ever whitewash at home in tests by Australia.
The Kiwis would be looking to take their chances with the master
tactician Stephen Fleming marshalling his troops ever so effectively.
Fleming is arguably best captain in the game today.
The two sides have met each other 30 times in a test match with
South Africa leading the head to head count 14-6. The Kiwis would
be looking to set the record straight and would look to take the
series to prove their cynics wrong. New Zealand has been one of
the best ODI sides but still needs to put things in perspective
in Tests and they will be counting on this opportunity in South
Africa.
Catch the action live and exclusive on ESPN STAR Sports
Schedule of the Bangladesh Vs Australia Test series
Date
Time
Event
Channel
April 15-20, 2006
13.58
South Africa Vs New Zealand, First Test Match, Centurion
ESPN
April 27- May 1, 2006
13.58
South Africa Vs New Zealand, Second Test Match, Cape Town
ESPN
May 5-9, 2006
13.28
South Africa Vs New Zealand, Third Test Match, Johannesburg
ESPN
For further information, contact ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd at
011-4154 4444 - 51:
Sameer Bajaj, Manager - Corporate Communications, Email:
sameerb@espnstar.co.in
Or Tarundeep Singh, IPAN at 011- 42492100, 9811017310 Email:
tarundeep.singh@ipan.com
For the latest schedules and programme information visit
<http://www.espnstar.com/> www.espnstar.com
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