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Just found something interesting on Google: a link to a press release, issued by CSA on Monday, that begins:

7 Jun 2010 ... CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) on Monday announced a bumper international programme of matches in all three formats of the game against Zimbabwe ...

The summary text ends there, and following the link to the CSA website gives an error - looks like the press release has been pulled from their site.

Now, Zimbabwe are due to visit South Africa for a Future Tours Programme series in September, so on one level this isn't much of a surprise. But: ..all three formats of the game...? Could it be that this series will mark our Test return? Have CSA pulled the press release because they were announcing something that should really come from ZC and the ICC first? Or am I just getting a little overly hopeful?

I'll leave you all to speculate for a while...

If its true, it would be too harsh to resume top flight cricket against SA. We must be eased in, with matches against Bangla, WI and NZ before taking on other teams. Meanwhile, we must be getting regular matches against all the big guns in shorter formats.

I would of thought that it would of been mentioned in the commentary's on Ten Sports if a test return was imminent. As we well know the wonderful Mr Ali Campbell never misses an opportunity to talk about the big plans for Zimbabwe cricket whilst he is on air

On a separate note i hear India are playing a warm up T20 tomorrow against either the Mash Eagles or Zimbabwe "A". Has anyone head any clear confirmation about who India will be playing???

It will be a good chance for some of our fringe players.

The other possibility is that other sides were mentioned after Zimbabwe ("a bumper international programme of matches in all three formats of the game against Zimbabwe, Pakistan and..."). But it's fun to speculate.

Have heard nothing from the official channels about a warm-up match. But then I've heard very little from the official channels about most of this series, historic wins included.

I don't know why I'm excited because I don't think anyone has indicated a Test match before next year's world cup. Our batting is "ready" and could be helped by actually playing Tests. Our bowling can't take 20 wickets even though the spin attack is decent, so I'd have thought we'd wait till next year. However, it makes sense to return to Test cricket at our neighbour's but given the rankings I'd like WI or NZ (frankly, I'm tired of Bangladesh )

But I've been thinking about how different SA will find us in comparison to last year's 2 one dayers. How many matches is it supposed to be excluding the unlikely Tests?

FTP requirement is for at least 3 ODIs.

CrimsonAvenger wrote:If its true, it would be too harsh to resume top flight cricket against SA. We must be eased in, with matches against Bangla, WI and NZ before taking on other teams. Meanwhile, we must be getting regular matches against all the big guns in shorter formats.

No, if we are playing test cricket, we play who we are scheduled to play. No point playing against weak team to start with, how is that gonna help?

zimdan wrote:

CrimsonAvenger wrote:If its true, it would be too harsh to resume top flight cricket against SA. We must be eased in, with matches against Bangla, WI and NZ before taking on other teams. Meanwhile, we must be getting regular matches against all the big guns in shorter formats.

No, if we are playing test cricket, we play who we are scheduled to play. No point playing against weak team to start with, how is that gonna help?

It'll help a lot !
It'll give us the chance to feel our way back into test match cricket again, without having the embaressment of being smashed in the space of 2 days.

zimfan1 wrote:I would of thought that it would of been mentioned in the commentary's on Ten Sports if a test return was imminent. As we well know the wonderful Mr Ali Campbell never misses an opportunity to talk about the big plans for Zimbabwe cricket whilst he is on air

On a separate note i hear India are playing a warm up T20 tomorrow against either the Mash Eagles or Zimbabwe "A". Has anyone head any clear confirmation about who India will be playing???

It will be a good chance for some of our fringe players.

My inside sources reveals that India is playing the High Perforation team right now. SAF news seems to be doubtful.

sloandog wrote:

zimdan wrote:

CrimsonAvenger wrote:If its true, it would be too harsh to resume top flight cricket against SA. We must be eased in, with matches against Bangla, WI and NZ before taking on other teams. Meanwhile, we must be getting regular matches against all the big guns in shorter formats.

No, if we are playing test cricket, we play who we are scheduled to play. No point playing against weak team to start with, how is that gonna help?

It'll help a lot !
It'll give us the chance to feel our way back into test match cricket again, without having the embaressment of being smashed in the space of 2 days.

Better than being smashed after 2 beers.