🏏Cricket Correspondent and Broadcaster. 🧘🏽‍♀️Yoga Teacher Trainer and Scholar. 📚Book Lover. 🏃🏾‍♀️Slow Runner and Swimmer. 🏊🏾‍♀️https://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3mdp4n6f43227T20 World Cup mode activated! My weekend long read on Corbin Bosch including: 🧱 his obsession with lego! 🇦🇺 why he moved to Australia and came back 🏏 his cricketing goals for the next two years Read here:⬇️ https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/how-late-bloomer-corbin-bosch-is-making-up-for-lost-time-152143031 Jan 2026 05:49 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdp4n6f43227https://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lzgwc7cc2k2aIn South African cricket, that 2am phone call came from Quinton de Kock and was to express his desire to play international cricket again. Now, he finds himself in the white-ball squads to Pakistan and could be in line for the next two World Cups. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/quinton-de-kock-comes-back-on-his-own-with-no-strings-attached-150409122 Sep 2025 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzgwc7cc2k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lxbof6a7vs2lWhite elephant or cash cow? Zimbabwe’s new stadium project faces questions. I try to look for some answers here: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/zimbabwe-cricket-flagship-stadium-at-victoria-falls-draws-criticism-150040726 Aug 2025 04:27 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxbof6a7vs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lvsh2bqu7s2gOne of cricket's great redemption stories comes full circle. Brendan Taylor is back! We spoke a few months ago about going through rehab, a ban and how he hopes to make a difference. Looking forward to seeing his return. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/brendan-taylor-s-biggest-battle-148604507 Aug 2025 09:40 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvsh2bqu7s2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lvqpzjzfsc25Hello Summer (she says, from a cold Cape, promising to be better on this app) South Africa's eight months of non-stop cricket starts this week with a T20 series in Australia & a new-look opening pair. Ryan Rickelton's already a senior and shared thoughts here: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ryan-rickelton-won-t-change-approach-as-he-looks-to-make-t20i-opening-spot-his-own-149818806 Aug 2025 17:16 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvqpzjzfsc25https://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lu5tsvjnic2oI've been covering the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco for the last two weeks and it has been both joyous and challenging. Enjoyed the opportunity to write about some of my best memories for the The Guardian's Moving the Goalposts: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/17/wafcon-offers-spectacular-songs-and-goals-but-where-is-the-next-generation17 Jul 2025 11:38 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu5tsvjnic2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3ls6lqlzqjk2mTried to stay as present as possible in the last 3 weeks which means I haven’t posted as much as I could/should have but it’s been special. Memories for a lifetime.22 Jun 2025 07:56 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3ls6lqlzqjk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lr5ziwt4ds2nTest match week! #WTCFinal week! To kick things off, I’ve got an exclusive with South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma on preparation, pressure and what we all may have got wrong about him in 2016. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-vs-south-africa-the-wtc-final-is-the-biggest-match-of-temba-bavuma-s-career-but-he-knows-the-pressure-148950309 Jun 2025 09:04 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lr5ziwt4ds2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lqw5d2thys2cWorld Test Championship final build up is in full swing. It was great to chat to Graeme Smith and Vernon Philander - the architects of the 2012 triumph - on if and how South Africa can do it again. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-look-to-come-full-circle-at-lord-s-wtc-final-2025-148924706 Jun 2025 05:51 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqw5d2thys2chttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lpr6m2m4kk2dI'm really happy to share that I finished second for Best Colour Piece in Africa on the AIPS awards! https://www.aipsmedia.com/aips/pages/articles/2025/36662.html22 May 2025 13:05 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpr6m2m4kk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lpogvl6zh22vOur latest @espncricinfo.com Powerplay podcast is a deep-dive into West Indies and how they will move on from failing to qualify for the World Cup. They're in England, who are under a new captain and coach and also starting again. @valkeriebaynes.bsky.social https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/powerplay-podcast-west-indies-look-to-bounce-back-in-english-summer-148675821 May 2025 10:56 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpogvl6zh22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lpglntt7mc2oZimbabwe will play 11 Tests this year (8 at home) despite not being part of the World Test Championship. Why? How much will it cost them? And how much will they gain? I found out here: ⬇️ https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/2025-is-a-bumper-test-year-for-zimbabwe-like-none-before-148602418 May 2025 08:00 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpglntt7mc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3loqmsjh5qk2pShukri Conrad's plan to get to ensure South Africa have their best players for bilaterals: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-coach-shukri-conrad-confident-players-will-put-national-duty-above-t20-leagues-148549009 May 2025 14:22 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3loqmsjh5qk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3logt64k7gs2tFor the last month, we've been wondering why Kagiso Rabada returned from the IPL and everyone we asked claimed they didn't know. This was why. To serve a ban for failing a drugs test. He is now cleared to play. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-2025-kagiso-rabada-cleared-to-return-to-action-for-gujarat-titans-148470505 May 2025 16:49 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3logt64k7gs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lnxdn4ombs2pWomen's ODIs over the last month have been pretty lit 🔥 and this is the latest! India win a thriller despite a Tazmin Brits hundred thanks to Sneh Rana's five-for. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-women-s-odi-tri-series-2025-1476972/india-women-vs-south-africa-women-2nd-match-1476981/match-report29 Apr 2025 13:01 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnxdn4ombs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3ln6ocohyus2wNot sure I quite believed everything I saw at these qualifiers. What a tournament! Pakistan surprised us all, Bangladesh will breathe a sigh of relief and oh my word West Indies. As we say… eish! https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wwc-qualifiers-west-indies-historic-chase-ends-in-heartbreak-as-bangladesh-seal-world-cup-spot-148207919 Apr 2025 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln6ocohyus2whttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lmwixvyhz22nThe ICC's initiative to support Afghan female cricketers in exile will be funded by them, the ECB, BCCI and CA and NOT from the Afghanistan Cricket Board's Full Member disbursements. More here: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/bcci-ecb-ca-to-help-fund-icc-plan-to-support-afghan-women-cricketers-148155416 Apr 2025 11:39 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmwixvyhz22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lmrxyqokkk2mSome interesting developments as the ICC pledge to support Afghanistan's female cricketers in exile, without even contacting them first to let them know. This is what the initiative could look like: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/afghanistan-women-cricketers-contracted-with-acb-could-first-benefit-from-icc-s-support-initiative-148118614 Apr 2025 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmrxyqokkk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lmemxoqw6c2uWomen's ODI World Cup Qualifiers are underway and to kick things off @valkeriebaynes.bsky.social and I chatted to Orla Prendagast about the importance of their first game against Pakistan (on now), her cricketing journey and much more: 🎧 here: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/powerplay-podcast-world-cup-qualifiers-a-different-kind-of-pressure-orla-prendergast-148044709 Apr 2025 09:02 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmemxoqw6c2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lkxg5zxz4s2iFinishing off this very cool week with a piece I am so proud of in @theguardian.com that looks at the complexities of Kirsty Coventry's rise from Zimbabwe's Sports Minister to the IOC presidency. Read here: ⬇️ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/22/kirsty-coventry-sports-biggest-job-ioc-international-olympic-committee22 Mar 2025 09:31 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkxg5zxz4s2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lkvjckh6s22iWhat a week! @valkeriebaynes.bsky.social and I had our podcast longlisted for an award, my social media piece was also longlisted and I sold THREE stories in Kirsty Coventry and the IOC Presidential Election. Not necessarily familiar territory for me but I've thoroughly enjoyed covering.21 Mar 2025 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkvjckh6s22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3ljop2fwlpc2p“A bad day to have a bad day” as South Africa finish up at the #ChampionsTrophy as losing semi-finalists. It’s another knockout gone wrong but there’s no reason to be too upset. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/champions-trophy-sa-down-but-not-out-after-loss-that-will-help-them-keep-learning-147608306 Mar 2025 04:51 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljop2fwlpc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/firdosem.bsky.social/post/3lj7qrcnqy227Honest, frank and to the point: Rassie van der Dussen says it like it is about the Champions Trophy scheduling. And... flips the script, by putting the pressure back on the team who don't have to travel and can play all their games at one venue. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/van-der-dussen-don-t-have-to-be-rocket-scientist-to-know-playing-all-games-in-dubai-gives-india-advantage-147515828 Feb 2025 06:11 +0000at://did:plc:eecrcf4gma2guiadpp2h7wul/app.bsky.feed.post/3lj7qrcnqy227