South Africa’s test squad to tour New Zealand - A stab in the heart to test cricket
In The Cordon Cricket Podcast | January 02, 2024
By Callum Dunk from In the Cordon Podcast
South Africa has unveiled a 14-man Test squad for the imminent 2-test series versus New Zealand, set to take place in New Zealand. A pivotal observation emerges from this announcement: merely two members from the victorious test eleven against India at Centurion have secured positions in this squad. The selection indeed reflects what is being labelled as a 'B-strength squad,' a move that resonates deeply within the realm of test cricket, signifying the concerning sway of commercialised formats like T20 cricket. This selection underlines the influence wielded by the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its franchises on global cricket—a concern that warrants attention.
Notably, Neil Brand, an uncapped player, assumes the captaincy—a choice that might seem unfamiliar to followers well-versed in contemporary cricket. The inclusion of seven uncapped players out of the fourteen designated to tour New Zealand in February poses a substantial setback for the broader landscape of world cricket. While acknowledging the commendable impact of the SA20, South Africa's T20 competition, in bolstering the country's cricket and fortifying its cricket board's financial footing, the ramifications of this selection loom large.
Deliberations between the New Zealand Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa regarding the scheduling of this test series have been ongoing for months. In response to potential scheduling conflicts with the SA20 tournament, Cricket South Africa had previously hinted at dispatching a second-string team to New Zealand. The subsequent decision to follow through with this course of action poses a significant conundrum for world cricket, particularly the traditional test cricket.
A scenario featuring a full-strength South African lineup—including formidable talents such as Bavuma, Markram, Rabada, Nortje, and Jansen could have considerably bolstered the team's prospects in this series. It's noteworthy that New Zealand has never secured a test series victory against South Africa. However, this turn of events appears to pave an easier path for New Zealand in the World Test Championship, casting doubts on the viability of the championship if such trends persist. The implications are profound, signifying a disregard and lack of reverence toward the sanctity of test cricket.
South Africa has previously witnessed notable figures like former captain Faf Du Plessis and Quinton De Kock redirect their focus away from test cricket, gravitating instead toward various global T20 tournaments. The recent squad announcement begs the question of whether more South Africans and international cricket luminaries will choose to forego representing their nation in favour of pursuing lucrative T20 contracts.
The actions of Cricket South Africa reverberate as a poignant blow not just to test cricket but also to the broader scope of international cricket and its ardent followers.
Podcast - Mark Cosgrove Northern Suburbs to ODI Debut
The lure of the krugerrand has long dominated the administration of cricket in South Africa and its players. Passionate students of the game like Barry Richards and Kepler Wessels have long been lost to the Proteas game in the long shadow cast by Hansie Cronje’s defection to the dark world of promised full pockets for the least work.
While ever Test appearances entail the most work for the least pay, the temptation will exist but its always more prevalent when administration is arrogant. If nothing else, the Packer years proved that.
Ultimately, the ICC has the brief to ensure the welfare of Test cricket. Negotiated base payments, agreed with all Test players and enforced by the governing body, would be one way to go forward. Stronger control over scheduling and a reduction of the international commitments of players would another. Abolishing international ODI matches and tournaments in favour of a tighter, reduced T20 schedule would be another. Players have become the stones from which a decreasing supply of blood is being drawn. Resting control of the ICC from the dominant Indian interests would be a third.
In the meantime, Test playing administrations who fail to fulfil their playing commitments with full strength teams should be penalised World Test Championship points and suffer heavy financial sanctions, to be paid into the pockets of host teams short changed by B squads.
The track record of the ICC pretty much ensures action won’t be taken. Like FIFA, it first needs to clean up its own shady corridors.