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3 test series commences on boxing day
India should be too strong, lot of changes for the Proteas
They are making a lot of excuses why they have been crap.
They are also looking to field 7 players of colour in the side. For now it stands at 6
www.espncricinfo.com
It's been six months since South Africa last played a Test, in a series that was designed to kick-start their renaissance in the longest format. Under a new captain, Dean Elgar, and with no one remaining from the squad that lifted the Test mace in 2012, South Africa took the first steps on their new journey with a 2-0 win over West Indies, a solid start that they have the opportunity to build on now.
This summer is crucial to South Africa's hopes of faring better in the second World Test Championship cycle than the first, where they finished fifth. Considering the calamitous two years South African cricket had between 2019 and 2021 both on and off the field, that final position may even flatter them, but it still sits uncomfortably. This is a country with a history of going nine years unbeaten on the road and who still managed to establish some fortresses at home. With a fierce attack and a mostly reliable, if not always exciting, batting line-up, South Africa's best quality was that they used to be very, very tough to beat, and they want to get that back. So far there have been several reasons why that hasn't been allowed to happen.
For a start, the Covid-19 pandemic has robbed South Africa of regular Test cricket. While a six-month break over what has mostly been winter in a World Cup year is not entirely unusual, South Africa have only played five Tests in 2021, so far. They should have played nine but Australia opted not to travel for a four-Test series in March. Now they have three series back-to-back, with three Tests against India, two in New Zealand and two more against Bangladesh, before an August tour to England for three more Tests. If all goes as planned, South Africa should play at least ten Tests in 2022, and can build on the foundation they laid in the Caribbean.
A second factor that has stood in South Africa's way of developing has been the regularity of big-name retirements. Since Mark Boucher's in 2012, they have lost an icon player almost every year: Jacques Kallis in 2013, Graeme Smith in 2014, Alviro Petersen in 2015; JP Duminy in 2017, as also Kyle Abbott to Kolpak; Morne Morkel and AB de Villiers in 2018; Duanne Olivier in 2019 (though he is back since) and Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn; Vernon Philander in 2020; and Faf du Plessis in 2021. That's a baker's dozen of players who held down spots in the team, so it's no exaggeration to say there has been an overhaul of the entire team. South Africa have also had five captains and five coaches in the last nine years, and CSA have been through five CEOs. So yes, Elgar had a point when he spoke about lack of stability. Which brings us to the drama.
From changing transformation targets, to a domestic restructure that was being challenged in the courts, to an administration on the brink of collapse, playing cricket in this country has never been only about what happens on the field. In the last two years that has been felt more acutely than ever before. In dealing with the aftermath of former CEO Thabang Moroe's suspension and subsequent firing, CSA have been forced to deal with one of the central issues of Moroe's term, which was a push for higher quotas.
Since 2016, the national men's team has been required to field six players of colour, including at least two black Africans, on average over the course of a season. Last year there was a move to push that up to seven players of colour, with a minimum of three black players, which was proposed by the old board and put in abeyance by the interim board. The new board is understood to be reviewing the targets, but for now, the status quo of six players of colour including two black Africans, remains.
India should be too strong, lot of changes for the Proteas
They are making a lot of excuses why they have been crap.
They are also looking to field 7 players of colour in the side. For now it stands at 6
What will new-look South Africa's starting XI against India look like?
A set of fresh faces, a strong bowling attack, a new captain at the helm - might this be the key to the side's Test renaissance?
www.espncricinfo.com
It's been six months since South Africa last played a Test, in a series that was designed to kick-start their renaissance in the longest format. Under a new captain, Dean Elgar, and with no one remaining from the squad that lifted the Test mace in 2012, South Africa took the first steps on their new journey with a 2-0 win over West Indies, a solid start that they have the opportunity to build on now.
This summer is crucial to South Africa's hopes of faring better in the second World Test Championship cycle than the first, where they finished fifth. Considering the calamitous two years South African cricket had between 2019 and 2021 both on and off the field, that final position may even flatter them, but it still sits uncomfortably. This is a country with a history of going nine years unbeaten on the road and who still managed to establish some fortresses at home. With a fierce attack and a mostly reliable, if not always exciting, batting line-up, South Africa's best quality was that they used to be very, very tough to beat, and they want to get that back. So far there have been several reasons why that hasn't been allowed to happen.
For a start, the Covid-19 pandemic has robbed South Africa of regular Test cricket. While a six-month break over what has mostly been winter in a World Cup year is not entirely unusual, South Africa have only played five Tests in 2021, so far. They should have played nine but Australia opted not to travel for a four-Test series in March. Now they have three series back-to-back, with three Tests against India, two in New Zealand and two more against Bangladesh, before an August tour to England for three more Tests. If all goes as planned, South Africa should play at least ten Tests in 2022, and can build on the foundation they laid in the Caribbean.
A second factor that has stood in South Africa's way of developing has been the regularity of big-name retirements. Since Mark Boucher's in 2012, they have lost an icon player almost every year: Jacques Kallis in 2013, Graeme Smith in 2014, Alviro Petersen in 2015; JP Duminy in 2017, as also Kyle Abbott to Kolpak; Morne Morkel and AB de Villiers in 2018; Duanne Olivier in 2019 (though he is back since) and Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn; Vernon Philander in 2020; and Faf du Plessis in 2021. That's a baker's dozen of players who held down spots in the team, so it's no exaggeration to say there has been an overhaul of the entire team. South Africa have also had five captains and five coaches in the last nine years, and CSA have been through five CEOs. So yes, Elgar had a point when he spoke about lack of stability. Which brings us to the drama.
From changing transformation targets, to a domestic restructure that was being challenged in the courts, to an administration on the brink of collapse, playing cricket in this country has never been only about what happens on the field. In the last two years that has been felt more acutely than ever before. In dealing with the aftermath of former CEO Thabang Moroe's suspension and subsequent firing, CSA have been forced to deal with one of the central issues of Moroe's term, which was a push for higher quotas.
Since 2016, the national men's team has been required to field six players of colour, including at least two black Africans, on average over the course of a season. Last year there was a move to push that up to seven players of colour, with a minimum of three black players, which was proposed by the old board and put in abeyance by the interim board. The new board is understood to be reviewing the targets, but for now, the status quo of six players of colour including two black Africans, remains.
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