Former Australia captain Steve Waugh expressed concern over the state of test cricket, as South Africa has chosen to send a shadow side to New Zealand for a test tour, while their top players participate in a domestic T20 tournament. Waugh believes that this decision poses a threat to the longest format of the game.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has selected seven uncapped players, with skipper Neil Brand, for next month’s two-test tour of New Zealand. This comes at a time when the second edition of the SA20 is set to begin on Jan. 10.
Waugh is of the opinion that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other administrators should intervene to protect test cricket. He further mentioned in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, “Obviously they don’t care.”
He also criticized the lack of respect shown for New Zealand cricket, stating that if he was in New Zealand’s position, he wouldn’t even play the series. He urged the ICC to step in, otherwise test cricket would no longer be a true test of skill against the best players.
Reuters reached out to the ICC for comment but received no response. Some have pointed out that the ICC has limited control over scheduling bilateral cricket or domestic T20 leagues, as it is managed by the individual boards involved. Chairman Greg Barclay has previously acknowledged the challenge and stated, “there’s not a lot we can do” about T20 leagues dominating the calendar.
In recent years, franchise cricket has overshadowed bilateral tours, leading to challenges in assembling the strongest squads. The CSA had previously called off a tour of Australia last year to ensure the participation of their top players in the inaugural edition of the SA T20, which is supported by Indian Premier League franchises.
Australia captain Pat Cummins expressed hope that South Africa’s decision does not signify a decline in test cricket, referring to it as just a phase. He believes that the issue lies in the amount of cricket being played across various formats. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shan Masood suggested that better scheduling could have prevented this situation. He emphasized the importance of the best sides playing in the World Test Championship, regretting the absence of South Africa’s strongest squad.
Both Cummins and Masood’s concerns reflect the growing sentiment about the scheduling challenges and the impact of T20 leagues on the traditional format of the game.
Reported by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney and Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; edited by Peter Rutherford
