There are bound to be many poignant moments for lovers of Test cricket over the next few years as it continues to be marginalised and diminished to the point of extinction in many countries.
Just two days after a “summit” held in the Lord’s Long Room at which invited delegates were warned that the number of Test playing nations could be reduced to six within four years, SA announced their squad for two Tests against the West Indies in August.
The MCC invited a host of cricketing dignitaries to discuss the way forward for the global game. They included ICC chair Greg Barclay, Rajasthan Royals owner Manoj Badale, KKR CEO Venky Mysore, for IPL CEO and SA20 shareholder Sundar Raman as well as Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird, corporate and business leaders, former players and luminaries from around the world. Graeme Smith was there representing SA.
“We [Cricket Australia] don’t feel we should dictate to any country, but we’re open to ideas and proposals on how to support Test cricket,” Baird told the Melbourne Age. “There’s a summer to fill, and white-ball cricket can play a role, but Test cricket still remains the dominant game in Australia. It is very clear Australia will support and invest and grow Test cricket opportunities as long as we possibly can.”
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his observation was that, if the “big three” of India, England and Australia are actually going to be persuaded to reinvest some of their wealth in supporting the other Test playing nations, it will be motivated by what is best for them — not for the strugglers.
If the big three still want to have five or six Tests per home summer, they need (decent) opposition. The most powerful administrator in the game, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, was conspicuous by his absence from the gathering.
Meanwhile, only three of the Proteas squad will arrive in Trinidad having played any first-class cricket for at least three months. David Bedingham (Durham), Wiaan Mulder (Leicestershire) and Matthew Breetzke (Northamptonshire) are playing county cricket while half a dozen are playing T20 cricket in the MLC league in the US. Seven of the 16-man squad will attend a preparation camp in Durban later this month.
“It’s part of how things operate these days,” said a philosophical head coach, Shukri Conrad. “We’ll have 10 days in Trinidad with the luxury of a four-day warm-up match. We just have to roll with the punches, that’s the way of the world now. We’ll have a full week of preparation in Trinidad, we’ll make it work...”
One man who won’t be involved is key all rounder, Marco Jansen, who has been rested. Ironically, Jansen made it clear several times during the T20 World Cup that Test cricket was still his favourite format and how much he wished SA played more of it.
“It’s been a conversation that [white ball coach] Rob Walter and I have had for the longest time. Marco had two months at the IPL, straight into the World Cup then the MLC. These guys never get time to do some work on their bodies and technical work. As the year unfolds you’ll see different bowlers being given breaks at different times,” Conrad said.
“We have eight Test matches left in this cycle of the World Test Championship — we can’t fool ourselves, we probably have to win seven of them to have a decent crack at making the final. Every Test match is critical with the context of the Test Championship.”
After the Tests in Trinidad and Guyana the Proteas play two in Bangladesh in October before hosting Pakistan and Sri Lanka for two each at the end of the year. Not only is Jansen being rested, but Anrich Nortjé was unavailable for selection: “We had a conversation before the World Cup — for now it’s T20 and we’ll see how it shapes up in the future,” Conrad said.
“We’re still on the lookout for the No 7 all rounder, we wouldn’t have given Marco the break if we didn’t believe we had cover, it’s an opportunity to see what Wiaan is all about, he’s been in and out of the squad in recent years.”
In the worst case scenario, Mulder may well be out of the squad on a full-time basis in a couple of years, along with everyone else — because there won’t be one.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.