You can’t be serious, SA!
Updated On: 04 January, 2024 06:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Clayton Murzello
The need to boost its coffers through T20 cricket notwithstanding, the South African board sending a weak team for their two-Test tour to New Zealand next month merits serious condemnation
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South Africa’s pace bowler Gerald Coetzee celebrates with teammates the dismissal of India’s Tilak Varma during the second T20 International at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on December 12, 2023. Representation pic/Getty Images
Tiger-loving Ian Chappell—this newspaper’s long-serving columnist—has a favourite way of describing the International Cricket Council (ICC). He often calls it “a toothless tiger.” Chappell’s consistent opinion on the game’s governing body is justified with the ICC playing a mute spectator to what has happened to South Africa’s two-Test series in New Zealand to be held next month. The South African squad to New Zealand, led by uncapped batsman Neil Brand, is a depleted one because most centrally contracted players will be part of the SA20, a franchise T20 event. Middle-order batsman David Bedingham, who is part of the current South African Test squad, will be on the Kiwiland tour.
There have been occasions when lesser squads have made up tour parties. What immediately comes to mind is England’s 1972-73 team to India, where big guns like captain Ray Illingworth, fellow Yorkshireman Geoff Boycott and premier fast bowler John Snow refused to tour. Tony Lewis, who didn’t even know what it is to play Test cricket, was named captain of a team that went down to India 1-2 in a five-Test rubber. And such an occurrence was not unprecedented. England’s (they toured under the Marylebone Cricket Club banner until 1976-77) 1951-52 tour party to India didn’t include big names like future skipper Len Hutton, Denis Compton, Alec Bedser or, for that matter, stars-to-be Peter May and Jim Laker. They were led by Nigel Howard, whose team finished the five-Test series 1-1. This is the series in which India won their first Test—at Chennai in the last game of the rubber.
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