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Dean Elgar is known for his confident demeanor, his willingness to back up his words with actions, and his tendency to openly express his opinions on matters related to cricket. The former captain of South Africa has not hesitated to criticize Cricket South Africa (CSA) for prioritizing their newly established T20 franchise league at the expense of Test cricket.
In February 2024, South Africa is poised to face New Zealand in a two-games Test series, which holds significance as part of the World Test Championship 2023-2025. The fixtures are scheduled to take place on February 4, 2024.
However, recent reports have indicated that South Africa’s Test squad for this series might not include their premier players. This decision stems from the release of the schedule for the upcoming SA20 season. Cricket South Africa’s CEO, Pholetsi Moseki, has confirmed to AFP Johanessburg, that none of the players who are under contract with various SA20 franchises will be part of the Proteas’ squad for the Test series against New Zealand.
“It is a directive of Cricket South Africa. Because of the time zones, players need at least a week to acclimatise in New Zealand so it will not be possible for some SA20 players to join the team for at least the second Test,” Moseki said.
The forthcoming SA20 season is slated to kick off on January 10 and culminate with the final match on February 10. Nevertheless, the timing of this T20 league overlaps with the Test series against New Zealand, creating a dilemma for South Africa’s cricketing authorities.
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Elgar slams CSA’s approach towards test cricket
In an interview with City Press, Elgar candidly shared his thoughts on this matter. He acknowledges the difficulty in coming to terms with this reality and emphasizes the adverse impact on players. The 36-year-old also delves into the deeper implications of CSA’s stance on Test cricket. He suggests that the cricket board’s priorities and decisions are reflected in their treatment of Test games.
“It’s tough to take. It shows what the narrative is when it comes to Test cricket, and again it’s the players who suffer. A high percentage of the players still really want to play Test cricket, and it’s just extremely sad and clarifies a lot of things when it comes to how Test cricket is viewed by the authorities,” Elgar said.
That could cause a breakdown in the relationship
The former Test captain does not hold back in expressing his displeasure with CSA’s plan to send a third-string team to New Zealand for the Test series. Elgar believes that this approach could potentially strain the cricketing relationship between the two nations.
“We can’t butter our bread on both sides here. It’s lekker to have the franchise T20 competition, but what’s the bigger picture? How would New Zealand Cricket, with whom we probably have the strongest relationship of all countries, view us sending a ‘C’ side over there? That could cause a breakdown in the relationship,” the Walkom-born cricketer concluded.
South Africa’s future in test cricket: Challenges and prospects
While South Africa may not have been part of the traditional “Big Three” cricketing nations, their Test cricket prowess has always been noteworthy. In the upcoming years of 2024, 2025, and 2026, South Africa is scheduled to play a total of nine Test matches annually. This is a quantity that aligns more with their historical Test cricket schedule. Nonetheless, there are uncertainties and considerations about the state of their Test cricket game when they reach this point.
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