In a recent critique, former Australia captain Steve Waugh expressed dismay at South Africa’s decision to dispatch a less-experienced squad to New Zealand for a Test tour, concurrently allowing their key players to participate in a domestic T20 tournament. Waugh emphasized that such choices pose a significant threat to the traditional and enduring format of the game.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) unveiled a squad featuring seven uncapped players, led by Neil Brand, for the upcoming two-Test series in New Zealand, coinciding with the commencement of the SA20’s second edition on January 10.

Waugh urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other cricket administrators to intervene to safeguard the sanctity of Test cricket. He conveyed his concern to the Sydney Morning Herald, stating:

“Obviously they don’t care. If I was in New Zealand, I wouldn’t even play the series. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket? If the ICC or someone doesn’t step in shortly, then Test cricket doesn’t remain a true test against the best players.”

Reuters reached out to the ICC for comment, but no response has been received at the time of reporting. The ICC, however, holds limited influence over bilateral cricket schedules and domestic T20 leagues, as these are determined by the respective cricket boards. Greg Barclay, the ICC chairman, previously acknowledged the challenge, stating “there’s not a lot we can do” regarding the dominance of T20 leagues in the cricket calendar.

The prevalence of franchise cricket has placed pressure on bilateral tours in recent times, with certain teams, such as the West Indies, struggling to field their strongest squads. Last year, Cricket South Africa canceled a tour of Australia to ensure the participation of its top players in the inaugural SA T20 tournament, which is financially supported by Indian Premier League franchises.

Expressing concern about the potential shift away from Test cricket, Australian captain Pat Cummins remarked:

“I know the South African team aren’t sending their strongest side. I’m hoping it’s just a phase.”

Cummins acknowledged the broader issue of the overwhelming amount of cricket and its impact on player availability.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood weighed in on the situation, suggesting that better scheduling could have prevented this scenario. He remarked:

“All the best sides have to play for the World Test Championship, so it’s a pity that South Africa aren’t being able to send their full-strength squad. Hopefully, somewhere down the line, schedules can be made in a certain way where we see the strongest elevens playing Test cricket.”

In a candid and explosive statement, former Cricket South Africa president Dr. Ali Bacher has expressed concern over the growing dominance of cricket by India, Australia, and England, while other boards, including South Africa, Pakistan, and the West Indies, are being marginalized. Dr. Bacher, a pivotal figure in bringing Proteas cricket to the mainstream post-apartheid, shared his views during an exclusive interview while observing India and South Africa opening Test.

“Cricket today is dominated by India, Australia, England. South Africa has been marginalised, Pakistan has been marginalised, West Indies have been marginalised. That’s not good,”

remarked Dr. Bacher, emphasizing the need to grow the game globally. He expressed disappointment that his earlier objective, during his tenure as chairman of ICC’s development committee, to spread the game worldwide is not being realized today.

Dr. Bacher addressed the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) efforts to promote the sport in the United States. While acknowledging the ambitious plans, he expressed skepticism about cricket’s massive growth in the USA due to substantial financial requirements.

“You need billions and billions of dollars to get a small niche of that (USA) market. To be honest, I called it a day after two occasions. It wasn’t going to happen,” he recalled.

Instead, he advocated for the growth of cricket in Asia, citing the enormous potential in countries like South Korea and Japan. Dr. Bacher cautioned against pursuing the US. market, noting the massive investments in other sports like baseball, basketball, and rugby.

Speaking about the current state of South African cricket, Dr. Bacher acknowledged a decline in world-class players but expressed optimism about the nation’s cricket future. He reminisced about the strong cricketing legacy with players like AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, and Shaun Pollock highlighting the current world-class talent, Kagiso Rabada.

Reflecting on the commercial growth of Indian cricket, Dr. Bacher recalled a time when he negotiated broadcast rights with Jagmohan Dalmiya, stating,

“When I asked (Jagmohan) Dalmiya, how much people would come to watch, he said around 100,000 at Eden Gardens. At that time, cricket broadcast in India was controlled by Doordarshan. I offered a quarter million rands, and he (Dalmiya) couldn’t believe it.”

Despite the evolving dynamics in global cricket, Dr. Bacher expressed satisfaction at being a part of cricket’s commercial success in India, attributing it to the country’s massive cricket-loving population.

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli is set to rejoin the national team in South Africa, gearing up for the inaugural Test match scheduled to kick off on December 26 in Centurion. A recent report from News18 sheds light on the reason behind Kohli’s temporary departure.

During his absence, Kohli was in London, a pre-planned trip that had been communicated well in advance to the team management. Contrary to speculation, the decision was not abrupt, as a senior BCCI official clarified:

“Look at the player in question, it’s Virat Kohli. He is very well planned when it comes to these things, and his London trip was communicated and planned well in advance.”

Officials further revealed that Kohli had engaged in multiple training sessions with the team before departing for London on December 15. After his return, he is expected to resume practice upon joining the team in Centurion. The absence of Kohli from the intra-squad practice matches was a strategic move, ensuring his optimal preparation for the upcoming Test series against South Africa.

South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, expressed confidence that India would face a formidable challenge despite its frontline pacers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi returning to action. Both Rabada and Ngidi, having overcome minor setbacks, were seen in full swing during the training sessions.

Conrad acknowledged the importance of freshness in his pacers, stating,

“They will be fresh and firing. I am always a firm believer in freshness.”

Although Rabada and Ngidi may lack recent match practice, Conrad remains unfazed, expressing optimism about their readiness for the game.

As the ‘Boxing Day’ Test approaches, the South African coach anticipates having a full squad of 15 to choose from, emphasizing the potential impact of his lethal bowling duo in challenging India on the pacer-friendly Centurion track.

Former South African cricket captain, Dean Elgar, is poised to bid farewell to the cricketing world after the upcoming two-match Test series against India.

Elgar, a left-handed batsman, will play his penultimate Test at his home ground in Centurion, with his final appearance scheduled at Newlands, a venue that holds sentimental value for him as it witnessed his maiden Test run.

Expressing his sentiments, Elgar stated,

“Playing the game of cricket has always been a dream of mine, but having the opportunity to represent your country is the ultimate. Having had the privilege to do it for 12 years internationally is simply beyond my wildest dreams. It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have.”

“As they say, ‘all good things come to an end,’ and the Indian home series will be my last. I have made the decision to retire from our beautiful game—a game that has given me so much. The Cape Town Test will be my last, my favorite stadium in the world, where I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too.”

Debuting in Tests and ODIs in 2012, Elgar found his niche in the longest format, accumulating 5146 runs in 84 Tests, featuring 13 centuries and 23 fifties. Memorable innings include his 199 against Bangladesh in 2017 and his resilient 160 against India in Visakhapatnam in 2019.

Elgar played a pivotal role in South Africa’s 3-1 series triumph against Australia in 2018, contributing 333 runs in three matches and carrying the bat in the third Test in Cape Town with an unbeaten 141.

Awarded the captaincy of the Test side in 2021, Elgar led South Africa to a third-place finish in the ICC World Test Championship for the 2021-23 cycle, including series wins against India and West Indies at home and a drawn series in New Zealand.

Expressing gratitude, Elgar said,

“Having the opportunity to represent my country and the learnings I’ve had along my journey is something I’ll always be thankful for. It’s most definitely been the best learning experience of my life.”

Elgar extended his appreciation to Cricket South Africa, former coaches, teammates and fans, concluding with a heartfelt farewell to his current teammates, encouraging them to continue representing the nation with responsibility.

The first Test is scheduled to begin on Boxing Day at Centurion, followed by the second Test on January 3 in Cape Town.

In a historic moment, 24-year-old pacer Arshdeep Singh etched his name on the cricket annals as the first Indian fast bowler to claim a five-wicket haul against South Africa in ODIs. The remarkable feat unfolded during the opening ODI clash between India and South Africa in Johannesburg. Arshdeep showcased exceptional skill, seizing 5/37 in 10 overs at an impressive economic rate of 3.7. His fiery bowling dismantled the South African top order, dismissing key players such as Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.

This accomplishment positions Arshdeep as the fourth Indian bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul against South Africa in ODIs. Sunil Joshi, a spinner, set the precedent in 1999 with a remarkable 5/6. Subsequently, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (5/22) in 2018 at Centurion and Ravindra Jadeja (5/33) in 2023 at Kolkata achieved similar milestones.

Reflecting on his outstanding performance, Arshdeep shared his strategy, emphasizing simplicity and expressing pride in opening his ODI wicket account with a five-wicket haul. Despite challenging conditions, including surprising movement on the pitch and scorching heat, Arshdeep credited adaptability as key for bowlers.

In the game itself, the Proteas’ decision to bat first backfired as Indian pacers Arshdeep and Avesh Khan wreaked havoc. Only De Zorzi and Phehlukwayo made decent contributions as South Africa were bowled out for 116 in 27.3 overs. Arshdeep (5/37) and Avesh (4/27) emerged as the standout bowlers for India, with spinner Kuldeep Yadav securing one wicket.

As India set out to chase 117 runs for victory and a 1-0 series lead, Arshdeep’s phenomenal performance undoubtedly set the stage for an exciting cricket encounter.

As India clashed with South Africa in the inaugural ODI of the three-match series, the return of the dynamic Sanju Samson and the debut of Sai Sudharsan marked significant roster changes. Sudharsan, recognized for his List A cricket performances, earned his first cap for India. However, the seasoned duo of Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh missed out on their ODI debuts, with Samson securing the coveted finisher’s spot over Rinku.

Despite the hype surrounding Sudharsan, Rinku, and Rajat, whose domestic and IPL performances have generated buzz, the trio faced exclusion in the series opener. Rinku, particularly known for his match-winning exploits in India’s T20I squad, was left out of the 1st ODI team.

In a twist of fate, South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bat. KL Rahul, who leads India in the series, expressed a preference for batting first. Subsequently, Rahul unveiled India’s playing XI for the match, emphasizing the squad’s IPL experience and expressing optimism about their performance.

“It’s a special day; the Pink ODI is a big occasion in South Africa. Looking forward to the cracker of the game. There’s a bit of spin in the track, and we’ll try to put pressure on them. Sai Sudharsan is making his debut today. We have players with a lot of IPL experience, and hopefully, that helps them perform to the best of their ability,” said Rahul.

South Africa Playing XI:

Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Phehlukwayo.

India Playing XI:

KL Rahul(w/c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Mukesh Kumar.

In a stellar display of cricket prowess, the Indian cricket team secured their eighth consecutive victory in the 2023 World Cup, dominating South Africa at Eden Gardens. This remarkable streak has earned them accolades from the cricketing world.

India’s resounding win over South Africa, by a staggering 243-run margin, further solidified their position at the top of the World Cup points table. The match showcased their unwavering dominance in the tournament.

Former Pakistani cricketer Hasan Raza recently stirred up controversy with accusations of India manipulating the Decision Review System (DRS) to their advantage in the World Cup campaign.

Raza, in a conversation on a Pakistani TV channel, cited an example from the match to substantiate his claim. He pointed to the dismissal of Rassie van der Dussen, questioning the technology used for DRS.

Raza elaborated on the incident, stating that Jadeja’s delivery pitched on the leg stump but managed to hit the middle stump. He raised concerns about the ball’s trajectory and its impact, advocating for scrutiny and transparency in such cases.

Raza didn’t limit his allegations to just one match; he suggested that India had employed similar tactics in their match against Pakistan in this World Cup as well. He emphasized that India’s ‘home advantage’ may be contributing to their success.

‘Home advantage’ was a major factor in India’s dominant performance at this year’s ODI World Cup,” Raza said.

He thought of the famous event between Sachin Tendulkar and Saeed Ajmal from the 2011 World Cup.

Cricket fans have debated and discussed Raza’s assertions, raising questions about how technology may affect cricket match outcomes.

In the fast-paced world of T20 cricket, the clash of big scores and the thrilling climax it offers is a defining feature. But the formula turned into a daunting challenge when it extended over to a possible 100 overs.

England’s recent performance in Mumbai painted a gloomy picture. They faced difficulties in batting, bowling, fielding, and strategic thinking, resulting in a crushing 229-run defeat. The disappointment was palpable, devoid of the usual glee that follows an English debacle.

We should not blame the originators of the game or its modern reinventors, driven by the bromantic spiritual movement known as Bazball. They put their all into meltdown, even contemplating whether knowing the toss conditions (hot and humid) would have influenced their choice to bat first.

Our own high expectations played a significant role. We assumed the ODI World Cup would deliver riveting matches and even speculated that the match at Wankhede, played before a near full-house crowd, would be one for the ages. However, the result was a hopelessly one-sided contest that could almost be classified as propaganda.

South Africa’s total of 399 set the stage for this game, but they were not alone in producing substantial scores. Other matches in the competition featured scores of 428 in Delhi, 311 in Lucknow, 367 in Bengaluru, 364 in Dharamsala, and Pakistan chasing down Sri Lanka’s 344 in Hyderabad. These are just a few examples of the ten 300-plus totals in 21 matches.

The scoring rate in the 2023 World Cup is unprecedented, with a galloping 5.84 runs per over. The 266 sixes hit so far surpass the totals of 2011 and equal that of 2003. It’s on track to exceed the record 463 sixes from 2015.

While high scoring and big hitting are exciting, close finishes have been noticeably absent. Even a Pakistani chase in Hyderabad ended with ten balls to spare and five wickets in hand. In the tournament’s first 20 matches, teams batting first won with an average margin of 110 runs, while second-batting teams secured victories with about seven wickets and ten overs to spare. The challenge of one-day cricket lies in trying to recreate the T20 excitement over 100 overs. This endeavor has fallen short, as the odds of achieving thrilling climaxes with such high totals are slim. Teams well-versed in T20, make short work of these targets, as demonstrated by India against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

To rekindle the fading allure of one-day cricket, one should embrace what sets it apart: a day-long compressed Test cricket experience. Achieving this means leveling the playing field and ensuring fair conditions, especially in the face of dew, heat, long tails, and oversized bats.

One of the most riveting contests of this World Cup was the opener between India and Australia in Chennai. The drama extended beyond India’s 2 for 3 score in the chase of 200. The real tension unfolded in the first innings, with Australian batsmen grappling with a challenging turner, creating an atmosphere where something had to give, and it was the Australian batting lineup that did.

The charm of ODI cricket lies in the tension it offers, rather than just tall scores. The two greatest one-day matches of all time, the tied semi-final of 1999 and the tied final of 2019, had scores of 213 and 241. Unfortunately, the 2019 final was marred by administrators imposing T20-style deciders, like a super-over and a boundary countback.

This column deeply appreciates contemporary power-hitting. For instance, at Wankhede, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen put on a remarkable display with 143 runs in the final ten overs, rivaling even T20 standards. The physical toll, symbolized by Klaasen’s cramping, resembled the endurance challenges of Test cricket. ODIs need not rely on extreme weather to stand out from T20. A pitch with some nuance can make the difference. The “average” rating given to the Chennai pitch in the Australian game by the ICC drew criticism for favouring spin. Rahul Dravid aptly questioned the need for anything else when T20 caters to those who wish to see fours and sixes, a sentiment echoed by a man known for his impeccable defensive skills.