News that Australia and South Africa are considering staging longer Test series is heartening for fans of the oldest form of the game.
The countries are negotiating potential four-Test series in the future, in recognition of the superb cricket produced in their encounters over recent years, Cricinfo reported yesterday.
The three-Test series in South Africa spawned some ferocious and scintillating play, and ended in the most thrilling of fashions in the dying moments of the final day last week.
Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards told Cricinfo he was hopeful the nations would play elongated series in the future.
Australia and South Africa have not played more than three Tests in a series since the Proteas’ readmission to international cricket in the early ‘90s.
“They deserve more, and you’ve got to recognise the quality of the cricket I think,” Mr Edwards said. “I think it’s not a bad stepping stone to have recognised quality by another Test or two. That principle might come out.”
It would mark a welcome move against the trend towards increasingly shortened Test series. The encroachment of Twenty20, both at an international and domestic level, has put the squeeze on the longest form of the game.
Fortuitously, the storied Ashes rivalry has not been eroded, maintaining its five-Test series structure.
Australia’s heated contests with India are also being well recognised, with the contest Down Under next summer to be the third consecutive four-Test series between the sides.
I was similarly pleased to see Australia have a six-Test home-and-away showdown against the blossoming New Zealand side over the 2015-16 summer.
The Kiwis boast a brilliant young new-ball pairing in Tim Southee and Trent Boult, an outstanding skipper in Brendon McCullum, a world-class batsman in Ross Taylor and two emerging all-rounders in Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham.
They have the makings of a side that could challenge any outfit in the world, and their six-Test encounter with Australia should be riveting stuff, cherished by fans from both countries.
Such fervent support and appreciation was manifest over the course of the Aussies’ tussle with South Africa. While the sizes of the crowds may have been disappointing – they always are in South Africa – the series was closely followed and absorbed by fans around the world.
Four-Test series between these two nations could be planned with confidence because both field such consistently competitive sides.
Since their readmission, the Proteas have always been one of the most formidable Test line-ups. Meanwhile, even at the depths of their ‘crisis’, circa 2011, the Aussies remained a dangerous outfit. In that year they stunned the fancied heavyweights South Africa on their home soil, drawing their two-Test series.
Since the end of Australia’s generation of global dominance in 2008, which also marked the beginning of South Africa’s golden era, the Test win-loss ledger between the sides stands deadlocked at 6-6.
The teams have also produced some of the most breathtaking Tests of this period. In December 2008, the Proteas confounded Australia by completing the second-highest run chase in history to win the first Test at the WACA.
The final Test of that series provided one of the iconic moments in Australia-South Africa Tests when Proteas’ skipper Graeme Smith loped to the wicket with a broken hand to try to save the match at the SCG.
In 2011, debutant Pat Cummins steered Australia to a dramatic two-wicket win to square the series at Johannesburg. The following year saw another debutant, Faf du Plessis, produce similar heroics to help South Africa avoid defeat at Adelaide.
Then, of course, we had the remarkable Test at Newlands last week, when Ryan Harris somehow willed his battered body to secure two last-gasp wickets.
Australia and South Africa consistently conjure beguiling cricket. Their rivalry may not be backed by history like the Ashes, but it is every bit as potent.
A four-Test series would be a wonderful initiative.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
The problem we have SAFFA is that you can fit over 90,000 people into the MCG, there's not a ground anywhere else in the world that can do that and it's packed. Until the crowds in SA pick up, then it's going to have to be the South Africans that give way, unfortunate as that is, if we played over there you would be depriving cricket of one of it's show piece events and that can't be said for any test in SA. it sucks, but it's true, I do also subscribe to the thought that teams should want to play in that event, who wouldn't want to walk out in front of a crowd like that, it would be amazing.
Johnno
Guest
Newlands is the only test ground in South Africa, where they get a good crowd. Wanderers has faded to. PE,Centurion,Durban all small. Newlands now feels like the only place in South Africa or cape town, where they dig test cricket. And Tony I reckong they will too, the money is big, and even if SA skip a home test season, they make it back in cash with a big Test pay day in compo from the aussies at CA. And then when December is done, SA can go back home and with in about 7 days after Sydney, it can start it's T20 season and ODI season at home, done.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Listen money talks at the end of the day, it has to be financially reasonable to play 4 tests. Looking at the crowds last series I think we are closer to having 2 match series than we are to a 4 match one. Test cricket in SA is a massive worry, I'm pretty worried about the future of test cricket.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Cricket Australia used to pay CSA $500,000 for Boxing day compensation, unfortunately for Cricket in South Africa and cricket in generall the saffers haven't gotten close to making that much money from their home boxing day tests, so I think we will see a return of Boxing day tests in Melbourne featuring South Africa
Quite a one sided agreement that eh? Perhaps we should stop funding your rugby in the same manner? ;)
Johnno
Guest
If you don't make money for us yep! We need you in rugby that's why we travel so far to play you, we need your money!
Just love your attitude mate. What you are basically saying is we come to you or leave it?
SAFFA28
Guest
@ Quiet_Observer ,there is kinda a difference between the time frames! Boxing day is in the holiday season and CPT is always packed for a boxing day test match! Where as the test hosted in SA was well supported on the weekend when people was not working you chop! Wow ,any team should consider them selfs lucky to play a BD match in Melbourne! Who are you to make such a call , I think Australia should consider themself lucky to play infront of a packed Indian crowd in Mumbai and England find themselfes lucky to play in West Indies with the carnival like atmosphere.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Should clarify, I love the rivalry between us and Proteas. As an aside the Kiwis are putting together a very good team.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Totally agree, these series must at least be 4 if not 5. I love the rivalry between these teams, top quality Cricket alround. The kiwis are assembling a very good looking team.
JGK
Roar Guru
Weird - I could have sworn I read the title to this as "Bring on a four way". With me being the Australian, I had fleeting thoughts of Charlize Theron, Minki van der Westhuyzen and Megan McKenzie... Still, 4 Tests are better than 3 so I'd support it.
Pete
Guest
NZ looms as an intriguing battle if everyone fit. Their batting has to continue to grow though. Well, especially opening batting. Hopefully 'the sons of' Latham and Rutherford might develop into something useful and if he can stay of the wagon, maybe Jesse Ryder can try to do a Warner at the top (technically he's good enough). The middle order is actually pretty strong. Neesham is a borderline selection and has a batting average of 170!
Pete
Guest
NZ looms as an intriguing battle if everyone fit. Their batting has to continue to grow though. Well, especially opening batting. Hopefully 'the sons of' Latham and Rutherford might develop into something useful and if he can stay of the wagon, maybe Jesse Ryder can try to do a Warner at the top (technically he's good enough). The middle order is actually pretty strong. Neesham is a borderline selection and has a batting average of 170!
Nudge
Guest
Lynn, plus 3 or 4 others
ozbloke
Guest
I'm firmly of the opinion that the top 2 ranked sides in the world should be playing a 5 test series irrespective of who they are.will bring the best out of both sides.as far as australia and SA are concerned,this is a good initiative to push for a 4 test series.i think we can play them towards the end of the southern summer in either country.that way the big bash and shield won't get affected.the only problem would be i suppose is that it would be the start of the AFL season and most stadiums in australia are shared with their respective footy clubs at the end of the summer.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Forrest is certainly making up for lost ground after having a shocker last year, averaging 19 for the Shield season. Personally I'd be picking his much younger team mate Chris Lynn in the Test team ahead of him at this point.
Nudge
Guest
What's his first class average 34 or 35. That's no where near good enough. Your mate Smith formeropenside has about a 10 run better first class average and he's only 24
deanp
Guest
best of 3, timeless
Radelaide
Guest
I'm more annoyed that there is no ODI's...I guess I'm part of a dying breed.
Johnno
Guest
Cameron White is the leading run scorer, but he's been given up on it seems. I'd give another chance.