'Seminal moment for Test cricket': Alarm bells as South Africa names seven new faces in second-rate NZ tour squad

Also this financial throat cutting.... Cant every nation now do the same to SA in future test series, therefore cutting SA financial throats? Would Aus put up with this? I see Waugh calling for NZ to cancel the tour. I say dont cancel, make SA turn up, then play an U20s side against them. At least that meets the TV rights contract as thats all SA is doing.

I think thats the whole point CPM. SA IS choosing money over the sport. Thats what has angered so many ex test cricketers around the world inc Steve Waugh. Should every nation and club now be able to stop players from touring? What about T20 comps not in your own country? Can the governing body then make players go on tours when it suits them? Financial greed is your answer?

No worries

Simplistic compared to ignorance. 40k in Adelaide, 49k in Perth. The better game is growing, the lesser game is hanging via old man tradition. Sth Africa have read the room, as have the West Indian players.

Hi 13th man, “most of my mates “ pretty much sums it up. T20 is the family game, the modern game. Test cricket is for the generation who said “he’s under the thumb”. I go watch Shield games, no one is coming with me though.

The governing body owns the SA20. It is their cash cow so why should they cut their financial throats for the benefit of NZ?

Gotta say I'm pretty disappointed, although this was in our sports news about 6 months ago If NZ drops Nicholls for Ravindra we'd have a top 7 of Latham, Ravindra (or Conway), Williamson, Conway (or Ravindra), Mitchell, Phillips, Blundell (wk) which would be strongest ever and would've been great to see how they matched up against Rabada, Jansen and co. Anyway, I hope it is still a cracking series. England sent a B netball team out here a few months ago and they actually beat the Silver Ferns, so you never know.

We should still get decent crowds. We have some young quicks who will hopefully get a crack (please move on from Neil Wagner!), everyone wants to watch the exciting Rachin Ravindra (surely we'll move on from Henry Nicholls), and with Williamson sitting on 29 test 100s lots of fans would love to be there in case he reaches number 30.

Ah, thanks Targa. Wasn't aware of that. :thumbup: :cricket:

Last time I checked India lost their last 2 test series in NZ and won their last 2 test series in Australia.

Pakistan are playing 5 T20s here starting a few days after they play the 3rd test in Sydney.

So they are a B or even C team? How should the Kiwis be grateful? They’ve organised an international test series against what they would’ve assumed at least initially would be a close to full strength South African side. Instead it’s a team that would most likely be beaten by most Sheffield Shield teams. It’s a farce - sure they went on a couple of SA A tours - that doesn’t automatically make them a test quality team. I hope NZ absolutely belts this side and makes a mockery of SA’s complete disrespect.

It’s not an A team, how can it be with 60 of the best cricketer not available for selection? The coach said that he will identify players not drafted into the SA20 and then select those players into the SA A team (playing against the West Indies A and India A) to prepare for the test series. So they would have had some time together with the coaches to prepare for test cricket. Kiwis should be grateful for this.

Tv ratings here or in India? there is still a significant appetite here for Test cricket and we should be doing everything we can to keep it going as the premier format. T20 isn’t a serious format in this country - it’s a bit of fun. I genuinely don’t think anyone would rather see their BBL franchise win than see Australia win the Ashes or the World Cup. Sadly this isn’t the same in other countries however as we are seeing play out.

NZ doesn't have any international cricket in January (just completed a T20 series with Bangladesh), so could've come to the table to reschedule, but refused. This was the same NZC that requested to have the third test against Australia (to be held in Auckland) cancelled in 2016 at the eleventh hour (around 2 months to go) to prioritise ODI's instead. CA granted them their request, and 3 match ODI series was played instead.

SA cricket has been in strife for some years and they're only now coming out of a very bad place. If they win or draw this series, this has to have a positive impact on cricket, regardless whether it's being broadcast or not. You talk about people not attending but how many go to Test cricket in New Zealand anyway? People around the world also go to Tests to watch the game, regardless the quality of opposition. How many turned up on Boxing Day after Pakistan was rolled for 89 and belted by 360 runs? Over 62,000. I also think the issue about broadcast numbers is a furphy. The NZC has already locked in a seal for broadcast rights, so will get paid, regardless who turns up to play. A centrally contracted Aussie player will make anywhere between $900,000 and $2 million, not including match fees. South African players make between $75,000 and $350,000. I'd guarantee every single Australian Test player would do exactly the same as the Saffers if they were on their pay scales.

How is it a boost for SA cricket regardless? It means nothing to SA and likely won’t even be broadcasted. It won’t boost anything. The country that loses out, regardless of the series result is New Zealand - it’s fair to say they’ll get lesser crowds and lesser broadcast numbers due to the fact they are effectively playing a SA A team. They may as well make it a glorified A series with Test status given the absolute disrespect they’ve been treated with by both the CSA and the ICC. I know it’s hard to begrudge the players the payday in the T20 leagues, but in my view tests should always come first - there needs to be separate test windows to T20 league windows.

MCG got way more people through the gates in the test match than the BBL - Stars and Renegades are garbage and the crowds reflect that. Perth gets big BBL crowds only because the Scorchers are good - the minute they drop off the crowds will go down. Outside of the subcontinent T20 cricket isn’t really that big a deal - a bit of fun, but no one takes it seriously. The big concern isn’t around fans - it’s around media, governments, and oil companies pumping money into the lesser format so that all the players go play that - you can’t begrudge them the payday but it’s a sad state that SA send an entirely second string side to NZ.

170,000 people just watched Australia play Pakistan at the MCG for a test match 13,000 fans have watched the Stars at the MCG this season, and the tickets (I can't stress this enough) much MUCH cheaper

Probably 100 will take over. Its about getting into a 3 hour TV time slot. IPLs additions mean many games are going closer to 4 hours, as there needs to be an all in consultation after every ball if the game is close at the end, plus time outs for consultation (sponsored ad breaks of course). But we're seeing very good crowds in the BBL this season. Just not enough close finishes.