Money talks.
It has seemed inevitable for a long time, but we may finally have the ‘nail in the coffin’ moment for Test cricket outside the major nations.
It seems a country once boasting the most destructive and formidable Test side has been reduced to rubble, paving the way for a domestic rebranding that will undoubtedly hamper the seriousness of red ball cricket across the globe.
After a topsy-turvy Test series against a formidable Indian outfit that ended one win apiece, cricket was shocked to see the South African men’s side, the Proteas, announce a ‘new-look’ Test squad to take on New Zealand with only two out of the 14-man contingent who played against India flying to the Island nation.
All South African regulars were deemed unavailable due to the new rebranding of the domestic Twenty20 league, SA20, the Proteas announced a squad with eight potential debutants in line to take the field in Mount Manganui, including a new captain and an entirely new bowling attack.
Aiden Markram is playing in the SA20 instead of New Zealand. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Neil Brand, a stylish left-handed opening bat, will lead the proteas in his first ever Test match. Despite boasting an average of a tick over 39 in 51 matches for the Titans, a provincial team based in Centurion, it is hardly a choice that would bring much confidence to a South African cricket fan.
Apart from a gritty 104 batting for South Africa A against West Indies A, Brand’s first class average from November to the time he was selected stood at a measly 22.5. Not exactly form that international teams usually adhere to.
Further, Duanne Olivier, who played 15 times between 2017 and 2022, leads the way in Test caps, followed by Keegan Petersen on 12. The Proteas’ experience is paper thin to say the least, and travelling to take on recent World Test Championship winners in their own backyard, in conditions not usually encountered playing in South Africa, does not bode well for the side.
Despite not playing any Test matches since December 2023 (a tied series with minnows Bangladesh), New Zealand look to name a full-strength squad against South Africa although they will sweat on the fitness of world number one batsman Kane Williamson, who withdrew from the second T20 against Pakistan mid-innings with a hamstring strain.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
A stark difference of quality in sides is an understatement. However, what is rather telling about the state of cricket in both countries is the emphasis they place on their domestic T20 league. The Kiwi and South African leagues are both currently in full swing, but the international level, regardless of format, takes priority well above the domestic competitions in New Zealand.
Once the T20 series wraps up against Pakistan, New Zealand will name their squad to take on South Africa, and is likely to feature the usual suspects: Tim Southee, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell to name a few.
So just how disrespectful are South Africa being by naming an effective third-string side to face the former world champions? Or is it just a pure product of the financial state the Proteas placed themselves in?
Travelling back to 2020, it’s easy to see how Cricket South Africa arrived at financial disarray. Firstly, they sacked CEO Thabang Moroe with immediate effect after he ‘committed acts of serious misconduct’ following an independent investigation with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
This, combined with the country’s GDP declining for four consecutive quarters, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, spelt financial ruin for Cricket South Africa. As a result, the South African sports minister had to officially intervene in the operations of Cricket South Africa in what was described as its “greatest crisis since the end of apartheid.”
Kagiso Rabada is missing the New Zealand Test series to play in the SA20. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
This was further compounded by extensive reputational damage off the back of a then lucrative sponsorship deal with Sahara Computers, who were found to be instigators of political corruption and bribery in South Africa by the US treasury department.
Major sponsors Momentum and Standard Bank gradually cut ties with Cricket South Africa throughout 2021, hanging Cricket South Africa out to financially dissipate and accumulate even more losses on top of an eye-watering $654 million rand (about $34 million USD) losses over a 4-year period.
The players, with their careers in serious doubt, seemed to be fed up, releasing a statement saying government intervention in the sport would have ‘dire consequences’. It seemed Cricket South Africa were holding out for a lifeline to rescue them. I present to you: SA20.
Going full circle, the SA20 was a product off the back of the failed Mzani Super League (MSL) which was intended to compete with the domestic giants of India’s IPL and Australia’s Big Bash League. It ultimately failed in 2019, whilst accumulating a $100 million rand loss due to poor broadcasting deals.
Now, all six SA20 teams are owned by IPL franchises and there’s a whopping $70 million rand prize pool, seven times that of the MSL. The SA20 have also secured a broadcast deal that will show games live in India as well as South Africa, to bring in much needed revenue to the market.
Temba Bavuma will stay in South Africa for the SA20. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
However, this lucrative deal comes at a price for the red ball format. Players are now contracted by Cricket South Africa to prioritise the SA20, regardless of international tours or tournaments. Cricket South Africa claims to have tried to move the series to an alternative date, but New Zealand were unwilling to budge, and rightly so if true.
All current occupants of the full-strength Test side are participating in this tournament and if your contract was on the chopping block if you didn’t, I think we would all go as well. However, it will eventually place South Africa in the Test match abyss along with the West Indies and Sri Lanka, who have lost the passion and the desire to play long-form cricket like generations before.
To rescue the organisation from financial ruin, Cricket South Africa have sold its soul to the devil of white ball cricket, following in the footsteps of the billionaire IPL franchises who hold Cricket South Africa in a financial chokehold.
Although lucrative, the outlook is seriously disappointing for a purist cricket fan and perhaps many of the former Test greats South Africa have produced. Apart from Graeme Smith, of course, who despite stating in his role of Director of Cricket that the “domestic product is weak for the long form” has now miraculously taken the job as commissioner of the SA20 league. Yikes.
So, does money talk? I rather think so.
Neo
Roar Rookie
Clearly you don't understand enough, go do some real research
Neo
Roar Rookie
And it's simply not worth it!!!!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Excellent article, and no doubt the T20 league will take priority for financial reasons, as opposed to pure greed, given the situation they were in in the past. But the fact that they did offer to move the Test series at least shows they can try to accommodate both forms in the future. They still had time for Tests in December and January, and it might have been possible to reschedule the NZ tests if Australia hadn’t been touring in February. Or another time, but perhaps the Kiwis couldn’t resist the easy WTC points on offer? Anyway, it was a one-off. While the proliferation of T20s isn’t good for Tests, there is still enough room in the calendar for Tests and T20s though some deprioritising of 50 over ODIs might be needed. One of the most interesting points about the T20 leagues is that Indian players, who arguably represent the best pool of talent, aren’t allowed to play outside the IPL. The Indian franchises that own the SA clubs have tried to have a bit of overlap in identity with a couple of players like Markram, du Plessis and Miller playing for the IPL same franchise names. But others don’t. And unlike Australia, most of the captains and top players aren’t playing for their home cities or cities in their provinces.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
I wouldn't say a test cricket fan is a 'purist cricket' fan, as T20 has no more to do with cricket than a 4 minute rugby match would.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
As you’ve identified, T20 isn’t the problem. Systemic corruption in South Africa is.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
“ the BBL is down on crowds” Nope. Crowds are up significantly this season.
CPM
Roar Rookie
You post something dated from 2018 relating to the old board which was made up of the major of directors appointed from cricket unions i.e red ball purist. The cricket unions no longer control the sport or make decisions, they were forced to change their constitution and relinquish power to a majority of independent directors who FYI are not purist and simply don’t care about red ball cricket.
George
Roar Rookie
If they are not broke (or very close), why would they prioritise domestic over international cricket? The domestic rebrand with an injection of IPL billionaire investment seems way more appealing when you're in the red, as they need the cash to stay afloat. In contrast, Cricket Australia (CA) have made strategic investments to pay players appropriately and fund their domestic competitions well enough so they do not require any external funding via private equity. Yes, the ICC plays a part, but you have to appreciate the structure of CA in contrast to CSA. I would encourage a read of this article, which highlights CSA's early financial demise: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/south-african-cricket-when-sponsorship-goes-horribly-wrong-maritz/
CPM
Roar Rookie
They have refilled their coffers from two Indian tours and selling shares and franchise agreements in the SA20 so they are back in the black. There is plenty to do but saying that they are currently broke is misleading. The question you purist need to ask is why have NZ not toured SA since 2017 and have nothing lined up in this cycle until 2027? That is 11 years, so do you think that SA will be willing to ever tour NZ again in their summer and take a financial hit when NZ are not willing to return the favour and tour for zero financial gain.
George
Roar Rookie
I think NZ are completely within their rights to not change a home series schedule. It comes across as disrespectful from SA to NZ, who are basically saying 'this series isn't worth it'.
CPM
Roar Rookie
The new board took into power in late 2021 to early 2022 and they immediately went to work to create a new revenue stream which was only confirmed by mid 2022. This after the new cycle had been agreed. What were they supposed to do? Devalue their competition because the previous inept board had stuffed up for years and years? They tried to renegotiate but NZ said no and who could have rescheduled any time before 2027. All that NZ have managed to do is lose goodwill with CSA.
George
Roar Rookie
Yeah I agree, I just think test cricket will be a myth for the younger generations coming through very soon, particularly in South Africa. As a purist fan, it is disappointing to see. Do the ICC have responsibility to assist? Of course they do. Did South Africa do any favours with their sponsorship deals? No they did not.
josh
Roar Rookie
See my point re: ICC distribution of revenue. There is literally no incentive for South Africa to anything internationally. Bar this old timey feel good stuff.
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
I’d say NZ rightly said no to SA as there’s hardly any room in the calendar to move it to, SA was locked in to be in NZ before the SA20 dates was sorted I believe, and as Australia is touring right after I’d guess NZ wanted match hardness before that as well? It’s not up to NZ to move anything to suit SA.
George
Roar Rookie
Shouldn't we encourage a more 'gentlemanly' approach to Cricket, instead of selling out to billionaire franchises who don't show the sport on TV unless you pay for it and make tickets extortionately priced? How does that grow the game for the younger generations? Not everyone has access to disposable incomes.
George
Roar Rookie
I guess so. I think the Windies, much like their counterparts at CSA, failed to set up a structure that guaranteed long-term success.
Kizman
Roar Rookie
Cricket still operates on an old fashioned system of gentleman's agreement, so they expect other teams to tour them and vice versa. So CSA literally dont make any $$ off this NZ tour or like when they pulled out of the odi Aus series last year. eople keep forgetting that touring teams make 0 money from overseas matches. Its only the host team who makes the $. But of course the ICC never want to address this issue for the smaller nations.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
We've seen many cricketers from around the world play in the IPL and Tests, so it can clearly be done and IMO has nothing to do with the passion for international cricket. There's more than a few cricketers making a very good living out of T20 cricket, but they're still making themselves available for international cricket. I'm sure the West Indies would love to have more guys playing Tests, but unless they get far more support from the ICC than is happening present, that situation won't change. Is that down to a lack of passion? Not at all IMO, simply down to making a living in the case of the players and in the case of the WI Boards. not having enough money to really focus more on red ball cricket.
George
Roar Rookie
They fell behind due to poor financial decisions, and now are pointing the finger at major nations. https://apnews.com/report-on-south-african-cricket-body-alleges-corruption-e178b3c98f266f773025d4b6903c8c45 This article tells you all you need to know
George
Roar Rookie
Personally, getting skittled for under 200 twice and losing by 10 wickets inside three days is not anywhere near their best. Brathwaite and Da Silva having no runs between them and Alzarri Joseph taking one wicket in the match tells a story. There is young passion, agreed, but why would they keep in test cricket when the IPL comes knocking? I think that shows a lack of passion and desire to play international cricket.