As a cricket One year into its existence, South Africa's new franchise league, the SA20, is the world cricket world's cursed kid. South Africa's cricket board, according to legends like Steve Waugh, doesn't seem to care that they are accused of offering a financial carrot and enticing the CSA to devalue Test cricket and consequently the World Test Championship (WTC). The decision by the CSA to force its top players to select SA20 over the impending Tests in New Zealand has been roundly criticized.
Graeme Smith, a former captain of South Africa who fought in whites despite having a broken arm, is the SA20 commissioner. CSA has maintained that its league is a path to a brighter financial future for its players although acknowledging that it is unable to manipulate the schedules under the WTC framework. With the exception of the Big Three, every cricket board has the same narrative. Bilateral rights are hard to sell in the franchise-dominated market until India pays a visit. The first casualty of drafting a lean tours strategy is test cricket.
In terms of bilateral scheduling, the ICC claims that it is powerless. According to its representatives, WTC provides background for each Test. However, South Africa, a Test powerhouse that is scheduled to visit New Zealand and with a squad of seven uncapped players, including captain Neil Brand, exposes the flaws in the present WTC setup. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's new Twenty20 captain, skipped the Sydney Test, which concluded on Saturday, in order to manage his workload ahead of the T20 season. Even in his prime, Quinton de Kock left up Test cricket at the age of 29. Cricketers from the West Indies quitting Test matches is no longer news.
Test cricket's global survival, despite its rich history, dramatic presentation, and eye-catching visuals, is still in jeopardy until it can become financially independent and less dependent on Indian players traveling to the region to play rivals. Nearly ten years have passed since the Big Three attempted to essentially establish a two-tier Test format, an attempt that was thwarted in the corridors of the ICC. A WTC that is purportedly more egalitarian has been initiated. Still absent from the contentious 'position paper' of the Big Three is the Test Cricket Fund, which they had promised.
