SA20 League chairman Graeme Smith discounted the claim that the domestic league may significantly impede the future of Test cricket in the country. Cricket South Africa (CSA) was lambasted recently for keeping just a two-test series against India by many experts.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) again caught the eyeballs of the cricketing world by announcing the squad for the two-match test series against New Zealand. The South African squad includes seven uncapped players, including a new skipper.
The decision by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to withdraw its key players from the two-match Test series against New Zealand in order to make them available for SA20 2024 drew harsh criticism from supporters and commentators worldwide.
I believe it’s just four weeks a year and there would be a lot of chance to play Test cricket- Graeme Smith
In an interview with PTI, the former South African skipper clarified why it’s essential to give the SA20 league a chance to thrive.
Adding to that, he said that in order to offer itself the best opportunity for success, South African cricket has committed to SA20 as a major component of its future.
“SA20 is (for) four weeks a year which we operate on and obviously, one or two challenges happen and that’s not ideal. That should get better and better every season. South African cricket has made a commitment that SA20 is a big part of its future and gives it the best chance to succeed. I believe it’s just four weeks a year and there would be a lot of chance to play Test cricket,” Graeme Smith explained.
The future of ODI cricket is more uncertain than Test- Graeme Smith
Despite the fact that South Africa and India will host the 2027 and 2031 ODI World Cups, respectively, Graeme Smith thinks the 50-over format will eventually lose it’s magnetism to viewers.
Smith gave the following explanation for why Test cricket will always be relevant:
“There are two more World Cups that have been sold to broadcasters and one in SA in 2027 and 2031 is back in India. Even in between the cycle, ODI cricket is going to find itself in challenging space,”
Graeme Smith stated that test cricket will always be fascinating, but we also know how much people love T20 cricket and how successful it has been commercially.
“One format that is falling is the category where people are less interested and patches of game which are going to be slow. Test cricket is always going to be enthralling and we know how much T20 they enjoy and the success it has commercially gained,” he added.