Cricket snobs undermine South Africa’s stunning run to World Test Championship final

South Africa became the first team to reach the World Test Championship final – only for the achievement to be delegitimised in a classic case of cricket snobbery, writes DANIEL CHERNY.

There is a hint of cricket snobbery in some of the commentary around South Africa since the Proteas became the first side to qualify for June’s World Test Championship final by defeating Pakistan in a thriller at Centurion on Sunday night.

More than a decade on from the divisive changes that enshrined India, England and Australia’s hegemony, there remains an undercurrent of delegitimisation of series that don’t involve The Big Three and inferences that beating other opponents doesn’t count for much.

The WTC is imperfect. It is hard to follow, teams plays only six of the other eight nations in any given two-year cycle and series lengths vary from two Tests to five. Over rate penalties muddy the waters further.

Commercial and political realities mean Australia, England and India play each other in every cycle while India and Pakistan will never play. By extension, that means that some of the smaller Test nations will meet disproportionately.

South Africa's Marco Jansen celebrates hitting a four to seal victory against Pakistan. Picture: AFP

That’s before even getting to the fact that without promotion and relegation, the WTC is closed off to full member nations Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, the last two of whom played a forgotten Boxing Day Test in Bulawayo over the weekend.

“They’ve got to the final on the back of beating pretty much nobody,” former England captain Michael Vaughan quipped on Fox Cricket during the coverage of the rather higher-profile Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

He was referring to South Africa and the idea that the Proteas didn’t really deserve to be in the final, certainly not at the top of the table.

Ex-Australian coach Darren Lehmann said on X that “The only problem is they wouldn’t beat any of the top 3.”

The only problem is they wouldn’t beat any of the top 3 👍@abcsport

— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) December 29, 2024

Certainly for those who only pay attention when The Big Three are involved, South Africa has done it by stealth.

You’d have to have been an extraordinarily dedicated cricket fan to have been watching when the Proteas beat the West Indies 1-0 in the Caribbean in August, or 2-0 in Bangladesh in October. Neither series was picked up by an Australian broadcaster.

And even recent home wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan have come in the shadows of higher-profile series between Australia and India, and New Zealand and England.

If Australia, England and India hadn’t put a foot wrong outside of their marquee series against each other then the criticism of South Africa making it would be more valid.

Australia have had their stumbles in the past 12 months – including losing to the West Indies at the Gabba last January. Picture: Getty

But those same Windies who the Proteas beat away? Australia lost to them at the Gabba.

The Sri Lanka that South Africa brushed aside 2-0? England fell to that mob at The Oval. The Indians? They drew 1-1 with the Proteas, and were routed 3-0 at home by the Black Caps. England also lost a series to Pakistan, who had been beaten 2-0 at home by Bangladesh.

And while it is easy to downplay the achievement of winning a series in Banglagesh, that is more than either Australia or England achieved when they last played a Test series against the Tigers. It’s just that for Australia that was 2017, and in England’s case 2016.

The other major criticism of South Africa making it was the fact its board sent a third-string side to New Zealand at the start of the year, instead prioritising its franchise Twenty20 competition.

New Zealand humbled India 3-0 to put a major hurdle in the powerhouse’s WTC plans. Picture: AFP

It is low-hanging fruit, but these are the financial realities in a world where the ICC does not distribute its wealth equitably. In many respects South Africa making it should be celebrated even further because the Proteas have done so with one hand tied behind their backs.

India will be eliminated from the WTC race if it does not win in Sydney. Australia will secure a spot with a win, while a draw will leave the door ajar for Sri Lanka ahead of the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy series beginning in late January.

If it is Australia and South Africa, the Aussies will go in as warm favourites. India would probably be favoured too should Rohit Sharma’s side somehow sneak through.

England would probably be favourites against the Proteas too, but for a third straight cycle will be missing from the final, unable to take advantage of what would have been home ground advantage.

Bazball-era England has been indifferent at best to the WTC as a concept, undermining the conceited claim that this English outfit is out to save Test cricket.

England’s aggression has been entertaining, but what is really saving Test cricket is making sure matches that don’t involve the Big Three are profitable and have context.

On the latter front, the WTC has undoubtedly been a shot in the arm.

Originally published as Cricket snobs undermine South Africa’s stunning run to World Test Championship final