‘What a joke’: Fury as South Africa’s ‘C-team’ announcement spells ‘sad’ end for Test cricket

The cricket world is furious after South Africa announced it was sending a ‘C-team’ to play series in a sign Test cricket is officially dead.

Only two of the players who were in South Africa’s Test win over India on Thursday are in a 14-man squad for two Tests in New Zealand in February.

Cricket South Africa has named a squad which includes seven uncapped players, including a new captain in left-handed opening batsman Neil Brand.

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Batsman Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham are the only players who were part of South Africa’s innings win in the first Test against India in Centurion.

Due to a ruling by Cricket South Africa, no players contracted to franchises in the SA20 competition, which overlaps with the Tests, were eligible for selection.

Despite having to travel with a makeshift squad, Test coach Shukri Conrad said he was confident that the team would be competitive.

“The players selected for this tour have every chance of challenging New Zealand,” said Conrad, who pointed out that most of the players had shown their ability while playing for South Africa A in recent series against West Indies A and India A.

Brand, 27, was born in Johannesburg but went to high school in England at King’s College, Taunton.

He has a solid first-class record with 2906 runs at an average of 39.27. He is also a capable left-arm orthodox spin bowler who has taken 72 wickets at an average of 30.81.

A full strength South African team beat India in the first Test. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The squad announcement was met with anger and disappointment from cricket fans, who said it was a seminal moment showing countries other than Australia, England and India aren’t prioritising Test cricket anymore.

Australian sports broadcaster Daniel Garb tweeted: “This news comes straight off a massive win over India. What a joke @ProteasMenCSA. Test cricket there will soon go the way it has in the West Indies.”

Leading cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan said: “It’s seemed inevitable for a while but here is that seminal moment for Test cricket outside India, England, Australia & maybe Pakistan.

“7 uncapped players & a new captain for South Africa on their NZ tour with most of their regulars missing owing to the SA20.”

The Telegraph’s Tim Wigmore said: “No better illustration of Test cricket’s challenge than South Africa thrashing India, suggesting they could be Test Championship final contenders - and then announcing a squad to New Zealand that amounts to a C team, with all players with SA20 deals unavailable.”

South Africa sending greenhorns to New Zealand while key players will feature in a T20 league is a total disregard for Test cricket… the best thing would be to cancel the tour #SAVsNZ

— Shahid Hashmi (@hashmi_shahid) December 30, 2023

SA test squad make up to tour NZ is unsurprising due to SA20 but it’s disappointing after the 1st test result at Centurion . Only Aus , Eng & India taking WTC seriously now. It’s sad to see franchise cricket collectively dominate the calendar @ProteasMenCSA#SAvIND#NZvSA#SA20

— John Wright (@johnwright15) December 30, 2023

Cricket statistician Mazher Arshad said that “any country, outside of the Big three, who is not prioritising T20 cricket is shooting itself in the foot”.

He wrote: “Test cricket has become a luxury which only the rich boards can afford. There is every possibility that in the coming decades it will be confined to Australia, England, and India only.

“It has a niche audience due to which it is becoming very hard to sell. Australia and England can afford it due to the value of their TV rights and gate-money, India make so much money from IPL that they can subsidise Test cricket without worrying about the revenues.

“For every other board, it’s a loss-making business (especially if it does not involve a tour by the Big Three).

Keegan Anderson is one of just two players from the team that beat India who will travel to New Zealand. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

“It’s unrealistic to think that teams like Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka etc will be able to compete with Australia, England and India in Test cricket in the coming decades. ODIs future is bleak too.

“So, the only format where they can compete is T20s so it should take priority.

“Change is the only constant in life and importance of cricket is moving towards shorter versions. The sooner you realise T20 will be the pinnacle, the better it will be.”

The early announcement of the touring party appeared to end speculation that opening batsman Dean Elgar might be persuaded to delay his retirement from international cricket beyond the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town, starting on Wednesday, Elgar was named man of the match in the first Test against India after scoring 185 in South Africa’s only innings. He will lead the team in the second Test following an injury to Temba Bavuma.

South African squad: Neil Brand (capt), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin (wkt), Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg, Khaya Zondo.