It is sad that few fans seemed interested in the first Test played between the South African Proteas and the West Indies at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. Or, that Cricket South Africa has really now shown how they feel about Test cricket, despite the fact that they keep saying it is important to them. I’ll also bet you that there are a decent number of sports fans out there who probably don’t even know that the Test match is going on in Centurion, and really can’t be bothered. Has this come…
It is sad that few fans seemed interested in the first Test played between the South African Proteas and the West Indies at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Or, that Cricket South Africa has really now shown how they feel about Test cricket, despite the fact that they keep saying it is important to them.
I’ll also bet you that there are a decent number of sports fans out there who probably don’t even know that the Test match is going on in Centurion, and really can’t be bothered.
Is this happening in South Africa in the purest form of the game?
Tuesday and Wednesday start
So many questions can be asked.
Yes, there are always timing and scheduling issues, but why start a Test on a Tuesday, especially when the opposition isn’t as strong as some of the other teams and isn’t the biggest crowd puller?
It will certainly be more beneficial and better for all involved to start the Test on Saturday, when the cricket fans can enter the ground, and hopefully have two days with atmosphere.
The start of the five-day Test on Tuesday means that the match may not even reach Saturday.
And it doesn’t get any better about the start of the second Test – Wednesday, at the Wanderers, next week.
Surely making the most of the weekend should be the goal for the CSA and its stakeholders?
SA20, Women’s T20 World Cup
All this is happening because of what happened in South African cricket in the last two months.
First, the SA20 was a huge success, with most fields across the country attracting huge crowds.
The Women’s T20 World Cup followed, with matches in Cape Town, Paarl and Gqeberha, also attracting huge crowds. Matches involving the Proteas were particularly well attended.
While Twenty20 cricket is a big money-spinner, all over the world, and can be a season of the game, it is unfortunate that not much has been done (or seems to be) to keep Test cricket relevant and important.
Of course CSA could do more with the ongoing series and be smarter about dates and venues. Or, what do you really want?