Legendary South African batter AB De Villiers was upset that the India-South Africa Test series only had two games and that the Proteas are sending a second-string team to play New Zealand in a long-format series, saying that Test cricket is under a lot of pressure.
A Test series between India and South Africa just ended with a 1-1 tie. In the first Test, India lost by an innings and 32 runs. But they came back to win by seven wickets in Cape Town, where the game only went two days. India finished their tour of South Africa without losing any of the games they played. They won both the ODI and T20I series by a score of 2-1, with a number of young players doing well. Fans and cricket players both said that the Test series should have had more games than just two.
De Villiers said on his YouTube account, “I’m not happy that there isn’t a third Test.” That’s because of the T20 cricket that’s played all over the world. I am not sure who is to blame, but I am sure that something is not right. Something needs to change so that all the teams can play and see who is the best Test team in the world. The former batter talked about the Proteas’ pick for the two-Test tour of New Zealand, which runs from January 10 to February 10 and coincides with the second season of SA20. He said that Test cricket is under a lot of pressure and the system is shifting toward T20 cricket.
Proteas picked a 14-player team to play New Zealand in a two-match Test series next month. Six players on the team have never played cricket before, including Neil Brand, the captain, who has never played cricket before. While the SA20 and Test series are going on at the same time, most of the scheduled Test players will be playing in the SA20. First Test will begin on February 4, and second Test will begin on February 13. “It sent shockwaves through the cricket world and made it clear that Test cricket, and even ODI cricket, is under a lot of pressure. T20 cricket is turning the whole system on its head.” People on the team, the board, and the coaches will go where the money is. They have every right to think about their future with their family. “That’s what it all comes down to,” he said.
When asked about the pitch in Cape Town for the second Test against India, De Villiers said, “I thought it was a pretty standard wicket.” I remember moving around that area on Day 1. Only make it through the first class on Day 1. Things will get better. The ones who were playing their shots and not hanging out were the ones who were doing well. “I remember that Ben Stokes scored 200 there.” I got a few hundred there myself. “Bowlers like Vernon Philander, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Kagiso Rabada should not be able to keep bowling off-stump,” he said.
