Steve Waugh blasts top cricket boards, urges New Zealand to boycott South Africa Tests
Cricket South Africa recently named an inexperienced squad for the upcoming 2-match Test series against New Zealand. The 14-man squad unveiled by CSA features just three players from the current team battling it out against India – Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, and the veteran all-rounder Wiaan Mulder. The captaincy mantle for the tour rests on the shoulders of the uncapped Neil Brand, a 27-year-old opener with promising but limited first-class experience.
The remaining names on the list are a mix of promising youngsters and players yet to prove themselves at the international level. While this presents exciting opportunities for fresh talent, the lack of seasoned campaigners raises concerns about the team’s ability to cope with the New Zealanders’ formidable home advantage.
CSA’s justifications for this audacious selection strategy revolve around the SA20 tournament. Launched in January 2024, the league has attracted many of the world’s biggest T20 stars, promising lucrative contracts and a platform to showcase their skills. Keeping the senior players fresh and focused on the SA20 is seen as crucial for the tournament’s success, which CSA believes will ultimately benefit South African cricket in the long run, especially from a financial point of view.
Steve Waugh raises concerns over the future of Test Cricket
However, critics argue that neglecting the Test format, the pinnacle of cricketing skill sends a detrimental message. They believe that prioritizing T20 over the traditional formats could erode the long-term development of players and the national team’s Test pedigree. Furthermore, they question whether sacrificing immediate Test competitiveness on the altar of T20 is truly a path to sustainable cricketing success.
The chorus of disapproval against Cricket South Africa’s T20 prioritization reached a fever pitch with the legendary Steve Waugh joining the fray. The former Australian skipper didn’t hold back, unleashing a fiery broadside at not just CSA but the entire cricketing hierarchy, from the Apex Cricket Council and Indian Cricket Board down.
Not stopping there, he turned his focus to New Zealand itself, urging the Black Caps to take a stand. “If I was New Zealand, I wouldn’t even play the series. I don’t know why they’re even playing. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?” he wrote on social media after the squad was announced.
