Former South African captain Graeme Smith praised the Indian cricket workforce for “taking Test cricket seriously”, particularly beneath the management of their star batter Virat Kohli. He additionally believes that the longest format of the sport may shrink to 5 or 6 nations in future. The 2023-27 Future Tour Programme was introduced by the International Cricket Council earlier this week, as per which England (43), Australia (40) and India (38) will play essentially the most checks, however South Africa will get to play solely 28 whereas Pakistan may also get solely 27 Tests to play.
On at the present time in 2021 – Captain Virat Kohli spoke the most likely most iconic line within the huddle speech on floor in check cricket “For 60 overs they should feel hell out there” on day 5 and India beat England in Lord’s check and win a Iconic check match. pic.twitter.com/7GliNIbfDo
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) August 16, 2022
“With Test cricket, it is just iconic nations or the big cricketing nations that are contributing at the moment. I think it is fantastic that, especially under Virat Kohli, India really took Test cricket seriously. They lead the way with that,” Smith mentioned to Sky Sports. “But as long as we have got competitive teams, you are not going to have 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 competitive teams. You might only be down to five or six nations that play Test cricket at this level,” he added.
South Africa is presently on the high of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 and the legendary batter believes that his aspect is raring to thrive within the five-day format. The 41-year-old can also be the Commissioner of South Africa’s new franchise T20 League and he says that it’ll assist the nation develop its cricket throughout all codecs. The league will begin in January subsequent yr and South Africa’s high gamers shall be accessible following their withdrawal from the ODI sequence towards Australia scheduled for that point, protecting the league as their precedence.
“I felt it was important for South Africa to get its own commercial league going, like the rest of the world has. For four weeks of an entire year, the priority will be the league. I fear if we had not done this South Africa could probably have lost eight to 10 players to this UAE T20 league so there has to be an element of investment to keep our players,” he mentioned.
“There can also be a chance for our gamers to work together with high gamers and coaches in a extremely skilled cricket surroundings. Hopefully that can enhance the expertise pool. The key’s the cash will stream again into the sport. It is an funding I believe South Africa cricket desperately wanted.
He mentioned that the stress is big on nations like South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies to remain in a financially steady situation to tackle huge groups like England, India and Australia and to maintain the game aggressive.
“I do not think world cricket can afford South Africa or one of the top nations to fade away. This league helps that and hopefully, it will flow into Test cricket standards, international white-ball standards,” he added.
