CAPETOWN: On the day that two of South Africa’s leading Test cricketers voiced their strong opposition to the concept of four-day Tests, it has emerged that Cricket South Africa failed to properly consult with their players prior to scheduling a four-day match against Zimbabwe. Although the players have promised to take part in the match if the ICC approves CSA’s request for it to carry Test status, the game is likely to be cancelled in the event that it is not.

On Monday (Oct 2), captain Faf du Plessis and opening batsman Dean Elgar both expressed their desire for five-day Tests to continue in the wake of South Africa’s victory over Bangladesh in the first Test, which was only sewn up on the fifth morning in Potchefstroom, While du Plessis said that removing a day would make the game less challenging, Elgar suggested that cricket “should not tinker with something that’s not broken”.

“I am a fan of five-day Test cricket,” du Plessis said. “I believe the great Test matches have gone to the last hour of the last day on day five. That’s what is so special about Test cricket. In four-day cricket or first-class cricket, it does feel easier because there are only four days.

“For five days you have to graft it out. Bowlers have to bowl a lot more and batters have to construct much bigger innings. This Test proved that a day five was needed. If it was a rain-off yesterday, it would have been very disappointing so I am a fan of that.”

Yet Elgar, who does not play the shorter formats for South Africa, was even more vociferous in his support of five-day games. “I’m a five-day Test specialist, and it must stay that way in my opinion,” he said.

“I don’t think you should tinker with something that’s not broken. If you go and play around the world, Test cricket is followed quite well. If you play in Australia, if you play in England, even if you play in South Africa against the relatively big nations you still get very good crowds. There are other formats that are being experimented with. I don’t see why Test cricket should suffer. I am a purist when it comes to that. Hopefully the game can have longevity in the five-day format.”

Such vehement opposition to four-day Tests raised the question of why CSA pushed the concept by scheduling a day-night game against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day, but it turns out that no formal consultation took place.

While CSA’s then-chief executive Haroon Lorgat had informal discussions with the South African team management when Russell Domingo was still the coach, the final proposal was supposed to be discussed with the players — through the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) — after their tour of England. Despite the fact that those talks are yet to take place, CSA announced last month that it intends to host Zimbabwe for a four-day day/night Test in December.

Both the playing conditions for the game and the match’s Test status will need to be ratified by the ICC when it meets in Auckland next week. “There’s a lot of work that needs to go into it,” added Irish. “We know there are scheduling advantages but there hasn’t been enough work done on it. I understand why CSA want to do this. They want to provide content over a period where there is traditionally cricket. I am not sure that a four-day day/night Test against Zimbabwe is the answer.”

Lorgat was known to be a strong supporter of four-day Test cricket, but his departure from CSA last week will not change the board’s approach. “We are an organisation and when the organisation comes up with an idea it is not the product of one person. We as an organisation came up with the concept,” CSA president Chris Nenzani said.

CSA will therefore press ahead with their request for the match against Zimbabwe to be given Test status, with acting chief executive Thabang Moroe set to present their case to the ICC. Moroe said that Irish had assured him the players would take part in the match if the request is granted - but not if it was denied. CSA general manager Corrie van Zyl and commercial manager Clive Eksteen are in the process of creating a contingency plan. “Our broadcasters need content and we need players to play cricket,” said Moroe. “I have asked Corrie and Clive to work out a plan in case the ICC says ‘no’.”

To some, the sight of South Africa beating Bangladesh by 333 runs in a Test that was played in front of small crowds at a lesser venue outside of cricket season looks like a case for the four-day concept. Although a fifth day was required to achieve a result, only 323.5 overs were needed - which could theoretically have been possible in four days if they were lengthened to 100 overs per day.

As du Plessis and Elgar spoke, a stronger case against four-day Tests was being made in Abu Dhabi, where Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in an epic Test that went to the final session of day five. Around three-quarters of Test matches in the UAE since 2010 have gone into a fifth day, which is in contrast to trends in South Africa.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2017