Cricket SA must strike while Test iron is hot to maximise Proteas’ success

Sharp Turn Column by Zaahier Adams

“It’s a good job Test cricket is played over five days, isn’t it?”

These were the words of England captain Ben Stokes after his team beat India after a thrilling run-chase at Headingley this week.

Stokes had even more reason to smile after he asked India to bat on Day 1, and then watched how the visitors raced to 430/3.

In another era, Stokes’ decision may have placed him alongside Nasser ‘Insane’ Hussain’s decision to insert Australia on the opening day of the Ashes back in 2002.

But the red-ball game has been revolutionised over the last few years.

While England’s ‘Bazball’ tactics have undoubtedly brought a refreshing element to a sport that has been “on its last legs” for almost three decades, the expansion of T20 cricket has also played its part.

Detractors may complain that batters no longer have the defensive techniques to combat the new ball.

However, the brass-necked approach shown by batters in chasing down totals in the fourth innings has added an extraordinary element to Test cricket.

Among the last 10 highest run-chasers in Test history, three have been achieved in the last five years. 

Equally, there have been further record fourth-innings chases at various individual Test grounds, with the Proteas’ recent World Test Championship final run-chase being the second highest ever achieved at Lord’s. 

The Proteas’ success has equally sent reverberations through South Africa and the globe, with their victory hailed as triumph for the so-called ‘smaller nations’ sitting outside the Big Three of England, Australia and India. 

Temba Bavuma and Shukri Conrad’s team’s success has caused a nation to fall back in love with a format of the game that was seen to be taking a backward step after a few years in the doldrums.

Just like England under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have tried to keep Test cricket relevant in an ever-changing landscape, the Proteas have now done their bit and more to keep the five-day game alive and kicking.

And they have done it in the best possible way, with no funky game-plans.

They’ve just kept on winning – eight Test matches in a row now – with the World Test Championship final success over Australia at Lord’s being the ultimate prize.

Cricket SA have been handed a golden opportunity to maximise the Proteas’ success, and while the Test world champions won’t unfortunately be seen in action at home until next year, the old-age saying of “strike while the iron is hot” has never been more relevant.

The Proteas team may claim that it doesn’t boast any “superstars”, but in Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen and skipper Bavuma, they have players who should be seen on billboards all down the N1 and my Kellogg’s box every time I have my morning cereal.

Test cricket is alive and well. Long may it continue…