I love Boland Park, but why can't Boland play at Maties - a very good facility and more accessible? Surely you'd get some students down to watch as well. I don't know why other teams don't play at club and university grounds as well - or do organizers prefer not having to actually organize anything at all?
I remember my dad dropping me and some friends off in the morning at Bellville CC to watch WP play Border. If I'm not mistaken, it might have been JP Duminy's debut and Monde Zondeki's 2nd match (or something like that) - back when Bellville CC was a top notch facility (they were an official 2003 CWC training venue too) - the glory days!
Look how well the outgrounds do in the UK, South Africa has some lovely amateur facilities - we should embrace them.
If CSA really gave a shit, they'd make each FC team play a home game in a local township, then get the local school kids in, get the sponsors involved, give the kids tshirts and a meal, a free tennis ball etc - but who am I kidding, there are no sponsors and 'development' is just a word that gets thrown around when board members are coming up for re-election.
You make some extremely good and valid points, PJ. I've been banging on about playing first-class games at smaller, more attractive venues for years. You probably know that. Another post on this column defines the problem - so bad is the disinterest in first-class cricket that, should a supporter decide to go and watch, they won't be able to buy a bottle of water never mind a soft drink or a beer. And no food options whatsoever. It's almost as if CSA and the provinces are actively trying to kill off first-class cricket.
There are live scores on the Supersport.com/cricket website - but no commentary. And if you look really carefully you should be able to find the live-streaming... it isn't advertised or promoted, of course...
I genuinely think that they just don't give a shit. You can't tell me that 4 day cricket was workable in the 70's and 80's but today it isn't. Administrators are actively trying to end it because they are too fucking lazy and useless and genuinely don't care about cricket at all. They want easy T20 money and don't care about our beautiful game.
Andrew, we need to meet for a coffee. Or a beer, or something. Whilst I can't agree with your (appropriate) language in public, I will certainly be able to do so in private... :)
Thanks Neil, apologies for the language, being a cricket fan is a frustrating hobby! If you ever find yourself in central Zambia I will gladly buy you a beer. In the meantime I probably owe you coffee, really enjoy reading your articles and your takes on the game and South African cricket!
NO! Don't apologise for your language. I would absolutely love to visit you in Zambia - many years ago I ran a sports journalism course in Kitwe! I loved it... and you should look me up in Cape Town if you're ever here. But I'll be grateful for a coffee...I'm hoping to get to India for the Tests in December. :)
South Africa will never stop producing world-class players - in fact, there are more being 'produced' now than ever before. They are emerging from traditional cricket-playing schools which have the funds to invest in better and better facilities. The fact that 99% of South Africa's black international cricketers have had the benefit of these facilities is still regarded as a 'weakness' of the system by the central administration. Perhaps they will recognise, one day, that it is impractical (and unaffordable) to attempt to instal excellent facilities all over the country. Every single cricket-playing country in the world has some sort of talent identification programme which puts promising youngsters into schools with the best facilities. Joe Root moved schools so he could develop his talent...
1) I was not even aware of these matches being played - and I follow cricket fairly closely.
2) I cannot understand why the top players did not take part. They should have been jumping the opportunity to get some long-form cricket under their belts ahead of the tour of Pakistan.
3) Cricket South Africa - to my knowledge anyway - has not put out any information about these matches.
4) Unrelated to the matches but another criticism of CSA. In recent months, three successive 'oldest SA Test cricketers' have died - Ron Draper, Goofy Lawrence and just two weeks ago Kim Elgie. Not a word from CSA. Yes, it is a different controlling body and Test numbers under this body start from 1992 but it is disrespectful to those players and the dwindling number of us oldies who remember the heroes of the past.
My dear old mate, you weren't the only one who didn't know the sponsorless 4-Day Challenge had started. The provinces only play seven matches now (as you know) and none of the Test squad played either of the first two rounds. There has been no advertising or promotion. And your final point...it not only shows disrespect but disdane and disinterest.
I watched Warriors v Boland last year at Boland what a beautiful ground! But as you say I was one of a handful of supporters there. There was nowhere to by a drink water coffee or soft drinks? The facilities were uncared for the place looked neglected. Then the next week Western Province were playing Boland at Newlands . It couldn’t possibly be the same surely. I walked in holding my MCC pass. There is a reciprocal agreement in place with Lords. Again the ground was empty but to my horror it was also covered in litter everywhere. What sort of example is being set if the most beautiful test ground is left to be so badly disrespected. It seemed that those in charge have no care no thought about standards. There was no attempt to welcome supporters or once again to provide tea coffee drinks or snacks. Why would anyone bother to go and watch? I was horrified by what I saw! Those in charge should be utterly ashamed! As you say there are enough retired cricket lovers in Cape Town to fill Newlands twice… but no effort is made seemingly those in charge just don’t care and aren’t bothered.
Peter, what a grim read. And how disappointing! I'd really like to use your comments and experiences in a column to shine a light on the realities... I suppose administrators will say "what comes first - the spectators or the catering?" Chicken and egg. People won't come to the grounds if they can't buy a bottle of water or anything to eat. But if the caterers go to the time and trouble of making sandwiches and opening their stalls, they go to waste if nobody is there to buy them..." I tend to believe the onus is on the hosts to make their venues a pleasant place to spend a day, even just a couple of hours.
It was a really sobering experience! In the players you could see their love of the game and pride in playing first class cricket and rightly so! But the fact that on both occasions it seemed the hosts had made zero attempt to engage local schools universities and communities no advertising no clue at how to market the game of cricket even to the retired cricketing communities! Who wants to go to a litter packed ground with no facilities to cater for people who turn up to enjoy watching the next generation of test cricketers. What a very disappointing state of affairs and one that I was so sad to see!
It must be so soul destroying to have to play in that environment week in week out. Surely the SACA has a responsibility to the game and can see what is happening?
Players are contracted to CSA and, when not involved with Protea cricket events, should be playing for their local franchises. I can understand if they've just come off a long and busy schedule that they could be given a match off but otherwise they should be contributing to making local cricket stronger and more competitive. Non Protea players should be testing themselves against the best to see if they have what it takes to become a Protea player. Not scoring hundreds and taking lots of wickets against fairly average players only. CSA is an employer and like any other business employees are paid to work. Not have months off during the year.
Edwin, you are not alone in this view. None of the Test squad played a single game in the first two rounds of the sponsorless CSA 4-Day Challenge. The first-class game is regarded as an expensive irritation by the provinces. The irony of the Test players missing the first round of matches so they could parade the ICC Test Mace to a few hundred followers is too large to measure.
A sad state of affairs indeed.
I love Boland Park, but why can't Boland play at Maties - a very good facility and more accessible? Surely you'd get some students down to watch as well. I don't know why other teams don't play at club and university grounds as well - or do organizers prefer not having to actually organize anything at all?
I remember my dad dropping me and some friends off in the morning at Bellville CC to watch WP play Border. If I'm not mistaken, it might have been JP Duminy's debut and Monde Zondeki's 2nd match (or something like that) - back when Bellville CC was a top notch facility (they were an official 2003 CWC training venue too) - the glory days!
Look how well the outgrounds do in the UK, South Africa has some lovely amateur facilities - we should embrace them.
If CSA really gave a shit, they'd make each FC team play a home game in a local township, then get the local school kids in, get the sponsors involved, give the kids tshirts and a meal, a free tennis ball etc - but who am I kidding, there are no sponsors and 'development' is just a word that gets thrown around when board members are coming up for re-election.
You make some extremely good and valid points, PJ. I've been banging on about playing first-class games at smaller, more attractive venues for years. You probably know that. Another post on this column defines the problem - so bad is the disinterest in first-class cricket that, should a supporter decide to go and watch, they won't be able to buy a bottle of water never mind a soft drink or a beer. And no food options whatsoever. It's almost as if CSA and the provinces are actively trying to kill off first-class cricket.
Also, there are no SA domestic FC games 'live-scored' on Cricinfo anymore, and there were also no scores or updates on the CSA website.
So I gave up.
There are live scores on the Supersport.com/cricket website - but no commentary. And if you look really carefully you should be able to find the live-streaming... it isn't advertised or promoted, of course...
I'm trying to stay calm. But I'm furious.
I genuinely think that they just don't give a shit. You can't tell me that 4 day cricket was workable in the 70's and 80's but today it isn't. Administrators are actively trying to end it because they are too fucking lazy and useless and genuinely don't care about cricket at all. They want easy T20 money and don't care about our beautiful game.
Andrew, we need to meet for a coffee. Or a beer, or something. Whilst I can't agree with your (appropriate) language in public, I will certainly be able to do so in private... :)
Thanks Neil, apologies for the language, being a cricket fan is a frustrating hobby! If you ever find yourself in central Zambia I will gladly buy you a beer. In the meantime I probably owe you coffee, really enjoy reading your articles and your takes on the game and South African cricket!
NO! Don't apologise for your language. I would absolutely love to visit you in Zambia - many years ago I ran a sports journalism course in Kitwe! I loved it... and you should look me up in Cape Town if you're ever here. But I'll be grateful for a coffee...I'm hoping to get to India for the Tests in December. :)
World cricket needs a strong South Africa test team.
South Africa will never stop producing world-class players - in fact, there are more being 'produced' now than ever before. They are emerging from traditional cricket-playing schools which have the funds to invest in better and better facilities. The fact that 99% of South Africa's black international cricketers have had the benefit of these facilities is still regarded as a 'weakness' of the system by the central administration. Perhaps they will recognise, one day, that it is impractical (and unaffordable) to attempt to instal excellent facilities all over the country. Every single cricket-playing country in the world has some sort of talent identification programme which puts promising youngsters into schools with the best facilities. Joe Root moved schools so he could develop his talent...
Thanks for this Neil. Several thoughts:
1) I was not even aware of these matches being played - and I follow cricket fairly closely.
2) I cannot understand why the top players did not take part. They should have been jumping the opportunity to get some long-form cricket under their belts ahead of the tour of Pakistan.
3) Cricket South Africa - to my knowledge anyway - has not put out any information about these matches.
4) Unrelated to the matches but another criticism of CSA. In recent months, three successive 'oldest SA Test cricketers' have died - Ron Draper, Goofy Lawrence and just two weeks ago Kim Elgie. Not a word from CSA. Yes, it is a different controlling body and Test numbers under this body start from 1992 but it is disrespectful to those players and the dwindling number of us oldies who remember the heroes of the past.
My dear old mate, you weren't the only one who didn't know the sponsorless 4-Day Challenge had started. The provinces only play seven matches now (as you know) and none of the Test squad played either of the first two rounds. There has been no advertising or promotion. And your final point...it not only shows disrespect but disdane and disinterest.
I watched Warriors v Boland last year at Boland what a beautiful ground! But as you say I was one of a handful of supporters there. There was nowhere to by a drink water coffee or soft drinks? The facilities were uncared for the place looked neglected. Then the next week Western Province were playing Boland at Newlands . It couldn’t possibly be the same surely. I walked in holding my MCC pass. There is a reciprocal agreement in place with Lords. Again the ground was empty but to my horror it was also covered in litter everywhere. What sort of example is being set if the most beautiful test ground is left to be so badly disrespected. It seemed that those in charge have no care no thought about standards. There was no attempt to welcome supporters or once again to provide tea coffee drinks or snacks. Why would anyone bother to go and watch? I was horrified by what I saw! Those in charge should be utterly ashamed! As you say there are enough retired cricket lovers in Cape Town to fill Newlands twice… but no effort is made seemingly those in charge just don’t care and aren’t bothered.
Peter, what a grim read. And how disappointing! I'd really like to use your comments and experiences in a column to shine a light on the realities... I suppose administrators will say "what comes first - the spectators or the catering?" Chicken and egg. People won't come to the grounds if they can't buy a bottle of water or anything to eat. But if the caterers go to the time and trouble of making sandwiches and opening their stalls, they go to waste if nobody is there to buy them..." I tend to believe the onus is on the hosts to make their venues a pleasant place to spend a day, even just a couple of hours.
It was a really sobering experience! In the players you could see their love of the game and pride in playing first class cricket and rightly so! But the fact that on both occasions it seemed the hosts had made zero attempt to engage local schools universities and communities no advertising no clue at how to market the game of cricket even to the retired cricketing communities! Who wants to go to a litter packed ground with no facilities to cater for people who turn up to enjoy watching the next generation of test cricketers. What a very disappointing state of affairs and one that I was so sad to see!
It must be so soul destroying to have to play in that environment week in week out. Surely the SACA has a responsibility to the game and can see what is happening?
Publish this widely Neil!
Players are contracted to CSA and, when not involved with Protea cricket events, should be playing for their local franchises. I can understand if they've just come off a long and busy schedule that they could be given a match off but otherwise they should be contributing to making local cricket stronger and more competitive. Non Protea players should be testing themselves against the best to see if they have what it takes to become a Protea player. Not scoring hundreds and taking lots of wickets against fairly average players only. CSA is an employer and like any other business employees are paid to work. Not have months off during the year.
Edwin, you are not alone in this view. None of the Test squad played a single game in the first two rounds of the sponsorless CSA 4-Day Challenge. The first-class game is regarded as an expensive irritation by the provinces. The irony of the Test players missing the first round of matches so they could parade the ICC Test Mace to a few hundred followers is too large to measure.