Expensive Transport Options

Growing the game is different to Excellence

    South Africa’s 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup was full of the tried, tested and trusted. Only Ryan Rickelton and Ottniel Baartman can be described as ‘inexperienced’ although Rickelton has played six internationals and 88 domestic T20s and Baartman 70 domestic T20s.

    Both were outstanding performers in the SA20 and they are 27 and 31-years-old respectively. If the packed stadiums and competitive cricket in the SA20 are regarded as a sufficient test of their match temperament, then neither can be regarded as a selection gamble. Both, however, are likely to start on the bench.

Like England, India and Australia, the South African squad is conservative and based on the truism that international tournament play is very different to a domestic league where conditions and the opposition are familiar – and there’s always a second chance until right at the end.

     But all of that is irrelevant to several Cricket South Africa board members, one of whom described the squad as “a disgrace and an embarrassment.” His issue was that there are only six Players of Colour in the 15 with Kagiso Rabada the only Black African. There is supposed to be a minimum of seven of whom three should be Black African and, for those unfamiliar with the racial targets, the national playing XI should ‘average’ two Black Africans in a total of six Players of Colour over each calendar year.

    The Board member who expressed his dismay at the announcement of the squad may be surprised to hear that, as a Board member, he carries more responsibility for the composition of the squad than either coach Rob Walter or Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe, who signed off on it.

This squad is yet more, irrefutable proof that Transformation, the CSA way, does not work. Yet generation after generation of the game’s overseers have not only endorsed it but become increasingly fixated on their commitment to it. On almost every level the Transformation and Development programmes are noble and well-intentioned but, after a quarter of a century, there is no sign of recognition that they don’t work.

    For those who have read this before, forgive the repetition. No team sport, in any country, has an even spread of resources between all cities, provinces, states or counties. It just doesn’t work like that. CSA has spent over R2 billion in the last 25 years attempting, with the best intentions, to disprove this reality.

The main reason South Africa has over-produced excellent cricketers for almost a century, and thus been net exporters of them, is because of the ‘elite’ schools in the country.  Elite is the problem. It is understandable. Cricket is in a constant battle to fight its way past its colonial, white-elitist history.

    Whereas rugby has openly embraced these institutions and enabled hundreds of brilliantly talented youngsters to occupy a full-time place in a rugby environment, and gain one of the best school educations on the continent, cricket administrators have baulked at the thought. Makhaya Ntini, Lungi Ngidi, Temba Bavuma and Andile Phehlukwayo, amongst others – Nkwe went to St.Stithians - all had their lives and careers shaped by scholarships and have served their country with distinction on the field. Kwena Maphaka and Nqaba Peter will surely do likewise.

As Ntini and Ngidi have noted, it was hard transitioning from poor, humble backgrounds to boarding schools without friends and familiarity. Both have spoken eloquently about their desire for cricket to go to rural areas rather than rural kids having to move to find cricket. Cricket does go to rural and non-traditional regions but cultivating excellence clearly takes something different.

    Hilton College, St.Stithians, KES, SACS and Grey (and the other 30 or so) are all open to a formal, or even semi-formal relationship with CSA. None of them want to, or believe they can, survive with a majority of privileged white kids. And besides, they like to win. Bursaries are available but they are NOT silver bullets.  

    CSA’s establishment of over 50 ‘hubs’ in disadvantaged communities was an excellent initiative. As an introduction to the game and an opportunity to identify talent, they could not have spread the word and opportunity any better. But two or three hours of cricket per week will never lead to excellence. Provincial Academies are also well-intentioned but under-resourced and very much part-time.

    Spread the word far and wide. But acknowledge that the answer to talented cricketers emerging in Limpopo or Pholokwane is not to have a professional team based there. It does not, and never has, worked like that. There is not enough money.

    If 25 of the best cricket-playing schools in the country each awarded eight cricket scholarships, subsidised by redirected CSA funds, there would be 200 each year. A conservative strike rate of 5% gives us 10 players of international potential. Every year.

    Cricket is expensive. A decent bat costs at least R15k and bowling boots are R3k minimum. And people ask why there are no Black batsmen. Sure, they’ll be given a couple early on and sponsors will provide a few more, but if their rise to success takes time, as it often does in this game, is it any wonder that they drift away?

    The game has grown in the last 25 years but the answer to achieving excellence may be to spend wisely rather than heavily.   

    SA Squad: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Ottniel Baartman, Keshav Maharaj, Bjorn Fortuin, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Travelling Reserves: Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.

PS – Ahh, the yellow taxi. Committed as I am now to being in New York for SA’s first three games of the T20 World Cup, I asked an American colleague for budget advice when I’m there. “Only take pictures of the famous yellow cabs,” he said, “like you did in Kolkata last year. The NY version might be the most expensive form of road transport on earth.”