I think it's understandable in some ways that Elgar is reluctant to cricticise his fellow pros, but to lay all the blame for this situation at the door of the board is rather mealy mouthed. No-one is forcing the players to take franchise gigs rather than play for their country and, despite the impression which some of them too often want to give, having a central contract will do you quite nicely in terms of money in your own country--and vastly better than cricketers of most previous generations, international or otherwise.
If those players he talks about really do value test cricket as highly or higher than T20 contracts, then they need to quite literally put their money where their mouths are. Or shut those mouths, if in reality they value lining their own pockets more than any the survival of any other form of the game!
Dave, the players are actually contractually obliged to play the SA20, and they really can't afford (not just finacially) to be in breach of contract. I know for a fact that they are furious about this clash of obligations and they really want to play Test cricket. Yes, they also want to "maximise their earning potential" but they also want to play Test cricket. It's not their job to manipulate the fixtures or 'take a stand', it's the job of their employers...
I was thinking more in general, Neil. I can understand wanting to play the franchise tournament in your own country, even if you're not contractually obliged to do so (and of course if you are it makes it more complicated still)--and I largely agree that it's the board's responsibility to sort out their priorities on that one.
But still no-one's forcing any player to play in any OTHER franchise tournament--and chasing that money will literally destroy test cricket, 50-over cricket and all non-franchise domestic cricket. So if you genuinely value test cricket (or those other forms) you simply wouldn't do it. That doesn't mean you have to forego those tournaments--but it's where I think the players really should put up or shut up. As with anything, words are cheap and meaningless if they're not consistent with your actions.
It’s so sad. SA always a strong test team with not enough fixtures. Why no England test tour until early ‘27? I read somewhere that SA reckons the India tour is the big one, have they witnessed the thousands of Brits on tour in SA? Thousands of people staying in hotels and using local hospitality.
Why no England tour of SA? We've had this conversation on here before, but--because, once India and Australia are accounted for, England have four away series every four years to spread between six teams. Even my bad maths knows that that doesn't go! And every country will be making the same arguments that you are, because England are one of the few test teams with large travelling support.
When you say that SA reckon that India are the big tour, they're absolutely right from a cricketing point of view. 80% of cricket's income is generated by India, so the boost to hospitality from a few thousand England fans, valuable as it is, will be small beer compared to that.
Sigh, thanks Neil. Gloomy Monday indeed, but such is the world nowadays. Yep, perhaps Dr Craven had a point. What next ? T20 cricket in the USA? Oh....I see....
Good luck to the players who have employment and I am pleased for them as well as the many others who are needed to run such tournaments, but count me in with the others on your column who feel the same about T20 'cricket' . Well done on your shining the light and insights. Regards.
Good to hear from you again, Dennis. I am feeling bleaker than ever before about the future of Test cricket, and it's made worse, not better, by the quality of the entertainment the Ashes has served up. It was over 10 years ago that I wrote a speculative piece about the Ashes 'surviving' in a world in which Test was being diminished and dying out elsewhere. I couldn't see how that was possible. Now I can.
Thanks Manners for your honest reports. I honestly hate T20. Just bashing the ball as far as it can go. Now watching the death of Test Cricket saddens me. Started watching many years ago when my Dad first took me to Newlands in the days of Jackie Mcglue, Colin Bland and Pollacks of course.
Dear Rosemary, we've never met but I sense that you have lived a rich and rewarding life and have enjoyed many days of excellent cricket. That's why they have lived so long in your memory. I have had the privilege of watching (mostly commentating) on well over 300 Test matches and can still recall details from all of them. I can barely remember the result of most T20 matches the following morning. But they are, more often than not, very exciting at the time. And if instant excitement is what the market requires, then let them have it. I suppose... :)
I think it's understandable in some ways that Elgar is reluctant to cricticise his fellow pros, but to lay all the blame for this situation at the door of the board is rather mealy mouthed. No-one is forcing the players to take franchise gigs rather than play for their country and, despite the impression which some of them too often want to give, having a central contract will do you quite nicely in terms of money in your own country--and vastly better than cricketers of most previous generations, international or otherwise.
If those players he talks about really do value test cricket as highly or higher than T20 contracts, then they need to quite literally put their money where their mouths are. Or shut those mouths, if in reality they value lining their own pockets more than any the survival of any other form of the game!
Dave, the players are actually contractually obliged to play the SA20, and they really can't afford (not just finacially) to be in breach of contract. I know for a fact that they are furious about this clash of obligations and they really want to play Test cricket. Yes, they also want to "maximise their earning potential" but they also want to play Test cricket. It's not their job to manipulate the fixtures or 'take a stand', it's the job of their employers...
I was thinking more in general, Neil. I can understand wanting to play the franchise tournament in your own country, even if you're not contractually obliged to do so (and of course if you are it makes it more complicated still)--and I largely agree that it's the board's responsibility to sort out their priorities on that one.
But still no-one's forcing any player to play in any OTHER franchise tournament--and chasing that money will literally destroy test cricket, 50-over cricket and all non-franchise domestic cricket. So if you genuinely value test cricket (or those other forms) you simply wouldn't do it. That doesn't mean you have to forego those tournaments--but it's where I think the players really should put up or shut up. As with anything, words are cheap and meaningless if they're not consistent with your actions.
It’s so sad. SA always a strong test team with not enough fixtures. Why no England test tour until early ‘27? I read somewhere that SA reckons the India tour is the big one, have they witnessed the thousands of Brits on tour in SA? Thousands of people staying in hotels and using local hospitality.
Why no England tour of SA? We've had this conversation on here before, but--because, once India and Australia are accounted for, England have four away series every four years to spread between six teams. Even my bad maths knows that that doesn't go! And every country will be making the same arguments that you are, because England are one of the few test teams with large travelling support.
When you say that SA reckon that India are the big tour, they're absolutely right from a cricketing point of view. 80% of cricket's income is generated by India, so the boost to hospitality from a few thousand England fans, valuable as it is, will be small beer compared to that.
Sigh, thanks Neil. Gloomy Monday indeed, but such is the world nowadays. Yep, perhaps Dr Craven had a point. What next ? T20 cricket in the USA? Oh....I see....
Good luck to the players who have employment and I am pleased for them as well as the many others who are needed to run such tournaments, but count me in with the others on your column who feel the same about T20 'cricket' . Well done on your shining the light and insights. Regards.
Good to hear from you again, Dennis. I am feeling bleaker than ever before about the future of Test cricket, and it's made worse, not better, by the quality of the entertainment the Ashes has served up. It was over 10 years ago that I wrote a speculative piece about the Ashes 'surviving' in a world in which Test was being diminished and dying out elsewhere. I couldn't see how that was possible. Now I can.
Haven’t managed to pick my jaw up from the ground yet ! So unbelievable, so sad!
Thanks Manners for your honest reports. I honestly hate T20. Just bashing the ball as far as it can go. Now watching the death of Test Cricket saddens me. Started watching many years ago when my Dad first took me to Newlands in the days of Jackie Mcglue, Colin Bland and Pollacks of course.
Dear Rosemary, we've never met but I sense that you have lived a rich and rewarding life and have enjoyed many days of excellent cricket. That's why they have lived so long in your memory. I have had the privilege of watching (mostly commentating) on well over 300 Test matches and can still recall details from all of them. I can barely remember the result of most T20 matches the following morning. But they are, more often than not, very exciting at the time. And if instant excitement is what the market requires, then let them have it. I suppose... :)
So so sad