All the best and most compelling reasons in the world, technical, financial and emotional, point towards the ‘IPL Five’ making their choice not to play in the two Test matches against Bangladesh and head to Mumbai to join up with their Franchises.
I'm glad you mentioned the board. They've been curiously silent. Inviting Bangladesh, on the rise and coached by South Africans, to play us at Kingsmead and St George's Park, in the IPL window, are not the actions of an organisation bent on winning. Pity the players couldn't have taken the high road but this is professional sport and, from one professional to another, I certainly can't blame them, nor how they've gone about it.
Fortunately the 'B' team showed a great deal of mettle and resolve and the series win still leaves the Proteas in a strong position to push for a place in the World Test Championship final next year. Although, depending on how the series against England plays out, I suspect they will need at least one win from the three Tests in Australia at the end of the year...
Hang on a second, zondo and dupavillon to play? KZN local move?
Well, I was wrong about that, wasn't I?! :)
I'm glad you mentioned the board. They've been curiously silent. Inviting Bangladesh, on the rise and coached by South Africans, to play us at Kingsmead and St George's Park, in the IPL window, are not the actions of an organisation bent on winning. Pity the players couldn't have taken the high road but this is professional sport and, from one professional to another, I certainly can't blame them, nor how they've gone about it.
Fortunately the 'B' team showed a great deal of mettle and resolve and the series win still leaves the Proteas in a strong position to push for a place in the World Test Championship final next year. Although, depending on how the series against England plays out, I suspect they will need at least one win from the three Tests in Australia at the end of the year...