What is it with Faf and Chris Morris?

Before the first Test between the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions, the tourists’ team was leaked to the media 24 hours before it was due to be announced. Not just the starting XV, but the bench, too. The whole thing. It was the source of significant embarrassment to head coach Warren Gatland who nonetheless put a brave face on it. 

The Lions closed ranks and put it down to an ‘innocent mistake’, an inadvertent ‘leak’ from a family member back in the UK who had been told the team and revealed it to a friend over coffee or a glass of wine from where it made its way to the desk of a sports writer at The Times. All 23 names, mind you, not just “Tom is so excited – he’s playing tomorrow!”

But it is true - friends and family can be a hazard when it comes to keeping team news a secret, especially in these days of heightened Anti-Corruption activity when bookmakers and gamblers will happily pay ‘good’ money for that sort of information. It’s not just team news, of course. You hear all sorts in gyms, restaurants and malls from people who are close to professional players, especially if a perceived injustice has occurred. 

If I’d been bought a virtual or even a real coffee for each time I’ve been asked the question about the non-involvement of Faf du Plessis and Chris Morris in the Proteas T20 team, I’d either be contemplating retirement or a week in caffeine rehab. Far less often, somebody offers me an answer.

Last week, in a coffee-shop (of course), a man came over for a chat. He was closely involved in the game, or at least he was close to those who were. More often than not these conversations have to be completed with a pinch of salt because the information is either too personal or too unreliable for me to have more than a polite interest. But this was more than credible. 

Many months ago, apparently, both the former captain and Morris were informed that if they wanted to contend for a place in South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad, they would have to make themselves available for two of the Proteas tours before the tournament and would then be paid for the T20 World Cup – if selected. But they could not be offered a contract, even a limited one. 

Selection cannot be guaranteed, naturally, but it seemed a particularly ‘thin’ offer given the T20 record and credentials of the two cricketers. The bigger problem, however, was that neither of them heard anything further. No communication from director of cricket Graeme Smith, head coach Mark Boucher or selection convenor Victor Mpitsang. 

Smith and Boucher, in their way, were the ultimate ‘team first’ men and it would be understandable if it went against all their instincts to ‘parachute’ players into the squad who had not completed the full journey. If that is the case, they should have said so immediately. If they are uncomfortable with the idea that du Plessis and Morris can continue to have their CPL, PSL and Hundred cake and eat with the national team when it suits them, they would have enjoyed at least as much support as resistance amongst supporters.

The administrative chaos that has prevailed at CSA HQ for years has almost certainly made it impossible to negotiate a brand new form of short-term contract in the way the West Indies Cricket Board has to enable their biggest stars to feature at ICC events. If that is the case, it should have been explained as soon as possible. 

The uncertainty around the two players extends far beyond du Plessis and Morris. The lack of communication to the players, and supporters, adds to an already grim atmosphere of uncertainty and mistrust which may exist amongst the current squad but certainly does amongst supporters.

It is an issue which would have been addressed by a strong, full-time CEO with an understanding of the importance of honesty and not filing difficult problems in the ‘too hard’ drawer of the corporate filing cabinet. It must be said that the acting CEO, Pholetsi Moseki, has done an excellent and efficient job, but he would not only be justified but correct in leaving this problem well alone. 

There is a big problem if the ‘all or nothing’ approach to national players espoused by former CEO, Haroon Lorgat, still exists in what remains of CSA’s administration. It is completely unreasonable to expect most players to be available for every tour, in every format, in today’s schedule. It is the reason AB de Villiers was forced to choose the ‘nothing’ option so prematurely in his international career.

It is now quite obvious, especially to me after my coffee shop conversation, that du Plessis and Morris were probably never in with a chance of playing for South Africa again. Opinion may be divided on whether SA should follow the example of New Zealand and the Caribbean by allowing their best players to earn the biggest bucks in the IPL even when there are national fixtures, but there should be no division of opinion on whether that policy should be made perfectly clear. To everyone.

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