SA vs Zim - Boxing Day rumour

[The Robot]

Zimbabwe XI best for Boxing Day Test


Chamu Chibhabha
Hamilton Masakadza
Craig Ervine
Brendan Taylor
Sean Williams
Sikandar Raza
Kevin Kasuza ( WKB)
Malcolm Waller
Graeme Cremer
Kyle Jarvis
Tendai Chatara

[Flakeman]

I see 10 players on your list. That wk certainly doesn’t count. How many times must a guy fail? He’s not good.

[TapsC]

To be honest Elgar's argument doesn't hold up because had it been 100 overs a day in 4 days, SA would have had enough time to beat Bangladesh. You are only losing 50 overs and like Faf was saying he would have to be more aggressive and make sporting declarations which is exactly what they are trying to achieve with 4 day tests. It will make the contests a lot closer. Test last that long in the UAE coz the pitches are usually flat. Host nations who want a result will now prepare minefields. To me that will be more of a test than these flat decks that we see these days.

I think everybody else has more of a let's wait and see attitude and the proteas don't want to be the guinea pigs. Let the game be played and let's see what happens. We can judge from there. What concerns me more is the fact that we have never played a day/night test before and the HSC lights are not even up yet

[pariah]

Who would want to play Zimbabwe after this Bangladesh horror show? And to think their best player(Shakb) skipped the tour. Junk coupled with arrogance + disrespect is bound to put players off. Why play ZIM on boxing day when I can continue to enjoy with my family?

PE will be flat just like Potchefstroom, and being bowled out for 90, plus helped to 300 by "suspicious" dropped chances doesn't give the impression ZIM will do any better. Especially with non-bowlers and "top" players who haven't played international in ages.

The players are trying to pass up on ZIM. That's the bottom line here.

[jaybro]

Geez I didn't realise the Boxing Day test was a Day/Night match.

If the Proteas get Steyn, Morkel, Philander & Rabada all fit for this match it could be very very ugly for Zimbabwe's batsman batting under lights

Really is a tough ask for the boys

[brmtaylor.com admin]

MCC have come out against the 5 day Test.
Hopefully they've still got enough sway in the ICC that their position matters.

[jaybro]

MCC have come out against the 5 day Test.
Hopefully they've still got enough sway in the ICC that their position matters.

If the 4 day Test doesn’t get approved I fear the game will be called off and replaced with ODI matches or t20’s

[TapsC]

Apparently most boards are already supporting the idea of 4 days. Even the ECB. I know India is the only country vocally against it. But you would assume that since India Australia England and SA are probably the only countries which make money off tests all the other boards would be for 4 day test. Add England and SA then it's likely a done deal already. I doubt the SA board would be so naive to announce something like this without knowing it would get approved.

In fact England want 5 day tests completely scrapped by 2019 according to this article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2017 ... ecb-plans/

[Kriterion_BD]

Apparently most boards are already supporting the idea of 4 days. Even the ECB. I know India is the only country vocally against it. But you would assume that since India Australia England and SA are probably the only countries which make money off tests all the other boards would be for 4 day test. Add England and SA then it's likely a done deal already. I doubt the SA board would be so naive to announce something like this without knowing it would get approved.

In fact England want 5 day tests completely scrapped by 2019 according to this article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2017 ... ecb-plans/

SA players oppose 4 day Tests.

Also I think the Asian sides might all oppose it as well since it gets dark so early in cricket season (winter) it would be hard ot get 100+ overs in per day. Plus one whole day of rain effectively ruins a match whereas with a 5-day test you can still get a result with one day washed out.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Hashan Tillekeratne has spoken against tinkering with 5 day test matches: http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/sri- ... sts-648671

SA players have spoken against it too (may be to enjoy an extended holiday as well ), and MCC has as well. Looks unlikely that this will go ahead at all, given the unwillingness of the CSA powers that be to just add another day and be done with it.