The Leading Edge

Four days, pink ball? Gimme a break

05 November 2017 - 00:00 By Telford Vice

Sometimes life is simpler when you lose than when you win. Bangladesh, for instance, have gone home - mercy! - to an investigation into their shambolic tour of South Africa.
Damn straight. Played seven, lost seven is the kind of sorry score that raises myriad questions, and they need to be answered honestly if the same mess isn't to be made again. Besides, now their suits have the opportunity to pretend to do something.
But what of the South Africans?
Their next game is against that other bunch of losers, Zimbabwe, and it's a gimmick: a four-day, pink-ball, day/night test at St George's Park on December 26.
Good luck taking that seriously.
Only when South Africa and India walk out for the first test at Newlands on January 5 can the international season be said to have started in a significant sense.No amount of marketing or squawking to the contrary - by, mainly, TV types stuck with the wretched job of selling whatever cricket is out there, regardless of relevance - can change that.
Thing is, January 5 is two months from today; two months in which the players South Africa will depend on to beat India and then Australia will . do what, exactly?
Play in the franchise T20 competition is the kneejerk answer. Of course, but it's complicated. Even though a slew of hit-and-giggles at that level will provide a better test of the ability of South Africa's finest than playing the likes of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the stars' presence will be entirely to the tournament's benefit.
Spectators will see more of Kagiso Rabada and batsmen will gather war stories from battles with him. But Rabada isn't going to take his next leap up the ladder by scrapping it out with those who aren't yet, never will be or no longer are good enough to play at the highest level.
How, then, do those who will get into it with the Indians and the Australians make the best use of these next two months?
By making a clear assessment of what was valuable about the juggernaut they were against Bangladesh and will likely be against Zimbabwe, and writing off everything else as cosmetic enhancement...

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