vvvslaxman Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/513733.html South Africa v Australia cut to two Tests ESPNcricinfo staff May 4, 2011 South Africa's home Test series against Australia will be played over just two matches - as opposed to the customary three of recent times - with a packed international cricket calendar being offered as the reason. The truncated schedule will be formally announced on Friday by officials of the two boards and from Sri Lanka, who are also involved in series against both countries. "Because of the fixture list, we have to have two Tests this time but the next time Australia tour South Africa they will play four Tests here, because they will owe us one," Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa, told ESPNcricinfo. South Africa and Australia have played three-Test series in every encounter between the two countries since South Africa's re-admission to international cricket in 1992, often as back-to-back home and away series. The removal of one Test from the traditional program is confirmed in the ICC's Future Tours Program, which states South Africa "host Australia, two Tests, two T20s, three ODIs". ODIs and T20 have commonly been used as a tour revenue counter-balance for the fluctuating crowds commonly witnessed at Tests in the rainbow nation. The two-Test series is scheduled for October, which could overlap with, or run very close to, the Champions League Twenty20, in which Australia and South Africa are financial partners with India. However, officials say that is not seen as a significant factor in the Tests being pruned. Tony Irish, chief executive of the South African Cricketers' Association, pointed to the amount of cricket to be played in that time, with South Africa hosting Australia and Sri Lanka, an ODI series against West Indies and a tour of New Zealand. "October to February is an extremely heavy period of scheduling," Irish said. "The Champions League Twenty20 was not a point of discussion from our point of view." The Champions League did play a role in Australia's Test cricket last year, when the key duo of Michael Hussey and Doug Bollinger gave up their preparation for a Test series in India by staying on at the Champions League in South Africa with their IPL team, the Chennai Super Kings. Having arrived a mere two days before the first Test at Mohali, in vastly different conditions, neither man could contribute strongly to Australia's cause. Bollinger suffered a side strain on the final day as Australia pressed for victory, and his absence was keenly felt as India wriggled free to win by one wicket. He subsequently struggled with his fitness across the home summer, and made nowhere near the Ashes impact he could rightly have been expected to.
Sachin=GOD Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 One of the better Test match series' in recent times - and now going to be truncated due to Champions League Tontee Tontee :mad:
f.b.m Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 Can you imagine a future 'test tour' with one test match being played? Anyway, I am convinced that T20 is a fad and will die out in the longer run so decent sized test tours will come back I think.
Utalk Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 Pathetic.Top teams like Ind-SA-Aus and Eng should always play 4/5 match series.These two test series will signal death of test cricket.
Utalk Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 Can you imagine a future 'test tour' with one test match being played? Anyway, I am convinced that T20 is a fad and will die out in the longer run so decent sized test tours will come back I think. I hope so.
Sir_Afridi Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 Can you imagine a future 'test tour' with one test match being played? Anyway, I am convinced that T20 is a fad and will die out in the longer run so decent sized test tours will come back I think. Not gonna happen until your board in in charge of ICC.
ganeshran Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 Pathetic.Top teams like Ind-SA-Aus and Eng should always play 4/5 match series.These two test series will signal death of test cricket. 5 test series can get horribly long. 3 is good IMO
Cricket Tragic Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 5 test series can get horribly long. 3 is good IMO No, just no. 5 test series are brilliant if you have two top teams. It will be poor only if you get a top team against a minnow. Get rid of those useless 1 or 2 T20 games and reduce ODIs to 3. 2 test series should be banned. 3 should be minimum and 4/5 if two top teams play.
rajmarie Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 This is a sad news....on 1 hand...BCCI is trying to convert & useless ODI series into hastly arranged 2 test series which IMO is a smart & good move (although they always end up hosting those games in useless centers)....SA-Aus decided to cut a Test. I dont see them get rid of the T20 or ODI schedule. Wasnt SA who made a big noise some time back...that they need Aus/Ind/Eng for atleast 3 test at home because they make good money.
Karan114 Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 I absolutely detest two Test series between top teams - absolutely worthless. Real shame that even Australia and South Africa are going down this route.
Karan114 Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 No, just no. 5 test series are brilliant if you have two top teams. It will be poor only if you get a top team against a minnow. Get rid of those useless 1 or 2 T20 games and reduce ODIs to 3. 2 test series should be banned. 3 should be minimum and 4/5 if two top teams play. :two_thumbs_up: Agree entirely with this post.
Serani Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 Well I guess SA think poor old Aus are a minnow now :giggle: Although seriously, the "champions league" club hit and giggle interfering with a test series between two of the top sides in world cricket....major facepalm.
Feed Posted May 6, 2011 Posted May 6, 2011 Dismay over two-Test South African tour More.. Dismay over two-Test South African tour Chloe Saltau May 6, 2011 AS CRICKET nations put the finishing touches to a schedule that is not expected to solve the problems of the old one, ex-South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said Australia and South Africa deserved better than the two-Test series shoe-horned into the program in November. Arthur, who orchestrated Australia's first home series defeat in 16 years and is now coach of Western Australia, is dismayed that the customary three Tests have been cut back to two. ''It's disappointing because it makes that first Test so crucial, and two teams like Australia and South Africa deserve a lot more. It's almost an iconic series now. I have always been one to say that three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 is about right for a tour. It [two Tests] is really taking the edge off the Test series,'' he said. Test nations have been working for two years on a new Future Tours Program for 2012-20, which is now being finalised along with the structure of global Test and ODI championships. The purpose is to provide international cricket with more context, but there are fears the system will remain flawed while individual countries can negotiate their own tours. ''Until the ICC develops and controls the Future Tours Program, individual boards will always have the ability to change the program to suit their needs whether that be financial or, in the context of a championship model, possibly manipulate the program to maximise their own chances of success,'' said Paul Marsh, chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association. Cricket Australia agreed to tour South Africa this November in exchange for the Proteas playing in the prestigious Boxing Day and New Year Tests in 2005 and 2008. Because of the crowded calendar, including the rich Champions League Twenty20 in which both CA and CSA have financial shares, one Test was shaved off the tour and will be replaced during Australia's next visit. South Africa tonight will announce two Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and three one-day games for November. CA will not discuss specifics until then, but a spokesman said the calendar was extremely crowded and, while Tests were the top priority, the Champions League was important, too. South Africa's refusal to desert its own peak December-January fixture in future means the Proteas will tour here at a different time of the season in 2012-13, leaving Australia needing another opponent for the prized Melbourne and Sydney Tests. Sri Lanka is expected to fill the breach, meaning the island nation would play on Boxing Day for the first time since 1996. ''It is sad for the South African players who won't have the chance to play the Boxing Day and New Year Tests in Australia,'' Arthur said, ''because those are really special occasions.''
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