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South Africa vs New Zealand 2015: Tests would have done more justice than ODIs, T20Is
The two sides are currently playing two T20Is and three ODIs, which does not do enough justice to their rivalry.
21 August 2015 • 1:31 AM
New Zealand are currently touring South Africa for a short tour that consists of two Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) and three One-Day Internationals (ODI). While the matches held so far have been fought closely, with South Africa edging their rivals out by 20 runs in the first one-dayer, Amit Banerjee feels that the tour is deprived of its relevance without more matches, especially a Test series.
International cricket is back in full swing following the conclusion of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 as well as the various Twenty20 leagues including, especially Indian Premier League (IPL). It is thus fair for bilateral contests among the higher-ranked teams to return to the foray, especially Tests. Cricket fans are currently engaged in gruelling five-day battles in the five-Test Ashes 2015 and the three-Test India–Sri Lanka series. It could have been a great opportunity to witness two top-ranked sides — South Africa and New Zealand — battling it out in the longest format on the seam-friendly and bouncy tracks of the former’s backyard. READ: South Africa have room for improvement, says skipper AB de Villiers
What we have instead right now are two T20Is and three ODIs. Both sides have displayed great passion in all matches so far, especially in the first ODI where it was anybody’s game for the taking until the last couple of overs. However, the teams have not had a proper bilateral contest for a long time. Both South Africa and New Zealand share a sporting culture in their countries, and share a famed rivalry in the sport of rugby (Springboks vs All Blacks). The Proteas and Black Caps too have provided for some great contests, especially in the semi-final of the recently concluded World Cup in which New Zealand pulled off a stunning four-wicket victory.
It is only fair to see a Test series between the two, which last took place during New Zealand’s 2012-13 tour of South Africa. The Graeme Smith-led Proteas thrashed the Kiwis in the two-Test series, bowling them out for 45 once. The two sides, however, have evened out over the years, with the Kiwis undergoing a resurgence under Brendon McCullum for over a year. It would have been a treat to watch the likes of Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill tackle Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel across sessions on bouncy tracks. That would have been a real test for leading batsmen on bouncy tracks of South Africa.
Despite the fact that several key members of both sides, especially New Zealand, are currently not playing due to various reasons, one can only imagine the flavour that a proper three-Test series would have added to the rivalry between the two sides. South Africa will probably hold a grudge against the Kiwis for their semi-final heartbreak, and a longer and a more well-planned tour would have truly given them the right platform to seek their revenge.
(Amit Banerjee, a reporter at CricketCountry, takes keen interest in photography, travelling, technology, automobiles, food and, of course, cricket. He can be followed on Twitter via his handle @akb287)