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The fact that India and South Africa only engaged in a
two-match Test series has irritated former South African captain AB de
Villiers, who attributes the situation to the growth of T20 leagues.
India and South Africa shared the honours, with the
visitors winning the second Test by seven wickets after the hosts won the first
Test at Centurion by an innings and 32 runs.
De Villiers advocated for longer Test series and
reckoned that “something has to change” if the best team in the world
is to be identified.
“I am not happy that there is not a third Test.
You have to blame the T20 cricket going around the world for that,” he
said on his YouTube channel. “I do not know whom to blame, but I sense
something is wrong. If you want to see all the teams compete and see who is the
best Test team in the world, something has to change.”
In February, South Africa will again visit New Zealand
for a two-Test series. Due to a conflict with the SA20, there were questions
raised when Cricket South Africa (CSA) released a second-string squad for the
series that included seven uncapped players. The team has elected to captain
Neil Brand, who has not yet played in a Test match.
According to De Villiers, there is pressure on Test
cricket since players and coaches would prefer to compete in very lucrative
events rather than play the five-day format.
“It (South Africa’s Test squad for New Zealand)
has sent shockwaves around the cricketing world and has made it clear that Test
cricket is under pressure, for that matter even ODI cricket and the whole
system is turning around T20 cricket.
“The players, the board and coaches will turn
towards where there is more money. You cannot blame them for thinking about
their future with their family.”