SA20 2024: Michael Clarke Slams South African Players For Prioritising SA20 Over Test Series vs New Zealand

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has expressed his disappointment over South Africa naming a second-string team for the upcoming Test series in New Zealand. With the Test series clashing with the second edition of SA20, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named a makeshift squad.

Uncapped opening batter Neil Brand will be leading the team against New Zealand. The squad features only three players who are a part of the South Africa squad for the ongoing home series against India. The three players are – Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, and Zubayr Hamza.

The likes of Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Nandre Burger, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Keshav Maharaj won’t be playing the series as they will be plying their trades in the SA20. Veteran opener Dean Elgar will not play in the tournament but he will be retiring after the upcoming second Test against India.

Michael Clarke disappointed with South Africa:

Calling Test cricket the pinnacle, Michael Clarke stated that it is sad to see T2o cricket being prioritized over the longest format of the game. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, the Australia great said that playing for the country is the ‘most important thing’ before saying that fans want to see the best in action in international cricket.

“Playing for your country is the most important thing. It is sad to see this is the case. Imagine if Australia did this, or India did it. It’s already hard enough for fans to see international teams not at full strength playing a handful of ODIs in a series or T20Is. Fans want to see the best players play. But if the best players aren’t picked for Tests, then it is an uphill battle,” said Michael Clarke.

'Sad to see, Test cricket's the pinnacle': Clarke on SA's top players missing the NZ Tests pic.twitter.com/R8Xm63Ps9L

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 2, 2024

The CSA had tried to reschedule the series but New Zealand Cricket refused it. The two-match Test series is scheduled to begin on February 4.

South Africa Test squad vs New Zealand: Neil Brand (captain), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg, and Khaya Zondo.