Can South Africa fight back from the World Cup disappointment and deliver in the first ever ICC World Test Championship?
South Africa in Test Cricket.
Last Home series vs:
India = Won (2018)
Pakistan = Won (2018-19)
Sri Lanka = Lost (2019)
Bangladesh = Won (2017)
Zimbabwe = Won (2017)
New Zealand = Won (2016)
West Indies = Won (2014)
England = Lost (2015-16)
Australia = Won (2018)
Last Away series vs:
England = Lost (2017)
Australia = Won (2016)
New Zealand = Won (2017)
West Indies = Won (2010)
Sri Lanka = Lost (2018)
Zimbabwe = Won (2014)
Pakistan = Drew (2013)
Bangladesh = Drew (2015)
India = Lost (2015)
It is not long to go till Faf and his men commence their campaign to be potentially involved in a “Test Final” in England in June 2021 when they tour India in October with 40 World Test Championship points up for grabs in each Test during that particular series. Check out my unique Test rankings system on my newly launched cricket website as I try to rank countries based on their home and away Test series performance and results over the last decade or so as we enter an exciting time for Test Cricket with the introduction of the World Test Championship that recently got underway at Edgbaston with the Ashes opener.
South Africa have always been there or thereabouts as a champion, challenging and consistent Test side for a good 10-15 years. Now is the time to show it and try to become the first ever World Test Champions. It is going to be hard work with Steyn and Amla moving on, but it is a chance for the youngsters to step up. Interesting times ahead.
Imran Tahir was the leading wicket taker in the IPL this year. Could South Africa have perhaps considered him for the Tests in India this year? He has the experience on Indian pitches. He could have been an option in the squad at least. Test Cricket is a different ball game of course, but it is hard to ignore such performances in a lucrative franchise tournament in the modern game. We have seen players being picked in Test Cricket based on their white ball exploits like Adil Rashid against India in the previous English summer, even though Rashid had quit red ball cricket domestically at the point. At the end of the day Imran is a proven international performer, has had a successful first class career and has even had his moments in Test Cricket when he has turned out in the whites. Often you will require a second or even third spinner in India and this is not an easy tour for the newcomer to go on. Anyway, I thought I’d just put it out there.
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