South African cricket has taken a couple of interesting and positive steps forward in the past couple of weeks but, like an imprisoned athlete reaching peak physical condition with a punishing training regime in a jail courtyard, there is not much the game can achieve until it is freed.
Undeniable material damage has already been done to the structure and reputation of cricket in the country — the only question is how much of it is irreparable.
It is to the eternal credit of the national squad and coach Gary Kirsten that such quality entertainment was served up during the Australian tour and that cricket supporters were able, all too briefly, to forget that those in charge of the game have been plundering it for their own gains and celebrate what the sport is really about.
Kirsten has done everything in his power to keep the administrative imbroglio and government inquiry away from the thoughts of the national players and, so far, he has largely succeeded. But several senior players are simply waiting for the right time to have their say — namely that an example of honesty and transparency has to be set by their bosses if they expect future generations not to play the game with self-interest at heart.
And the coach is a man of high principles, all of which dictate that he keep quiet until that time has passed.
He was in action this week organising a series of five T20 matches against neighbours Zimbabwe en route to England next July, not as preparation for that tour but for the ICC T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka to which they travel straight from England. The coach is all too well aware of the country’s – and the players’ – desperate desire for success at the ICC’s global tournament and will stop at nothing to prepare them as thoroughly as possible.
The five matches will give him the opportunity to establish his preferred partnerships with both bat and ball and to give the players the chance to develop a winning habit. It is also a gesture of solidarity towards the game in Zimbabwe, which Kirsten saw at first hand on tour with India almost 18 months ago.
Paying attention
Another significant moment, which was missed by all but the most politically aware, was the elevation of Vernon Philander to the Test XI ahead of Lonwabo Tsotsobe for the Australian series. The political pressure on the two previous national coaches to include at least one black African in the starting XI eventually took its toll and there are a number of significantly powerful men in government who assumed that the policy was now a non-negotiable part of the selection process.
By some accounts, Tsotsobe was one of them and never for a moment considered that he might be dropped. If that was the case, Kirsten’s demand for humility from all his players would have contributed to his desire to promote Philander.
There have already been ramifications behind the scenes although Kirsten, like his predecessors, has been shielded from them. Also, like them, he has been officially told by his employers that he is free to select the best XI provided he “pays attention to the uniqueness of the country” — or some similar disingenuity.
Gerald Majola, meanwhile, must trust that the terms of reference handed to Judge Chris Nicholson are sufficient to render several likely written submissions of evidence inadmissible.
Two international broadcast and production houses have complained privately for years about the “extras” they are required to pay when Âworking with Cricket South Africa and at least one of them is in the process of compiling a statement for the judge’s perusal in which it complains of “extortionate” fees and what it claims to be “kickbacks”.
Burned bridges
For almost two years Majola has brushed aside criticism and carried on, in the words of Cricket South Africa’s own legal and governance committee head, Ajay Sooklal, doing “as he” pleased. He has appeared either unaware of or uncaring about the consequences of his actions. But, as one potential sponsor this season told the Mail & Guardian after breaking off negotiations at an advanced stage, “a lot of bridges have been burned with the corporate world and some of the best business and finance brains have been thrown out of cricket. It’s not the best environment to start a sponsorship.”
At least cricket lovers face the prospect of another decent Band-aid being applied over all the gaping wounds when the Sri Lankan team arrive in a week’s time. The tourists lack a single bowler of genuine pace now that Lasith Malinga has retired from Test cricket and their one mystery spinner, Ajantha Mendis, has largely been unravelled with the use of video technology.
Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene remain two of the finest batsmen of their generation but have had much of their enthusiasm for the game sucked out by an administration that is perfectly placed to compare modus operandi notes with South Africa’s. So victory on the field should come, although it won’t always be easy.
The most important result, however, will be the one delivered by Judge Nicholson.