Follow UsSouth Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma admitted that he felt a twinge of envy while watching the latest Ashes series between England and Australia, as his own side is in the middle of a brief two-Test series against India. Bavuma, who led the Proteas to their first Test victory in India in 15 years in Kolkata last week and contributed with a match-defining half-century, questioned the discrepancy in match length and scheduling for teams at the highest level.
“We woke up this morning to watch the Ashes. We watched with a bit of jealousy, knowing that they were playing five Tests. They’ll be going at each other,” Bavuma said on Friday, as quoted by the Indian Express.
“Hopefully, not too far in the future, but more in the near future, we’ll go back to play four tests against India.”
He went on to explain that players from his team have repeatedly expressed frustration with the current schedule and that they feel their interests are not being adequately represented.
“Players are not involved when it comes to mapping out the schedule. I think every one of our players who have had the opportunity to interact with the media, have had that question in front of them. They have voiced out their frustration,” he added.
Bavuma’s remarks are coming in the context of a broader debate in Test cricket about scheduling equity and the commercial interests favouring established five-match rivalries such as the Ashes, Border–Gavaskar Trophy and the India-England series.