Amongst the many highlights of India’s first Test against South Africa, it was the battle of the bowlers which took the crown. Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah are two of the most talented bowlers in the game, and a major story throughout the match was watching the two going blow for blow with ball in hand.
At this point in a series, you are often getting a taste of what is to come over the coming weeks. The reality this time is different. The series shall only last two Tests.
The relationship between South Africa and Test cricket is a difficult one. There is no lack of love within the game – ask the South Africa squad for their opinion and they will wax lyrical about the format.
The issue at hand is instead a financial one. Test matches cost an awful lot to run, and a longer series puts further stress on an already cash-strapped board. The result is something short and sweet, the format lives but does not linger.
This central conflict between head and heart came to the fore with the announcement of a heavily weakened squad for South Africa’s visit to New Zealand. Clashing with the SA20, CSA made the decision to prioritise the league and only send players who are not part of it.
As to be expected there came a noisy backlash, much of which misses the point. South Africa are not doing this because they have any real wish to, but simply that they feel that it is the only financially viable option.
With this being said, it requires a change in how we view the current India and South Africa series. Unlike the English summer for example where we have the luxury of getting comfortable and giving a series time to warm up, it is imperative to enjoy the series in the here and now. This brings us back to Rabada and Bumrah.
The reality is that Kagiso Rabada is unlikely to break any records when it comes to the volume of wickets taken in Test cricket. Over his career he will simply not play enough of the format to make a dent on those exposed to more, highlighting the role that an unbalanced schedule often plays in how we perceive cricket.
In sport it can often be tempting to focus on raw numbers when it comes to comparing players, but to do this would be to miss out on a lot of the fun.
Watching Rabada and Bumrah face off need not be about whose record will look better at the end of their careers, when it could instead be about enjoying the spectacle of seeing them collide.
One of the saddest realities of Test cricket’s decline is the fact that such encounters will become increasingly rare. If an elite fast bowler does not hail from England, India, or Australia, we will simply see them play less.
So when the Second Test gets underway, make sure not to let it pass you by. Enjoy each spell of fiery bowling, for there is little guarantee of when we will see it again.
