'If SA20 doesn't happen, we won't have Test cricket anyway' - SA head coach Shukri Conrad on being helpless to play second-string squad for NZ Tests

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has garnered a lot of criticism after they named a second-string squad for their upcoming Test tour of New Zealand.

As many as seven uncapped players have been picked for the two-match Test series that will take place in February. Left-handed opening batter Neil Brand, who is yet to make his international debut, has been announced as the captain on the tour. Out of the 14 players that have been picked for the assignment, only three players - David Bedingham, Keegan Petersen, and Zubayr Hamza (only second Test) were part of South Africa's squad for the recently concluded home Test series against India.

The two Tests against the Blackcaps overlap the second edition of the SA20, South Africa's premier domestic T20 competition. The regular players of South Africa will be involved in the cash-rich league. The franchise league has been prioritised by the CSA because it has the potential to provide financial stability to the board, which has been struggling on that front for some time now. The Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad has come out in defence of CSA's decision to field a new-look team, as he pointed out the importance of the SA20 in the development of South African cricket.

“I love how everyone outside the country have become experts on South African cricket. Our hand has been forced, everyone understands the SA20 has to happen, it is the lifeblood of local cricket. If it doesn't happen, we won't have test cricket anyway,” Conrad was quoted as saying by Reuters.

CSA recently put out a statement, informing that they had tried to reschedule the New Zealand series, to avoid the clash with the SA20. However, it didn't come to fruition.

“It is still South Africa going to New Zealand. We sing the same national anthem and wear the same national team blazer. Anything we come back with, a draw or if we can sneak a win, that will be massive for us,” the coach said.

'It is a sad state of affairs when you need more luck than skill to survive in a test match' - Shukri Conrad on South Africa's defeat against India in Cape Town Test

India managed to level the two-match Test series against South Africa by winning the second Test in Cape Town by seven wickets. Only 642 legal deliveries were bowled in the encounter as the tourists won in the second session on Day 2. This became the shortest completed Test match of all time (by balls). Not a single ball in the Test match was bowled by a spinner as the pacers wreaked havoc on an unpredictable pitch. Conrad congratulated India on their win but also lamented that batters needed luck and not just skills to survive on the Cape Town track.

“It is a sad state of affairs when you need more luck than skill to survive in a test match. Take nothing away from India, they were superb, but you are not going to win many tests scoring 55 (in the first innings). This has come as a shock to the system, but I will not lay the blame on our playing XI,” Conrad said on the loss.