Let’s be real: writing about cricket means I should probably make it sound as exciting as possible, or at least exaggerate its flaws to grab attention. But South African cricket feels a bit different right now. The recent loss to Afghanistan sparked outrage, with fans lamenting, “How far have the Proteas fallen?” Honestly, though, that reaction feels exaggerated. Consider this: over the last two ICC tournaments, only India has a better win/loss ratio than South Africa. In Test cricket, they’re ranked #4 in the world with 104 points—well above the “average” 100-point benchmark. So, yes, maybe it’s a slip from their golden days, but the situation is far from dire.
However, let’s dive into the real issue. Despite their recent successes—a World Cup final, a draw against the #1 Test team, and their first 50-over semi-final since 2015—something feels disconnected with the Proteas. White-ball coach Rob Walter has been pushing the narrative that South Africa needs to build depth. He even referenced the Springbok rugby team’s squad depth as a model. But I find this comparison odd, especially considering Walter’s background in strength and conditioning. Rugby is a contact sport with a near certainty of injuries, so depth is crucial. In cricket, while injuries happen, they’re far less frequent and don’t decimate teams the way they do in rugby. This difference is reflected in the World Cup squad sizes—rugby teams carry 31 players, while cricket teams manage with just 15.
Walter’s claim that the Proteas need depth feels off. Yes, depth is always beneficial, but it seems like South Africa just isn’t playing their best team in bilateral series. For instance, Kagiso Rabada hasn’t played a non-World Cup white-ball bilateral since September 2023. Marco Jansen has managed one game, and Anrich Nortje, well, he’s mostly been absent too, showing up for a single T20 tour. The pattern is similar in the batting line-up.
Now, if the Proteas were winning these series, the “building depth” excuse might be more palatable. But they’ve only won two of twelve games in bilateral series since the 2023 ODI World Cup. Fans won’t stick around to watch a losing team, especially when the team seems to suggest they’re not even trying to win—they’re just “vibing.”
Here’s my (admittedly unfounded) conspiracy theory: maybe “building depth” is just Cricket South Africa’s way of admitting they can’t afford to keep their best players available for bilateral series. It’s easier from a PR perspective to say you’re focusing on depth rather than admitting you’ve lost control of your top talent to the T20 circuit. New Zealand faced similar backlash earlier this year when their star, Kane Williamson, turned down a central contract.
In short, the Proteas’ talk of depth feels like a cover for a larger issue—one that has more to do with the realities of modern cricket economics than squad development. And until results improve, fans have every reason to feel disconnected from their team.
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