Ravi Shastri spoke about the importance of playing competitive warm-up games to prepare for Test tours while on commentary during the afternoon session of the SA vs IND Newlands Test in Cape Town today (January 4).

India registered a seven-wicket victory in the shortest completed Test ever played to level the series in Cape Town. The series, which consisted of only two Test matches, was drawn 1-1 after South Africa had inflicted a one-sided defeat on India in Centurion.

Chasing 79, India looked to get there in hurry as almost every batter came out with an aggressive mindset. As India were in the middle of their run-chase, Shastri and Irfan Pathan were on air in the Hindi commentary box, talking about the importance of proper preparation for Test tours like these.

Shastri first started with the point that two-Test series were a waste of time and that this tour could have had three Tests instead. “After watching this Test series, the Indian cricket establishment should make sure to never play just two Tests,” Shastri said.

“If some country invites you for a two-Test series, say, ‘We won’t go’. Two-Test match series are a waste of time. It’s neither here nor there. Focus should be on either playing T20Is and Test matches or ODIs and Test matches. They could have easily played 3 T20Is and 3 Tests [on this tour].”

An extraordinary Test match comes to an end in the afternoon session of Day Two.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/bidPxv7wqn

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 4, 2024

Pathan said that had India played a proper practice game before the first Test, they would have been better prepared and the series result could have looked different. “India could have played proper practice games,” Pathan said.

“There’s been a stark difference in the way India played in the first Test compared to the second including batting and bowling. In fact, this was the tougher pitch. If you would have come prepared, with a proper match under your belt, the series could have been 2-0 instead of 1-1.”

Shastri echoed similar sentiments and elaborated on how boards should ensure to provide touring teams quality first-class games in order to prepare for a Test series.

“It should be a conversation between boards: ‘If we are coming for three Tests, we need a four-day game, but against a strong team,'” Shastri said. “And this request can be made. When both boards are fixing the itinerary [for a series], they can discuss this.

“This should be reciprocal – ‘When you’d come touring, we’ll give you a strong team for a four-day game. Be it a Board President’s XI, or whatever, we’ll give you a talented, young team. Similarly, when we will tour and ask for a game, we should get good players for that game.’

“This board-to-board [conversation] can happen. After all, every board wants India to tour. Because they know that is where their sustenance lies. When India tours, they earn cash. So at least give us a proper first-class game. Then we’ll tour.”

India didn’t play a warm-up or tour game ahead of this series against South Africa. Instead, they had sent their A team on a shadow tour that featured two unofficial Tests against South Africa A. The senior team, meanwhile, preferred to play an intra-squad game amongst themselves ahead of the first Test.

India are yet to win a Test series in South Africa. This was their second drawn series in the country after their 1-1 draw in the 2010-11 tour.

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