CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe has explained why the 4-Day Domestic Series will not be played over a double round of matches this season.
SA’s domestic players had asked for more red-ball cricket, but the 2023-24 tournament will again have a single round of matches, with each team playing just seven matches, although that will now be followed by a five-day final.
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“We did look at a double-round 4-Day Series, but then decided to invest more in the SA A team instead,” Nkwe told Rapport newspaper.
“Producing a very strong Test team is a priority, and we can give exposure to a whole group of players in the SA A team, giving Test coach Shukri Conrad a chance to watch them.”
SA A will face the West Indies A in a three-match four-day series in Benoni, East London and Bloemfontein in late November and December.
Nkwe said CSA would be able to hold a double round of the 4-Day Series “with more [sponsorship] investment in four-day cricket”.
“We still want to involve the corporate world to help with that,” he added.