South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has defended his country’s cricket board’s decision to send a second-string squad to play the Black Caps in a two-test series in February, saying “our hand has been forced”.
The Proteas named a virtually unrecognisable squad for their trip to New Zealand next month, with seven of the 14 players yet to play a single test, including newly appointed captain Neil Brand.
That prompted some harsh criticism from former Australian captain Steve Waugh, who called the makeshift South African lineup disrespectful to New Zealand and test cricket, urging the Black Caps to boycott the series.
The main reason for the absence of the majority of South Africa’s top players is that they are already committed to playing in the domestic T20 franchise competition, which begins this month and finishes after the first test against New Zealand in Mt Maunganui on February 4 gets under way.
That competition is seen as crucial to the financial stability of…
