The Proteas don’t need the return of Kolpak signings to make them great again in the Test arena, we must work with the talent we have at domestic level and U19 level, writes Khalid Mohidin.

The Proteas suffered a 3-1 series defeat to England. This proved to us that there’s a massive gap between where South African cricket is now and the where we need to be.

I had a great conversation with Nickolaus Bauer on Radio 702, where we discussed the future of South African cricket.

Some fans called in and sent messages in through the SMS line, stating that Kolpak exclusions have been the problem with South African cricket.

The best deal, Graeme Smith can strike with @englandcricket, is to allow its Kolpak players to still be able to represent SA when needed.

Let the players maximise their earnings by playing in England.
Let them still be fully committed to SA.

Same as their rugby players.

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) January 28, 2020

I disagree.

The Proteas’ major issues have been their top-order batsmen who have failed to give the side consistently solid starts.

Yes, losing quality talent to Kolpak deals is not ideal and we need to find a way to put an end to this, but the players that have left, are they in positions that are desperately needed in the South African side?

There have been quite a few bowlers who have left – Kyle Abbott, Marchant de Lange, Duanne Olivier and Simon Harmer to name a few – but the Proteas’ bowling department has not been the major issue.

The major concern has been the batting department. The consistency in the Proteas’ top five has been poor.

I don’t feel that returning Kolpaks can solve that issue. The only batsmen that have signed Kolpak deals that are top-order batsmen are Stiaan Zyl, Rilee Rossouw and Heino Kuhn.

Let’s look at their record since they have moved to England.

Van Zyl averaged 49 in the 2019 season, scoring 931 runs in 13 games that included 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries. The 2018 season, he played five matches and averaged 26.33. In 2017 he averaged 48.71, scored 1023 runs that included 4 centuries and 6 half-centuries.

There could be an argument that he could slot into the top order, but at 32 years of age, it would be ineffective to bring him in at this moment, especially with the young talent in the country.

Rilee Rossouw has played three seasons in England, averaging 19.46 in 2017, 36.66 in 2018 and 34.44 in 2019. Primarily a No 3, No 4 batsman, the 30-year-old left when AB de Villiers was still playing Test cricket for South Africa.

Right now, however, his averages in first-class cricket have not been at a standard that screams instant selection in our Proteas lineup. Rassie van der Dussen, at the same age, impressed at international level against England and has been consistently performing at domestic level in South Africa.

Heino Kuhn averaged 25.20 in England in 2019. Way below par to guarantee a starting spot in the Proteas side. He has been in the Test setup before but failed to impress.

The call for Kolpak’s to return does not seem as obvious as some may suggest. The domestic scene has been producing some gems and the key would be to hold on to them and prevent them from leaving to play overseas.

There is no need for Kolpak players to return for South Africa to be competitive again. The talent is here. Players have stuck it out. It’s time for them to step up. CSA must invest in talent identification and give players better opportunities.

— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) January 28, 2020

What the Proteas need to do is decide on a blueprint to take the Test side forward.

The starting point is to build a squad that can play for the next four years. It will take a miracle to win the current Test Championship so why not give young players the experience they need at International level by blooding them in against the West Indies in July?

I would build a team around a core of Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Zubayr Hamza. Around them put the most experienced players that we have to guide them.

The young players that are performing at the domestic level, we should give them this season and the next to prove that they can be consistent. Then as we get closet to the next Test Championship, select those who have consistently performed in their respective positions at a domestic level.

The Problem also lies lower down, at school level. Younger players aren’t playing enough longer-format cricket, specifically batmen. This is something Graeme Smith needs to sort out by putting structures in place to rectify this.

They need to ensure that our younger players are learning the right basics to spend longer hours at the crease so that we produce more players of quality in the longer formats at domestic level.

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