How West Indies, Proteas lost in Test cricket

Limited Test match opportunities stifle talent and milestones.

IMAGE: I’ll probably never get to 50 Tests. It will take another seven years. Some countries will play 20 games in the next few months. It is difficult, South African pacer Anrich Nortje said. Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder has expressed concern over the limited Test schedule affecting players’ chances of achieving milestones.

Holder, who has 60 caps for the West Indies in the longest format, claimed that only the “big three” countries of England, Australia and India have a busy schedule.

“The way world cricket is going now, apart from the big three, every team is playing hardly any Test cricket,” Holder said on Wednesday.

“We’ve averaged six to eight Test matches in the last three years. This year we’ll have six, next year about six. You have to be in the 11 every game to get close to 100 Tests,” he said. referring to the starting configuration.

Holder highlighted the case of West Indies Test captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who has played 83 times since his Test debut in May 2011, while England’s Joe Root has 129 caps since his Test debut in December 2012.

“It just shows how much cricket England play compared to us,” Holder said.

“It’s within our control. We just have to deal with what’s in front of us and try to make the most of it.”

South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who has 18 Test wickets, said the players will try to make the most of the limited opportunities they get.

“I will probably never get to 50 Tests. It will take another seven years. Some countries will play 20 games in the next few months. It will be difficult,” Nortje said.

“You can’t compare what the big ones have done before, they played a lot of Test cricket. That’s the main format. We play four games, eight games or 10 games in two years.”

South Africa host the West Indies this week in the first Test in Centurion. The hosts have a 179-run lead before the third day begins later on Thursday.