‘Would love five Tests’: Calls grow for blockbuster Aussie-Proteas series shake-up after epic battle

As South Africa’s chief spinning protagonist Simon Harmer was assessing what was been a superb series clinched by the Proteas in brilliant fashion, he declared it was one cricket fans might remember for a long time to come.

Certainly anyone who has been at the Newlands Cricket Ground over the past four days would agree given the stunning weather and even more spectacular setting.

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From former Australia captain Alyssa Healy enjoying a beer with Proteas fans on the hill looking back towards Table Mountain to the Aussie tour groups, the vibe has been great.

Many fans had a Castle Lager in hand - the brewery is just over the back fence at Newlands - and some posters pointing to Sandpapergate, while a few brought laptops to make the most of a working day. What better way to do it?

The rain in Gqeberha helped, but after the two Test debacles in Perth and Melbourne last year during the Ashes, the series between the top two Test teams has gone the full 15 days.

“I think the way this Test series has unfolded has been a great advert for Test cricket,” Harmer, a considered and eloquent speaker happy to raise the ire of the Aussies, said.

“I know there’s been some people on social media that haven’t been happy with the crowd attendance, but for us, the way it’s played out on the field, and I think the way the series has unfolded has been really exciting for people who are watching.

“So I think in recent history, in my mind, it’s probably the most closely contested. There’s been everything: turnarounds, hundreds, partnerships, five ‘fas’.

“I think in terms of Test cricket, and I think in the years to come, I’m sure there will be some chat about this series.”

Perhaps the only shame is that there is not a fourth or even fifth Test to come given how enthralling the cricket between the rival sides have been. And it had plenty of fans asking why not?

The congestion on the calendar and the ever-growing opportunities in franchise cricket are squeezing the window for which Test cricket can be played amid great consternation.

South Africa would have loved to host Australia in at least a fourth Test, as per what unfolded during the infamous tour back in 2018 that ended at the Wanderers.

Australian captain Pat Cummins is in favour of an extended series, saying the two nations produced great cricket when pitted against each other.

“I’ve got no idea about the length of series and things like that, but I always quite like odd numbers, so three or five (is ideal),” he said.

“But (they are) always wonderful series against South Africa. It always seems to be really high quality. They go the distance. They’re very memorable as well. So I think it’d be awesome.

“Growing up, even I remember one of my favourite series to watch was whenever South Africa and some of their greats came to Australia. I don’t know how you fit it all into a calendar, but every series we play against them seems to be blockbuster.”

Discussions between the two boards are underway for an extended series that to occur from 2031 onwards, though clearly there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before that occurs.

But Cricket South Africa’s chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said that was the goal when saying Test cricket remained important to the Proteas, he said on SEN this week.

“We probably have the best series against each other but it is a pity we don’t play a lot. I would love to play five Tests. Even now, this is the final Test, the third one, but I feel like we needed a fourth or a fifth. It is what it is, but we would take it,” Moseki said.

“It won’t be any time during in my tenure, but as a cricket fan, I would love to see Australia playing four Tests against us and us play four Tests against them, because the last time they came here, it was a four Test series, that infamous series, it was a four Test series, so I would really love for us to go back to four to five Tests.

“The calendar has gotten crazy. In the past Australia could be in South Africa for two months, two and a half months, but it is now practically impossible for them to be here for that long. But I would love in the future, maybe post 2031, that we would go back to four-Test series, five-Test series.”

What will not occur is another Boxing Day Test match between the two nations given the importance both countries place on the celebrated date.

There is a tacit understanding between the nation’s boards that each will continue to host other countries during their prime windows, which means finding different dates for tours.

Given the BBL and SA T20 leagues run through a prime time holiday period, those calendar dates appear to be the October-November windows, or the February-March time frame, which will have an impact on attendances in both countries.