Felt a little sad writing this preview, mostly because it will be the last Test preview of the South African summer. There are so many questions to be asked about Australia's withdrawal from their proposed tour in March.
#PAKvSA https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-in-pakistan-2020-21-1242968/pakistan-vs-south-africa-2nd-test-1243018/match-preview

Why is it that Australia consider themselves in need of more biosecurity than Sri Lanka's men's or Pakistan's women's side, both of whom have had incident-free tours in South Africa? Will Australia send players to the IPL, in India, with a higher infection rate than South Africa?

And how much more damaging are the repercussions of having a big three that only look after each other? Australia have just hosted India, who will play England home and away before England play Australia. What about the rest? Cricket is not the tri-nations.

Mostly, it feels very much we are now starting to see the true decline of South African cricket. Would it have helped to have a permanent, well-recognised CEO to negotiate with Australia or a functioning board to plan through a pandemic? How does SA cricket regain respectability?

Back when the Big Three (a selfish and small-minded idea in any event) was being formed, South Africa were right there, being considered part of a Big(ish) Four. There are nowhere near that now. Years of maladministration and poor form is damaging the sport, perhaps beyond repair

As a reporter, it has been an interesting and at times mind-boggling time. As a South African, it has been painful to watch and live through, especially the racial discourse in our cricket. As a cricket fan, it has been disappointing not to see more of SA or a better SA.

A lot will change for SA cricket at the end of this summer. A domestic restructure will cost around 70 cricketers their jobs. Maybe there will be a new administration by then. Maybe they will be more interested in doing the right thing.