'Not only selectors can advance black players'
Sport24's chief writer Rob Houwing interviewed Craig Matthews, who played 18 Tests and 56 ODIs for South Africa and was recently relieved of his position as a national selector in a clear-out of the whole panel
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Sport24's chief writer Rob Houwing interviewed Craig Matthews, who played 18 Tests and 56 ODIs for South Africa and was recently relieved of his position as a national selector in a clear-out of the whole panel. In the first part of the interview, Matthews speaks about the pressure from the national board, the race issue, and development at the grassroots level.
When the country picks U13, U15, U17 sides, they are generally on merit and there are a lot of black Africans. What happens between that point and franchise cricket? And for those who get there, are these guys being advanced as they should within their franchises? How are we going to ensure, amidst the reality of it being 2010 in South Africa, that nine times out of 10 we can pick a player who is, indeed, good enough? That’s where you need more attention, more money being thrown at the problem, even … it’s better than the present landscape where people are being fired left, right and centre because nobody really knows (the true requirements).
Click here for the second part of the interview.
Jamie Alter is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo