Clive Lloyd, one the greats of West indies cricket has warned South Africa to safeguard their future.
As one of the most successful captains in cricket and a leader of a side that dominated their era, Lloyd offered a few words of advice for South Africa, who are the No 1-ranked Test team in the world.
Delivering the New Year’s address at Newlands after the second day’s play, Lloyd said that South Africa will need to maintain a high standard of domestic cricket and that administrators should ensure that the game benefits from all new forms of technology and innovation.
‘I am hesitant to offer advice to a nation that sits atop world cricket. My first bit of advice is not to take one’s dominance for granted the continued success of a team is to plan for the future,’ Lloyd said. ‘The West Indies made the mistake of believing we had an endless supply of cricketers and fast bowlers. A high standard of domestic cricket needs to be maintained to ensure continued success at this level.
‘The administrators and managers are absolutely necessary. The administration must ensure the cricket being played benefits from all the new innovations and technology, and nothing is done to undermine the administration of cricket.
‘There has been a concept that cricket should be left to people with managerial skills. I believe strongly the involvement of cricketers is necessary.
‘It is my dream that West Indies recover and beat South Africa here and recover its glory. In the future, I see a South Africa that remains strong, competitive and contributing to the development of the game. I also see a strong West Indies, bringing its particular genius to a part of the world.’
Lloyd must have been heartened by the comments of debutant Simon harmer, who put his first day’s success, when he took three for 67, down to the development structures of South Africa.
The Warriors spinner was the third new cap in as many Tests, after Stiaan van Zyl and Temba Bavuma, and he credits Cricket South Africa’s domestic set-up for the quality of the players coming through.
‘It must be the level and standard of cricket at domestic level,’ he said. ‘If you look around the world at the different domestic competitions I think South Africa is right up there. I think the structures that Cricket South Africa have put in place have contributed towards that and I think with South Africa being the No.1 Test playing nation in the world, there is a lot of pride and honour that goes with playing for your country.’
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