Botha's 'limited' ambitions?

It was with fascination that I read Graeme Smith’s recent comments about Johan Botha’s decision to accept an offer to play for the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s T20 Big Bash League.

The national test captain was concerned that it set a “dangerous precedent” and that, as far as he was concerned, every player should hold onto the ambition to play test cricket. It’s a worthy thought, if a little Utopian. What happens if a player realises that his time is up – or his skills inadequate, or inappropriate?

Botha’s skills are well defined. He is a miserly, limited-overs bowler whose most valuable asset is his ability to bowl dot balls. He’s also a strong ground fielder, good catcher and more than useful with the bat over a short time frame. But he is also a smart cricketer – and that is the reason he has removed himself from test contention.

The former one-day captain has already reinvented himself as a cricketer once. To do so again would be stretching the boundaries of credibility. He is honest enough as a person and a sportsman to recognise his strengths and accept his limitations. He is a long way down the pecking order for a place in the test XI. He had a taste of the action against Pakistan on one of the flattest wicket ever seen in the UAE – and it was a chastening experience.

But what about his national contract? Surely Botha is legally bound to be available to the national team whenever they are playing? Well, strictly speaking – yes. However, in this instance the national team – specifically the T20 team – would surely be better served by Botha increasing his knowledge and experience in a competitive environment featuring several of the world’s best T20 cricketers.

National coach Gary Kirsten is already deeply entrenched in planning for the next T20 World Cup even though it’s still 10 months away and there’s no doubt that he’d rather have one of his kingpin bowlers playing in Australia rather than playing four-day cricket for the Warriors.

So, it seems it’s a good move for the national team – but not such a good one for the Warriors. As for Botha, he gets paid twice! Well, not exactly. Deductions are made from his national contract according to how often he makes the Adelaide starting XI.

Smith is right. Every cricketer should WANT to play cricket. But they also have a right to recognise when that ambition is unreasonable.