Former South African Test captain Ali Bacher has warned the current Proteas cricket administrators not to allow Twenty cricket overrun their first-class Test games.
According to Sport24, Bacher's observation was made after the recent Ashes Test at Lords, where Australia went down by 347 runs to England, and trail 2-0 in the five-match Ashes series.
According to Bacher, there is a place for T20 cricket but he warned the team administrators not get too carried away with 20-over cricket.
Meanwhile, Bacher praised the current England squad as a 'good all-round side', saying that they do not seem to have any weaknesses and have a good pace attack, a world-class spinner in Graeme Swann, a good batting line-up and a good wicketkeeper/batsman.
Stating that England had what it takes to bowl out a side twice with Swann and right-arm swing bowler James Anderson, Bacher further said that the two best opening bowlers in the game today are Dale Steyn and James Anderson, although he added that they have different styles.
However, Bacher felt that Australia's batting is wanting and had big problems, saying that their batting technique is flawed and loose and needed a youngster like Joe Root to show them up, adding that he could not see a way back for Australia in the current Ashes series.
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According to Bacher, he is confused as to how new coach Darren Lehmann can improve the technique of his players in such a short time given that the wickets will turn more as the hot weather is said to continue, and feared a 5-0 whitewash for Australia.
Along with other greats, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting also attributed some of the blame over Australia's dismal Ashes performance to Cricket Australia's focus on Twenty20 cricket, saying that that the strength of this business will be measured by the success of the national team.
