South Africa great Barry Richards has questioned whether the current policy of racial transformation will end with "merit selection". The policy is designed to cope with the legacy of apartheid, when largely only white players such as Richards, the outstanding opening batsman of the 1970s, were allowed to play for official South Africa sides.
But the policy and its implementation have proved contentious amid suggestions that players have not always been chosen on merit and that some white cricketers, knowing their chances were in some way restricted, have instead chosen to pursue financially more lucrative careers with English county sides. However, while transformation has seen the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo and Temba Bavuma possibly get their international chances earlier than expected, both have justified their selections in terms of performance. Richards, speaking ahead of next week's first Test between England and South Africa at Lord's, accepted it was a contentious issue.
"It's a difficult one," said Richards at an event staged by series sponsors Investec. "South Africa has come from a history of what we know," added Richards, whose own Test career was limited to just four matches because of the apartheid-induced sports boycott of South Africa.
As of last August, Cricket South Africa defined the policy as one where national teams should include on average and across all formats, six players of colour, of which two must be black African. The target at domestic level is a stricter six players of colour per side per match, of which three must be black African. But for many years the issue was not so well defined and Richards said: "I don't think they (CSA) make it clear enough to the fans and then you have people on social media having a go at each other."
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