South Africa’s Heinrich Krasen shares his dull take on the current cricket calendar
South Africa Wicketkeeper batter Heinrich KrasenHe is famous for his explosive whiteball performances, and at the age of 33 he announced his retirement from international cricket. Krazen’s departure marks the end of a major chapter in South Africa. In an outspoken retirement interview with Cricbuzz, Klaasen was modest, providing an honest assessment of the current international cricket calendar, and proposing radical changes towards the future of the game.
Heinrich Klaasen’s vision for a slimmer calendar
Klaasen’s central argument is clear. Remove one-day international (ODI) on both sides from the international calendar. He believes that cricket schedules are overcrowded, leading to players burning out and reducing the appeal of certain formats.
According to Klaasen, Test matches need to be prioritized, especially in countries where they rarely play them, but T20 cricket needs to expand to meet fan demand. He suggests that ODI should be limited to the World Cup and that teams are playing a handful of prep matches in tournament lead-ups, rather than keeping the regular slate of the regular ODI series.
“I think the only change I make is probably going to take one day of cricket (bilateral) away from international cricket. Increases test matches for teams that do not play many test matches. Play more T20 cricket. Because that’s what people want to see. You can maintain the World Cup for one day. Just play five games with all teams and get used to that format one month before the World Cup begins.Klaasen revealed his unfiltered rating.
Klaasen warns that top talent will increasingly choose a lucrative T20 league around international obligations, unless the board and ICC take care of players better, both financially and workload perspectives. He points out Australia and England This is an example of a low chance of chasing overseas contracts as players are compensated.
“If they don’t care for international players, they’ll go out and go to the league and make extra cashKlaasen stressed that the current system is unsustainable for all forms of players who risk burnout if they are forced to enforce international and franchise commitments.
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Number and heritage of South African clasen
Klaasen’s international career was marked by a significant contribution across formats, although not the longest.
- test: 4 games, 104 runs, averaged 13.00
- ODIS: 60 matches, 2,141 runs, averaged 43.69, strike rate 117.05, fourth century, 1150s
- T20IS: 58 games, 1,000 runs, averaged 23.25, strike rate 141.84, 550’s
He served as South African captain and played a pivotal role in major tournaments, known for his resilience and adaptability. Klaasen himself described his international journey as “hard rides and romantic relationships,” but he shaped him as a player and person. He cherishes the lessons he has learned and the camaraderie between his teammates and coaches, and reflects with pride in his career that has become a mainstay in the South African whiteball setup.