Can festive window take SA20 to the next level?

The first time was an experiment, the second confirmed the SA20's success, the third time was the charm and now, as the fourth edition of the tournament is upon us, it's become routine.

- 

The SA20 is here to stay and we all know it.This time it will be played not just in prime summer but also in the festive window, which is why we need to start by addressing the elephant in the room: has the SA20 stolen Test cricket?

Emphatically: No!

The only reason the SA20 has been advanced is because South Africa had this gap in the schedule from when the current FTP was decided in 2022. There was also sound reasoning for it: Cricket South Africa (CSA) wanted a sparse summer to adequately prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Though the SA20 uses up some calendar time, it's only a month long and has allowed for upgrades to continue. Around the country, grounds are being spruced up, many have new floodlights as a visible improvement, and drop-in pitches are being prepared. Some of those surfaces will be used next summer - an eight-Test cricketing feast a whole year before the World Cup in the hope of avoiding what happened last year in Nassau County, where the strip was not up to standard.