Australian players prioritise South Africa Test tour over New Zealand T20

The Australian Cricketers’ Association says players will commit to Test matches in South Africa ahead of the easier route of playing Twenty20 cricket in New Zealand. Sean Abbott on Monday became the latest player to declare his preference was Test cricket, even if it meant warming the bench rather than playing.

Despite the country battling a contagious new strain of coronavirus, Cricket South Africa is looking increasingly likely to host Australia for three Tests in March. That had at one stage looked likely to present tired multi-formatted players with a tantalising option of chosing white-ball cricket with both tours run at the same time.