The proliferation of new caps in the New Zealand-South Africa Twenty20 series raises the issue of using international sport as a mere development tool.
No international sport should be used for development or as a mechanism to trot out lines about 'rebuilding'. Both sides seem to be pressing the development button this series, diluting the spectacle .
South Africa's eight-wicket win with 47 balls to spare in the opening T20 international, having dismissed a series of flailing New Zealand batsmen was exhibit A.
New Zealand has five players in their 15-man squad - Corey Anderson (22), Derek de Boorder (27), Mitchell McClenaghan (26), Colin Munro (25) and Jimmy Neesham (22) - who had not played international cricket before the tour. South Africa had four - Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris and Aaron Phangiso.
Such promising players deserve to showcase their talents but normally those opportunities are reserved for Emerging Players, Invitational XI or Prime Minister's XI fixtures on tours - not matches with international caps.