Faf du Plessis believes Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport, but called for an end to two-match series ahead on the eve of the decisive clash with New Zealand in Centurion.
The Proteas and the Black Caps were frustrated by the weather in the first game at Kingsmead, which ended in a draw after 11 sessions were lost due to rain. That leaves just one contest remaining to settle the series, with South Africa then preparing for three Tests against Australia and as many versus Sri Lanka on home soil.
South Africa's stand-in captain Du Plessis bemoaned the fact the contest with New Zealand will be over so soon after it started.
"Test cricket is the best thing to play. That is the challenge you want. You want to sit after a day's play, as a bowler… your toenails are bleeding and you are extremely tired and you want to, for the guys that drink beer, have a sip at the end and say we gave it everything," he said ahead of the second Test, which starts on Saturday.
"You can't copy the feeling of winning a Test match in any other format, especially in T20s. A two-test series is too short. With the current schedule, a five-Test series will be hard to slot in going forward. For me a three or four-match series is ideal.
"When you play two Tests, you just get going, there's always a great match and then the series is finished. Two is just too short especially now that we've had one rained off."
He added: "We don't play a lot of Tests at home. If you look at India, this season they have got 15 Tests coming up in their country you want to try and make use of your own conditions and play as many Tests as possible.
"We play a little bit and then there's a big break. With the space the team is in now, we would like to play as much Test cricket as possible and try and build something. We have a mission as a team and we are trying to get there."
Du Plessis has urged administrators to take note of players' desire to play more games in the longest format and introduce a Test Championship.
He added: "Yes, I am [concerned the message is not getting through]. When we fill those anonymous forms, the general thing that comes out is to play Test cricket. It's still the number one thing for international players,
"To create a structure for the Test championship, that's a great step in the right direction but you need to play as many Tests as possible."
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