5 reasons why holding Test matches at smaller venues is a great step
The Indian Test season is in full swing. After the 3-match Test series against New Zealand, the home fans are witnessing another high-profile series unravelling beautifully. The idea of holding an extended home season is a very well thought out plan. Apart from this, the decision to hold Test matches at new venues is a brilliant step taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The health of Test cricket is certainly a cause of worry for the administrators and the players alike. The low turnout at the venues is still a huge problem for the respective boards, and thus when a Test match is well attended, it is a cause for celebration.
In the era of frenetic T20 action, Test cricket still gets the utmost respect from the players and they believe that in order to leave their imprint on the game, they have to be successful in this longest format.
We take a look at 5 benefits of holding matches at the so-called non-traditional venues.
#1 Drawing crowds
The third Test match between India and New Zealand was held at Indore, and this was the city's debut as a Test nation. The frenzy around was something heartening for cricket fans all around the globe.
The Test was well attended and the sight of players dressed in white showcasing their skills in front of packed houses was a sight to behold. One of the biggest takeaways from this particular match was that smaller centres are more receptive to cricket as they do not get too many matches and hence want to soak up the opportunity to watch the good quality contest.
Rajkot, which hosted the first match of the ongoing India-England series too was witnessing its first ever Test match, but then the crowd turnout was poor. This was due to the fact that the Indian government had announced demonetisation and this move had a massive bearing on the actual crowd turnout.
The biggest advantage thus is that Test cricket will get a new lease of life if smaller venues are given the opportunity to host matches. The game is run by the fans, and hence the game should explore different ways of connecting with these fans.