Shane Watson addresses his concerns about the survival of Test Cricket
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has spoken about the durability of test cricket but maintains that the longer format of the game is the ‘ultimate’ form of cricket, according to SMH Sport. Watson, who recently retired from Test Cricket, also went on to question the longevity of the game, in the times of rising popularity of the limited-overs format.
The 34-year old underlined the fact that, in general, the crowd were more inclined towards ODIs and T20Is more than Test cricket. He mentioned about the Indian crowd support and observed the steep decline for Test cricket support over the years in the country.
"I never played in front of a full crowd (in India). The most I played in front of was a three-quarter full crowd, whereas Twenty20s and one-dayers, whether domestic or international, are full,” he opined.
Watson also talked about the similar scenes in South Africa and West Indies cricketing circles and feared that test cricket might follow the path of football, where leagues are more popular than International fixtures.
"That alone, and when you see that in South Africa and the West Indies, we played a series there [West Indies] recently and there was hardly anyone there (shows the change). Then you see the Caribbean Premier League, and it is packed.”
“I think over time, and it's going to be a gradual progression, I think it [cricket] is going to move more towards soccer, and how that's played with leagues, then international cricket - it (Tests) is not just the priority. I think that is still a long, long way away, but it's just how things have shifted," he stated.
Watson, who himself had a decent test career, said that the impact of T20 Leagues were forcing Test cricket to play second fiddle. "To think that the Big Bash is competing against Test cricket, and it's dominating, whether it's ratings or people actually coming along to the ground, it's certainly at a very interesting stage."
The all-rounder also felt that all major cricket boards, along with ICC, had a tough task ahead of them in popularising Test cricket and sensed that an initiative like introducing day-night tests was a step in the right direction.
"I know the hierarchy of Cricket Australia but also the ICC are trying to find the right balance but there is no doubt Test cricket is the ultimate. It's the tradition of the sport. But commerciality is also the priority for the boards as well,” he said.