5 ways to save Test cricket
The first Day/Night Test took place between Australia and New Zealand last month at the Adelaide OvalWhen James Lillywhite and Dave Gregory led their respective England and Combined Australia XI teams out in 1877 for a timeless Test, little had they fancied that Test cricket would have been restricted to five days and also played under artificial lights. That was the first official Test.Tests were four days long until the ‘rest day’ was abolished to include another day. In 1971, the concept of one-day cricket was introduced – sixty overs long then and fifty from 1987.And in 2005, took place the advent of T20 internationals; on 27 November 2015, the inaugural day-night Test was contested in Adelaide.While ODIs waited four years for a World Cup, T20s required only two. Test cricket has yet witnessed only a lifeless tri-nation competition in 1912 and twin campaigns by the Asian Cricket Council in 1998 and 2002.These 5 measures can save the numero uno format of The Gentlemen’s Game:
#1 Scrap the T20 World Cup
When the World T20 2016 arrives, nine years would have seen six editions. The ICC must discard the World T20 post the due event. Instead, the Test Championship – planned for 2017 but replaced by the previously scrapped Champions Trophy – must be rehearsed domestically.
To attract audience, CA staged a maiden day-night Test – inside three days, 123,736 spectators attended; neither was the pink ball mischievous. Come the next county season, and the ECB shall invite the visitors to bowl. Only if the visiting captain declines will the coin be flipped. This curbs an expected home advantage from the design of favourable pitches.
However, the boards are hesitating in attempting a multiple-team Test tournament; even four-day Tests have been discussed.
The BCCI can perhaps supervise a tournament between Ranji Trophy winners, Sheffield Shield champions and the County victors, and boost the prospects of a little likely Test Championship.
With ODIs boasting of two multination events and T20 one – not to forget the plethora of T20 leagues – Test matches demand an immediate impact. T20 for a change is acceptable and only a solitary international should be approved for any tour.