Test cricket dead come 22nd century mark my words

Cricket has always been called the gentleman’s game. I have always believed it was called this because it was one of the few sports that were non contact and seemed to always be played in good spirit while others were played with the intention of ripping your opponent apart. One thing that can be said about the so called ‘gentleman’s game’ is that over the years it has changed and in my opinion advanced.

Test cricket, is where the sport began and is to this day considered a cricketers greatest test. It began in 1877 between England and Australia and in 1882 began the Ashes series between the two countries which is still hotly contested today.

The younger version of the game, one day internationals, dates back to the early 1970s as the game looked to shorten itself from the long five day test matches into a shorter version. To achieve this, a structure was decided where each side was limited to batting for 50 overs, also enabling a game to be completed within a day. The game was attacked by purists but became popular especially with those that saw the test version of the game as slow and dull. The success of the new game followed with the world cup which is now believed to be the biggest achievement for a cricketer.

The most recent form of the game is T20 cricket and is an even shortened version of one day international cricket where teams are allocated twenty overs. Having so few overs to use batsman are encouraged to attack more than defend and not worry about their wicket as much as the other forms of the game. So far the game has proved quite successful with two world championships and a league in India that’s nature is similar to that of football where players are bought and traded for large amounts of money.

To further the dismay of purists, the international cricket council (ICC) is looking to further experiment with the consideration of playing four day test matches. Many have complained that with such growing enthusiasm in the 50 and 20 over versions of the game that the test match form is no longer exciting and could soon be a thing of the past. The ICC however sees test cricket as the pinnacle of their game and sees it vital that the oldest form is maintained. Today the ICC has revealed its plan to experiment with 4 day test matches seeking a solution to keep test match cricket as worthwhile for continuation.

With ODI and T20 offering exciting fast paced action it is no wonder that cricketers, especially the younger and less patient prefer it. The interest in the longer version has been dwindling for a long time and while I believe it wont die off anytime soon I think it will have by the turn of the century.

With money so greatly invested in the T20 game and time in its favour, test cricket just doesn’t stand a chance and as long as the sports fan maintains its interest towards big hitting rather than patient play ODI’s T20s are going to be on top. It will be a great pity to see an end to the old form of the game but no matter what ICC do to curb dwindling interest it is a lost cause and eventually it will be abandoned for the evolved versions that people have adapted to a heck of a lot better.

Would love to here others ideas on this problematic topic,
Cheers Justin