No more test matches for 'killers' of test cricket
For connoisseurs of test cricket in India, the last one year has been one for the ages. The display of the Indian sides in England, South Africa and Australia was of the highest order and not for once did they resemble the poor travellers of the past. For most part the quality of the cricket was excellent and the drama so engrossing that cricket fans were forced to keep a ball-by-ball check of the matches in progress. In spite of all the interest generated in 20-20 cricket by India’s world cup triumph and One-day successes against Pakistan and Australia; the interest in test cricket had never been higher.
Mesmerized by the five-day format, there was a lot to look forward to in the India – South Africa test series. Revenge for the defeat last year and a chance to set the record straight for the humiliation suffered in the last home series- a defeat which brought to an end our long unbeaten streak at home. And what did we get to see - a pitch as dead as can be – one which would have broken the resolve of any bowler in the world. A game only for the stats obsessed- 1500 odd runs for 25 wickets, Dravid’s 10000 runs, Sehwag’s triple. After the highs of Australia came the depths of despair in Chepauk. One couldn’t have asked for a better anti-test cricket advertisement. The India- Australia series was the best time to shop with the malls half empty even on weekends. The last Sunday was just the opposite. With the ICL currently on and the IPL on the anvil, 20-20 cricket is primed for a frenzied following in this country. What better way to make sure that test cricket can’t even put up a token resistance to the monster that threatens to make the longer version extinct.
So, who’s to blame? Unless Lalit Modi’s ambitions for the IPL have taken test-cricket killing proportions, the local cricket association (the TNCA) should be severely penalized for the shoddy pitch preparation. Unless the mandarins of the TNCA gave the India- Australia series a Rip Van Winklesque miss, they would have noticed that the superb quality of cricket stemmed from the sporting pitches prepared for the series. Either they cannot appreciate high-quality test cricket (can only appreciate a boring run –fest) or simply don’t like test cricket. So, the best way to save them the misery of watching good test cricket and also hide their ineptitude at preparing quality pitches is to keep them away from test cricket for a while. Don’t give the TNCA the unpleasant task of hosting a test match for the next 5 years at least. By then they will probably develop an appreciation for the longer version. At least they will not be ‘killing’ test cricket.
Sphere: Related Content
Mesmerized by the five-day format, there was a lot to look forward to in the India – South Africa test series. Revenge for the defeat last year and a chance to set the record straight for the humiliation suffered in the last home series- a defeat which brought to an end our long unbeaten streak at home. And what did we get to see - a pitch as dead as can be – one which would have broken the resolve of any bowler in the world. A game only for the stats obsessed- 1500 odd runs for 25 wickets, Dravid’s 10000 runs, Sehwag’s triple. After the highs of Australia came the depths of despair in Chepauk. One couldn’t have asked for a better anti-test cricket advertisement. The India- Australia series was the best time to shop with the malls half empty even on weekends. The last Sunday was just the opposite. With the ICL currently on and the IPL on the anvil, 20-20 cricket is primed for a frenzied following in this country. What better way to make sure that test cricket can’t even put up a token resistance to the monster that threatens to make the longer version extinct.
So, who’s to blame? Unless Lalit Modi’s ambitions for the IPL have taken test-cricket killing proportions, the local cricket association (the TNCA) should be severely penalized for the shoddy pitch preparation. Unless the mandarins of the TNCA gave the India- Australia series a Rip Van Winklesque miss, they would have noticed that the superb quality of cricket stemmed from the sporting pitches prepared for the series. Either they cannot appreciate high-quality test cricket (can only appreciate a boring run –fest) or simply don’t like test cricket. So, the best way to save them the misery of watching good test cricket and also hide their ineptitude at preparing quality pitches is to keep them away from test cricket for a while. Don’t give the TNCA the unpleasant task of hosting a test match for the next 5 years at least. By then they will probably develop an appreciation for the longer version. At least they will not be ‘killing’ test cricket.
1 comment:
Chepauk has always been the King of Draws... The last time I was there, I saw Harbajan come out to score the winning runs against the Aussies....I think 10 years of no Test Cricket at MAC will be fitting. Despite the records we also got to see the great Indian Collapse. 9 out of 10 falling in less than 3 sessions. Sachin, Shewag, Dravid, Dada, VVS & Dhoni. The bowlers as always can be pardoned.
Post a Comment