Test cricket is in danger of vanishing from our stadiums and now the dedication of the ICC for Test cricket has been brought into question.
Unfortunately, fans of Test cricket should get used to this level of commitment as we watch our beloved game buckling under pressure from the more lucrative markets surrounding one day cricket and T20s. The latest wound to be savagely slashed open is the postponement of the Test Championship. The plan was for the top four test nations to compete with one another in a tournament style semi-final and final in London in 2013. Now Haroon Lorgat, ICC Chief Executive, has announced that this possibly life saving spectacle won't take place until at least (and emphasis must be placed on "at least") 2017. The concern is that they won't revisit the idea and that either the idea will dissolve into the annuls of time or that by the time it does happen it will be far too late for Test cricket.
Unfortunately, fans of Test cricket should get used to this level of commitment as we watch our beloved game buckling under pressure from the more lucrative markets surrounding one day cricket and T20s. The latest wound to be savagely slashed open is the postponement of the Test Championship. The plan was for the top four test nations to compete with one another in a tournament style semi-final and final in London in 2013. Now Haroon Lorgat, ICC Chief Executive, has announced that this possibly life saving spectacle won't take place until at least (and emphasis must be placed on "at least") 2017. The concern is that they won't revisit the idea and that either the idea will dissolve into the annuls of time or that by the time it does happen it will be far too late for Test cricket.
The ICC see the problem as a financial one. ESPN STAR, the broadcasting partners of the ICC, and one of India's primary sports broadcasters, would have a lot to lose were the Test Championship to take place in 2013. The fact is that the broken pencil of world cricket, the pointless Champions Trophy, has always been due to take place in 2013 and ESPN STAR were not willing to take the hit in ratings that would result in replacing one day cricket with Test cricket on Indian screens. Lorgat stated that any such replacement would require financial recompense for the broadcaster, the majority of which would have to come from the domestic cricket boards.
A number of cricket's biggest names and authorities have criticised the ICC for their actions in this. Even before the announcement last week, Andy Flower said that the ICC weren't doing enough to protect the future of Test cricket. The MCC, the conservative voice of the game, said that this decision was a 'setback' for the longer form of the sport and that a balance needs to be found between all forms of cricket. Some of the strongest words however, came from someone whose opinion doesn't always match with mine, South African captain Graeme Smith. He has criticised the ICC for its decision and claims that they do not have cricket's best interests at heart. Strong feelings such as these are rare from sportsman. It would be nice to see a few more cricket players airing their feelings about this decision. Andrew Strauss, who I know struggles to say anything not given to him on a sheet of ECB headed notepaper, should really be joining in with Smith. After all, the demise of Test cricket means the demise of his career as it is the only form of cricket he plays these days.
It is not just the ICC who have a responsibility to protect the original game. The domestic cricket boards have to do their part and their part is significant. Because they organise the tour schedules between them, they choose how many Test matches, ODIs and T20s are played in a series. The ECB have perhaps the biggest chance to promote the game in this respect. In their charge they have the world's number one Test side and their participation in a series will be sought after by other boards. However, next summer, when a real opportunity presents itself, the ECB has stabbed Test cricket and its fans squarely between the shoulder blades. South Africa are visiting these fair shores and they currently hold the second spot in the Test rankings, all of which has the makings of a stellar series. But instead of the four Tests that should be played, the ECB have only organised three, the same number as we will be playing against the seriously depleted West Indies a month earlier. I suspect that this is due to the T20 World Championship that is taking place in the months after South Africa have finished playing here and both sides seem to be keen to get some practice in. Justification or not, it frustrates me that Test cricket is being compromised by a frivolous competition that seems to happen every other week.
The real problem facing Test cricket though is its lack of popularity in India and the priorities of the BCCI. Fans in India won't watch Test cricket and therefore it doesn't make any money. The future is even bleaker in that respect as any support Test cricket did get from the Indian public is jeopardised by the fact they have been knocked off the number one spot. On top of that, some of the finest Test players of a generation are close to retirement. Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Khan, will all have to hang up their spikes soon and their ability seems to be the only force
driving the Indian Test side forward. After that, with Indian youth focussing on one day cricket and T20, it is unlikely they will ever produce Test cricketers of that calibre again. It isn't just the next generation who view cricket through these cheap thrill glasses though. Haroon Lorgat himself has professed that the limited overs World Cup is the most significant event in world cricket and not the spectacle of an Ashes series or a series between India and Pakistan, two of the most fraught rivalries in sport.
driving the Indian Test side forward. After that, with Indian youth focussing on one day cricket and T20, it is unlikely they will ever produce Test cricketers of that calibre again. It isn't just the next generation who view cricket through these cheap thrill glasses though. Haroon Lorgat himself has professed that the limited overs World Cup is the most significant event in world cricket and not the spectacle of an Ashes series or a series between India and Pakistan, two of the most fraught rivalries in sport.Test cricket can live in harmony with the other forms of the game but it has to be finely balanced. The game of cricket is Test cricket and the other forms are offshoots and spin offs, it is important that the governing bodies remember that. The future of the game lies in their hands, they have ensure that Test cricket is played and continues to be respected. Ultimately, however, a small group of ageing purists are going to have a hard time overpowering one billion Indian cricket fans who want more crash, bang, wallop and less of the artful subtlety that caused me to fall in love with the game.
