How to save Test Cricket?

Test cricket is dying. Slowly, but surely. Viewers are diminishing, interest of people waning, superstars of the game opting out of the game. A calamity is looming test cricket. If unchecked, it might well be the end of test cricket as we know it.

Test cricket has been there since March 15, 1877 and even after 140 years of evolution, it continues to mystify me with its fragrance and charm. It survived two world wars. It went through all sorts of transformations. It continued to be played even before air-journey was possible. Players used to tour other countries doing weeks of journey for this beguiling love. One thing which remained constant throughout is: Test cricket remained the most magical of all sports. In this ephemeral and crazy world, test cricket is something which makes sense.

Test cricket is the ultimate form of sports. In test cricket, the victory has to be absolute. You have to get 20 wickets of opposition to win a test match. It doesn't happen by fluke. You can't skirt a player or two to win a test match. If someone's got your batting/bowling attack, it will bite you and the only way out is through.

Test cricket is struggling to keep its viewers engaged. As technology progressed, so did the life-styles. People are busier these days and to find time for such a long sports is something which doesn't come easily. Following steps I can think of to save test cricket in this dire situation:

• Day/Night tests: This is certainly an intriguing experiment done by ICC in 2015. Australia vs New Zealand Adelaide 2015 was the first test match played as a day/night test. The experiment was a huge success. Play starting at mid-afternoon. Two hours play before taking 20 minutes tea-break. Play resuming and then another break after 2 hours as dinner break. It all looked very exciting. This way more viewers can attend the game without affecting their work-life. It added a new dimension to test cricket and could prove to be a lifeline which ultimately saved test cricket.
  The biggest issue which remains is the pink ball. Players have complained about the softness of old pink ball and about the fact that it starts moving around laterally too much as night progresses. The toughest time to bat is an hour before the dinner break when the evening and flood-lights take over. It also raises the issue over the traditions of test cricket. Should the statistics of D/N tests be merged with Day tests knowing that they have been under very different circumstances? What about ensuring that the pink ball behaves in the same manner as red? Can both type of test cricket co-exist or should day tests be scrapped in favor of its young infant? So many questions need to be answered before day/night tests take over.
  
• Four day tests: The concept of test matches lasting four days is an exhilarating one. As seen in last decade or so, most of the test matches have hardly gone beyond 4 days and the number of draws is almost negligible. So, instead of stretching the game for 5 days and 3 sessions every day, the idea is to play 2 sessions of 50 overs each for 4 days. Each session should take around 3.5 hours to complete with 45 minutes break for lunch. It will fasten the pace of the game and we will be losing only a total of 50 overs from the 5-day quota. Good teams will still win and because of shortening the duration, the intensity of the game will inflate for sure. Though it has yet not been tried on international level, talks are being floated around for its initiation. I would definitely like to see this as an experiment. It could be combined with day/night tests as well to provide extra spice.
  Issues with this will likely be: tiredness of players. Playing two 50 over sessions for 4 days in a row will be a demanding one. It will take its toil over the mental and physical health. Since the number of overs proposed in a day are 100, flood-lights need to be used in the last hour or so.
• Two-tier test cricket: A lot of talks are going on around the future of test cricket as being a two tiered one. Teams like Sri Lanka and West Indies have slipped to the nadir in their cricket history. They are getting swallowed by the strong teams in 5-day format(home and away both). So, the proposal is to make the test arena two-tiered. Now that Afghanistan and Ireland have been added as test nations, there are total of 12 full members. So, the division could be six teams (based on the ICC test rankings) each playing home and away series with each other in their group over the duration of 4 years and then finally leading to a test championship. Have a look at the years in which test countries got their status: England - 1877, Australia - 1877, South Africa - 1889, West Indies - 1928, New Zealand - 1930, India - 1932, Pakistan - 1952, Sri Lanka - 1982, Zimbabwe - 1992, Bangladesh - 2000, Ireland - 2017, Afghanistan - 2017. As you can see, most of the countries got the test status so so long back.
  It is certainly unfair that some country getting the test status even before the introduction of modern game continues to rip the benefit forever. Cricket is a challenging game and you need to be on the top of the game everyday to ensure your existence. If someone can't cope up with the challenge, it is only upright that they be slided down to division two where they can reinvent themselves and come back stronger. Letting them brutally crushed by the strong teams won't their morale or test cricket any good. Test cricket is one format, where you need to be at the top of your game for a long duration to make your presence felt. 5 days is enormous time to compete against someone you are not upto. By having two-tiered test cricket, number of one-sided games will reduce, viewers will more engaged, no match will be a meaningless one and it will be for the greater good of the game.
   
• Increasing the match fee to 75k $ for each player: Match-fee is like elephant in the room when it comes down to any kind of sports. I think one of the most important factors in decline of test cricket is funding level to the players. Financially adept countries like India, England, Australia can afford to pay huge chunks of money to their players to keep them available for their crucial games, while poor countries like West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan etc. are forced to see the back of their superstars to the T20 leagues and things like Kolpak etc. It is a gloomy situation. ICC can step in and take proper steps for the equitable distribution of money among the board and players across the countries. A standard match fee of 75k$ should be reserved to each player in playing XI irrespective of the country and series.

• Forcing the star players to play: In recent few years, some of the players have started to choose which series to play in. It is disastrous for the health of cricket. It creates uneasiness about unfair treatment in dressing room. Some players get insecure about their positions knowing that they might be dropped once big guns come back. For example: AB DeVilliers opted not to play the longer formats citing reasons over injury and workload. He participated in IPL, CPL last year which aggravated his injury. Though perfectly understandable is the fact that he is father of two children and this is certainly the time for him to earn enough money to have financial security for future, it has caused detrimental effect on test cricket. Undoubtedly, AB is a gifted cricketer and a crowd-puller. Any team with him in it is a force to reckon with. It is disappointing from the game and fan's perspective that he chose to take such a measure. Other examples of star players who have taken a sabbatical from test cricket are Chris Gayle, MS Dhoni etc. It is responsibility of board and the players to reach a mutually agreeable condition under which these players continue to represent their countries in the longest format.

• Encouraging the viewers: Test cricket can't thrive without engaging its viewers. In England and Australia, there is still an enormous craze for test cricket. But, other countries like India, West Indies, Sri Lanka etc. have lost the touch with the viewers. A lot of interesting steps can be taken to continue their participation. For example: Giving free entry to kids in the stadium, autographs of their heroes, lowering the ticket-fee, increasing women participation in the game etc. Fans are the most vital cog in the prospering of test cricket. Test cricket can't blossom without keeping an eye for them.

• Role of ICC: In recent years, ICC has taken a lot of steps in ensuring the uniformity and widespread of the game. Two new test nations have been added, DRS protocol is being used all over the world with the same conditions, rules are being modified to make it a fairer game and so on. ICC must pitch in "Cricke for Olympic" for shorter formats of the game. Test cricket shouldn't be messed up with. It should remain the pinnacle of the sports. MCC and ICC must collaborate to find the right equilibrium over 4-day and day/night tests.

Test cricket is our game's purest heritage. The sacredness of cricket depends on the continued flourishing of test cricket. Test cricket is a real test of character, determination and grit of an individual. It reveals our true-self.

A toast to test cricket which is 140 year old now and may it long forever.

An Apology Letter to AB

Dear AB

The whole purpose of writing this letter is to formally apologize to you for not considering you as the best batsman in the world. Throughout last years, I failed to see your greatness over and over again. I was perhaps blinded, I was under illusion, I was envious, I was irrationally wrong.

I know there has always been a personal battle of me with myself every time I doubted your abilities to turn the game on your own. I exaggerated the times you failed and skimmed over the times you were exceptional. Numerous times, I have been arguing with anyone I could find to tell that you aren't the best. I am so so sorry. Today, I fully commit to the fact that you are the best batsman the world has produced and it will remain so.

It all started perhaps in 2007 world cup in West Indies. You got 4 ducks in the world cup ( A world record). I seemed to remember those ducks and forgot the fact that you still managed a batting average of more than 40 in that world cup. You used to hurt India and England a lot, which I despised so much. It all began there. Every time, I used to admire some team, you used to destroy them. It all compounded slowly and I kept on getting farther and farther from you. I hardly liked any team you used to play for. South Africa, they come so low down in my priority list. Delhi Daredevils: They were okay, but I never quite loved them. Royal Challengers Bangalore: I don't like them at all. CPL: It started recently only and I had already developed so much envy for you. I never really connected myself to you at any level and I always used to pray for your failures. I loved Tendulkar, Sehwag, Ponting, Pietersen, McCullum, Sangakkara, Kallis, Dravid, Cook, Clarke etc. and just the mere thought that some youngster from a rural town of Pretoria can match these legends was so scary to me. I was obsessed with those players so much that I couldn't see the light inside you for so many years. I wanted you to fail so that those players remain superstars to me. I was wrong. Greatness can be achieved by anyone, who believes. You proved it to me. Despite hating you so much for so many years, there always has been an idea at the back of my mind that you have pushed Cricket to an entirely different level. I secretly admired your greatness although never showed it to anyone. I believe that If anyone wants to see the future of cricket, they don't have to look anyone beyond you.

I have been watching this most beautiful game of all: Cricket for last 16 years of my life. Never saw anything like you, and it is very less likely that I will see anything like you in future. When I watch you doing miracles with such ease, all other players look so silly. It is ridiculous to even think about the fact that they all are paid to do the same which you do remarkably easily. You are undoubtedly the greatest batsman of our times. Never seen anyone as inspirational as you. I had a dream once that there were interplanetary cricket matches going on and you went to represent earth.

I used to hate the way you used to lift the bat in hockey style. "Someone who lifts bat like that. Nah. They must fail. This ain't hockey, mate. That is not proper batsman-ship.", this is the conversation I used to have with myself. Very recently, I came to know that it came from you playing hockey in school tournaments. I always used to find faults in your technique. He can't do this, He can't do that, he can't play quality spin, he can't play reverse swing, he can't open etc. As mentioned, I have never been more wrong in my life. You are an epitome of greatness. You have extra-ordinary self-belief. I used to get mad when you scored runs. But, truth be told, I used to be angry at myself for not believing in you. It was as if I was at a crossroads. I just couldn't accept the truth that you are better than the rest. I used to hate a version of you before 2008 and kept on hating that person until recently. I have spent so many nights thinking "Where exactly is his weak zone? Why are bowlers so dumb now-a-days? Why can't they figure out a way to get him out?" As it turns out, there is hardly any weak zone and bowlers are certainly good. It is just the plain, uncomplicated truth that they are up against the invincible. They have no way out.

In Cricket, numbers will tell the story. Almost always. 2008, it was. It was a year of self-discovery for you. Till 2008, you had a test batting average of 36 in 33 test matches with 3 centuries. Since 2008, you have averaged 58 in further 73 test matches with additional 18 test centuries. In Odis, you were averaging 36 in 59 One day internationals with 3 centuries till 2008. After 2008, you have averaged 63 in a further 141 Odis with additional 21 centuries.  In cricket, stats are all right, but they never tell the full story. These numbers will never capture precisely your heroics at Wanderers on Jan 18, 2015. They can't tell the brutality of 162 Not Out in world cup 2015. You became South Africa's highest individual scorer for 2 years when you made 278* against Pakistan in their own home. Adelaide Heroics to save the game. Since 2008, none comes close to being a complete batsman as you have been. Both in Tests and Odis combined.

The goal of this letter is to confess my illogical hatred for you throughout these years. I had no idea what you went through. I just thought of you as another brash, arrogant youngster who just smacks the ball mindlessly. I want to say sorry for every single individual time I prayed for your failures. You are truly an inspiration to me and to so many people all across the world. While batting, You can be an artist and a butcher at the same time. You destroy the bowling attack in a few minutes. I have often felt like bowlers don't mind going out of the park if it comes from you. It gives a sense of co-operation. It is ridiculous. But, it is the truth. You are as close to cricketing greatness as it gets. Your batting is so crisp, so pure. It is so hard not to get mesmerized by it. Despite your immense cricketing abilities, hardly I have seen someone so humble as you have been. You are a great batsman and an even better human being. You have always worn your heart on your sleeves. A proud South-African.

When you come out to bat, it opens up the world of possibilities. Every eye watching cricket just lits up. The world starts to wait for the next delivery. The ball can go in any direction for a six. All 360 degrees possible. There is no minus point in your batting. You can bend the laws of nature, of physics, of time. I have a feeling that you can bat and make hundreds at Moon, Mars or anywhere else where mankind can imagine to go.

Coming back to present, I have been blessed to have watched you bat in your 100th test at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. Today, I feel sad that you couldn't get a 100 there despite coming so close. I was a little worried at that time that you will bat India out of the game. Sorry. On the other hand, I feel so lucky to have spent 2 years of my life in Bangalore. A city, which loves you so so much. It is your home far away from home and watching you bat has certainly been one of the highlights of my cricketing life.

I have a request to make AB: Please continue playing cricket as long as you can. You were born for it. I have the same dream as you that you will run out the last batsman while fielding at covers in an ICC world cup finale to give Proteas their first world cup ever. I hope it happens. I will be so glad for you. I will cheer for you. I will have tears of happiness for you. Some day. Yeah, One day AB.

--From a true Fan
Pawan.