The ultimate Test

With the IPL Twenty-20 being given much prominence and other countries also suggesting they would join the act, the very existence of test cricket is being questioned. It was test cricket that decided on the supremacy of cricket’s ability, when the best nations competed. For a long, long time five days of competitions was guarded as sacred. What a struggle it was for Sri Lanka to gain this status. Time and again our island’s application got knocked. In comparison Zimbabwe and Bangladesh had it ever so easy once the doors opened and the game began to be globalized.

The advent of one day cricket made it possible for more nations to get into the act. This sport has so much of technique and complexities that to master it takes a very long time. A couple of generations have to be in the sport before it enters into the blood. When Sri Lanka was admitted to the test ranks, they had played the game for over a hundred years. The transition was not too difficult as a result.

Most of the countries in the associate group are unable to take that next big step for this reason. The game must be in the blood to produce naturally talented batsmen and bowlers. It could be fair to say Bangladesh will take another twenty five to thirty years to consistently to fare well against the other test nations.

The lesser the duration, the lesser the number of overs that factor becomes defeated. The evenness between two reasonably well matched teams increases. It is good for the spectators. It is good for the casual fan who gets plenty of entertainment with a day or within a few hours. People are so busy these days. When they watch two teams bat twenty overs each or near to that, their appetite is satisfied.

To those who are absorbed with the real skills and techniques of the shorter version is unacceptable. As yet it is certain that the longer version and the ultimate of that five day test cricket will not be affected. The governing body, the ICC, will definitely ensure that. However, they have to balance the act, because the world cup, the champions trophy and now the T20 world cup are all big money spinners. We all know too well that the game cannot survive without money. Pardon the expression; these tournaments have become a necessary evil!

My thinking is that the Test Championship must last for three years with each team playing the other on a home and away basis in a two match series. At present there are ten teams (counting Zimbabwe too. They play only ODI’s at present.) This means each team will play thirty six championship games in the three years.

The calculation system should also be simplified. Give one point should the home team win a match. Give two points should the visiting team win a match. Similarly, should the home team win this particular two match series, they get four points. The visiting team, should they win will get five points.

In order to add more interest, teams must be ranked one to ten at the start of a three year term. The teams in the bottom five will get an additional point, should they beat a team in the top five both in a single test match and in a series. That will give the weaker teams a greater incentive to beat the stronger teams.

This system caters for twelve test matches, approximately in a year, for each team. Naturally, England and Australia would play five test matches when they contest the “Ashes”. India and Pakistan would want to play a three match series when they lock horns. This could continue. All it means is that those teams will have to play more games an year. As long as the administrators and players are happy that is all that matters. In such cases only the first and second test matches will count for the “Test Championship” points allocation.

At the end of three years the top two teams will play in a one match final. This game could even be stretched up to seven days to ensure a result. The team that finishes on top of the points table will get the opportunity to host this game. The ultimate winner will be crowned “World Champions of Cricket”.

That tag is important that they have won this tournament to become the best, with no restriction of overs or the number of overs a bowler can bowl and fielding restrictions as in the limited overs version. However, the free hit that results after a front foot no ball and wides fairly similar (not exactly) to ODI’s, with little move leeway should be introduced into the longer version of the game. Test cricket must be driven with more purpose. Test cricket is what brings the best out of players. Test cricket is what probes into all the angles of the game and delights those knowledgeable people who watch the game.