In lead-up to Lords, Boycott warns Test cricket is dying
By Julian Guyer, 16 Jul 2009 Julian Guyer is a Roar Pro
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- Geoffrey Boycott, Test cricket
England great Geoffrey Boycott warned on Tuesday Test cricket was “dying” around the world because of a lack of spectator interest and said radical action was needed to revitalise the five-day game.
The former opening batsman said crowds at Ashes matches masked the dwindling attendances for Tests elsewhere in the world, with even the recent series between South Africa and Australia, arguably the two strongest teams around, failing to sell-out.
“If you’re watching England against Australia this summer, we’re all seduced into believing Test cricket is fine because you could sell Test-match cricket twice over for huge amounts of money because its the oldest form of Test match cricket and has history and tradition,” Boycott said.
“But every other series around the world there are declining attendances and there have been declining attendances for many years.
“Everywhere crowds are down except in England and Australia … we have to tweak it a bit or do something to get bums on seats or their will be hardly anybody watching except television in 20 or 30 years’ time.”
The MCC cricket committee, which is made-up of former and current international players such as Australia’s Steve Waugh and India’s Rahul Dravid, called for a World Test Championship similar to the World Championships that exist in 50-over and Twenty20 cricket, to reignite interest.
Although there are world Test rankings, which do ultimately lead to a team being declared the best side in the world, they have yet to become part of the fabric of the game.
“Test cricketers want to be able to say they’re the world champions of Test cricket,” said Waugh.
“We can say it in the Twenty20 and 50-over game but Test cricket continues on and on. There’s the ranking system but there’s no actual trophy where you can hold it aloft.
“Something definitely needs to be done to lift the profile of Test cricket.
“Most players still believe it is the pinnacle of the game and why not reward that every couple of years with a Test cricket championship or a trophy you’ve won.”
Boycott added: “The idea is not just to have a world championship but to package it better.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced last month it was considering the possibility of trialling a day/night Test in 2010.
Fixtures under floodlights have helped Twenty20 become a popular format because spectators can attend matches without having to take so much time off work and Boycott said: “Maybe we have a coloured ball or we have day-night matches, which people have been on about for ages but never do anything about.
“We need to get some interest going and look at the way they have marketed Twenty20, but somebody has to try and do something. Test match attendances are dying and doing nothing is not an option.”
It is more than 40 years since MCC ceased running English cricket but it retains global responsibility for the sport’s laws.
© AFP 2012FACTBOX FOR 2ND ASHES TEST AT LORD’S JULY 16-20
Series scoreline: 0-0
Highest Innings (Aust v Eng)
Aust: 6(dec)-729 in 1930
Eng: 494 in 1938
Highest score at Lord’s (Aust v Eng)
Aust: 254 Don Bradman 1930
Eng: 240 Wally Hammond 1938
Best bowling (Aust v Eng)
Aust: Bob Massie16/137 in 1972
Eng: Hedley Verity 15-104 1934
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Dave said | July 16th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Crowds in south Africa for the test series against Australia biggest in at least 10 years.
Savvas Tzionis said | July 16th 2009 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
The irony of all this is that Test Cricket maybe the most untarnished sport of all!!
That is because the introduction of One Day and now 20/20 cricket has allowed the powers that be to leave the tradition al sport relatively untouched.
What a unique situation we have where all the main protagonists (Players, staff, media, admin., etc) prefer the longer version yet the supporters appear to be plonking for the shorter versions.
It has taken me many years to finley fall in love with Test cricket. I always felt it was too slow compared to other great sports, but as I grew older and matured, I discovered the joys of the longer version.
But that is also because I became more conservative and I have let this sport seep into me. Is that what is the problem? Everyone is in a rush looking for the quick fix? No time to let our environment shape us? Trying to shape the environment we live in?
I think at worse, Test cricket will live on and be subsidised by the shorter versions. The World body might have to invest in some governemtn style intervention with the likes of the West Indies, etc to ensure that they focus more in the longer game (financial incentives, etc.)
Rickety Knees said | July 16th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
I have a different solution – The Bradman Cup.
The Bradman Cup is initially to given to Australia which has to defend the cup against other nations visiting Australia for a minimum of a 3 test series. If Australia is defeated in a home test series, the winning nation then has to defend the cup each year over a minimum of 3 tests – in its country. To avoid a winner not playing against the stronger nations, it must defend the Cup against the loser within 24 months.
The holder of the Bradman Cup is the World Champion.
sheek said | July 16th 2009 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
I agree with Boycott. Test cricket is under huge threat from changing habits. We’re collectively busier & less patient as a society on the whole. This is the era of instant gratification.
For test cricket to survive, it needs to adapt. This might mean considering things that were once off-limits. Like day/night tests, orange balls, coloured clothing. Tests could feature longer days (& evenings) but be a day less overall, 4 instead of 5.
Cricket as a whole has to realise it needs to protect all facets of the playing game, & I’m thinking spin bowling. In the 80s, the Windies might have ruled the world with 6 specialist batsmen, a keeper-batsman & 4 fast bowlers, but cricket needs its variety to survive. And to entertain.
sheek said | July 16th 2009 @ 8:23pm | Report comment
Let’s have fewer tests, not more. But make those fewer tests more meaningful, rather than just another train stop along a never-ending journey.
I liked the way it was in the 70s – one home series of 5 tests, or two home series each of 3 tests. On away series of 5 tests, or perhaps two away series each of 3 tests. Either way, 11 tests per annum max. Not the current 14 or 15 per year.
Those 3-4 fewer tests per year might not sound like much change, but it can be significant.
Savvas Tzionis said | July 17th 2009 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Two further points.
I do not believe in playing LESS tests. For starters, sin;t the problem that we play too much of the other meaningless shorter stuff?
Secondly, does everyone who is old enough recall in the mid 70′s at what point Australia handed over the title of best team in the world to the West Indies? It was during WSC but in the preceding 1.5 years Australia played so few tests that it was like they lost their mantle simply through omission!!!
However, developing night cricket is an obvous thing to investigate. But shortening games to 4 days is silly. Destroys the essence fo the game.
Justin said | July 17th 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment
I love Tests and I am in my early 30s but I see that crowds are a huge problem around the world. SA is dumbfounding when you consider the team they have, their crowds were woeful for the recent series and have been for some time.
I am also sick of hearing how Indians are mad about cricket. Why do they not go to Tests if ity is such a religion?
Tend to agree that shortening from 5 to 4 days is not the way to go. The game would essentially be the same but with one less day. I dont think it is a last day problem.
Day/Night is an option as most ODIs are played like that and it can bring in the after work crowds.
I think much of the problems stem from the pitches. The best tests are on seaming, swinging decks where its a real contest and the great batsmen can stand up. Look at the Ashes at the moment, featherbed pitches. I dont want to see any side make 6-650 dec. its boring and puts people off.
Savvas Tzionis said | July 17th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
The reason Australia made 6-650 was primarily because Englands attack was garbage!!
Justin said | July 17th 2009 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Yes but the pitch was flat and slow…
john dsouza said | July 23rd 2009 @ 3:14am | Report comment
whatever doesnt change with times is bound to disintegrate.Even the relegions,the purest of all,have undergone tremendous changes over the years.I wont call the inventor of 5days2innings a unemployed time killer but icc administrators have certainly acted as unrelenting mullas.Take advice of a die hard all type cricket fan; make it 3daystest,1innings each.Less injuries,more fit players,more spectators.