Cricket Australia has agreed to the BCCI’s proposal to change October’s seven match one-day series between the teams in India to a two Test and three ODI setup.
Firstly, this is a good move in the preparation of the side for the Ashes next summer. Two Tests against the number one ranked side in Test cricket will provide the challenge that all the players need to steel them for an important Ashes series.
Secondly, the deleting of four one dayers in favour of two Tests is fantastic for the game in general.
On Tuesday we saw the 3000th ODI played in Southampton. A nice side note is that it was Ricky Ponting’s 347th ODI, meaning that he has played in over 10 per cent of the ODIs in the history of the format.
This move to play less ODIs is what the game needs, especially if the number of International Twenty20s is going to increase. Little wonder, however, that India’s move to play more Test cricket has come since they have grasped the number spot on the Test rankings.
As well as changing the series with the Aussies, the BCCI has also announced that November’s tour by the New Zealanders will be three Tests and five ODIs.
The BCCI has, for so long, been the provider of long, tedious one day series, and the step away from this is a positive for the game but clearly shows the power the BCCI has in setting the agenda.
Hopefully other nations will take on this lead and positives for cricket can come out of it.
Why the Australians and Englishmen are playing another five ODIs after playing seven last summer is beyond me, except for the fact that Bangladesh and Pakistan are touring, and seeing the Australians are there to play Pakistan, the ECB clearly see some potential for revenue to be raised.
The less of these long-winded one-day series the better and hopefully India can use their clout to change the cricketing agenda for the good of the game.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Jay, I couldn't agree more. Try telling this to the "babus" that run the BCCI.
Jay
Guest
The BCCI should really schedule their tests at Mumbai, Chennai or Eden Gardens. Mohali is just going to get more empty stadiums.
Cricket Burble
Guest
As an Englishman, I'm very pleased to see Australia playing Tests in India in the lead up to the Ashes as it will aid England. But the real issue is how to stop all boards from playing Tests only when it suits them....a minimum number each per year might help there?
Brett McKay
Expert
on the contrary Vinay, we could go on and on and on..... :-)
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Brett,your humility masks a razor sharp intelligence. But we must desist from this back-slapping.
Brett McKay
Expert
Stevie G, I read your first para here and was all set to remind of the need to question why India suddenly want more Tests, but the always astute Mr Verma has beaten me to the punch, and done it better that I would have anyway. Indeed, there is way more than meets the eye when it comes to India. Generally speaking though, could not agree with your central premise more; less surely has to be more when it comes to ODIs...
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Stevie, I question both the timing and the motives behind this volte face by the BCCI. I also question CA's agreeing to this. Firstly,In my opinion,the best preparation for the Ashes would have been for Australia's Test cricketers to play as much Sheffield Shield as possible. Now at best they will have one or two before the first Test in November. And if the past is any indication the Test players may not play at all. Secondly going from the soft,seaming pitches of England to the slower,turning pitches of India and then back to the relatively harder,bouncing pitches in Australia require acclimatisation and changes in technique. Not everyone can adapt quickly. Like going from the red clay of the French Open to the slicker skidding grass of Wimbledon. Just ask Sam Stosur. Thirdly,one must not presume a change of direction by the BCCI. This is calculated to maximise TV revenue and also for advertisers to "recoup" lost air time. In fact the Test matches generate as much,if not more,revenue than the One Dayers. 60 potential advertising hours of Test match cricket as against 18 hours for the three one dayers. If India had not been ranked number 1 this would not have been envisaged. Granted that greats like Tendulkar and Dravid would welcome the opportunity to test themselves. But this benefits Indian cricket and I say disadvantages Australia's preparations for the Ashes. Far better would have been to finish the Ashes early in January and then play 2 Tests in India before the 2011 World Cup in India. This would have been the logical thing to do. But then administrators cannot see past their noses. Finally there is the small matter of the Commonwealth Games at the same time in Delhi. The first Test at Mohali is only 200 kms away from the games venue. I believe India's security will be stretched and this is always a time for extreme caution. It would have been an ideal opportunity for the Australians to play a Test at the Eden Gardens. But the bloody mindedness of the BCCI and it's petty politics has made this a no-go zone for Australian cricketers since 2001. With India there is more to it than meets the eye.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
All credit to the BCCI for devoting more attention to Test cricket. Credit to them, also, for defenestrating the risible Lalit Modi. I'm rather encouraged by this newlymature attitude on the part of the Indians.