While watching a one-day game the other day, I wondered why exactly I so much prefer the five-day form of the game. Why during the ODI was I able to flick over to check what was happening in “The Biggest Loser”, yet a summer Test match has me glued to the TV, dreading the half hour I will have to miss for the news or “Antiques Roadshow”?
I don’t even feel the need to mention Twenty20 games that I often miss and don’t really care about, as long as we win.
I’d like to consider myself a bit of a cricket-tragic, but why do I find a slow-scoring, long-lasting, plain-coloured Test more exciting than a brightly-coloured, three-hour Big Bash?
My answer is this: short forms aim to score runs and Test matches aim to get wickets. I realised watching that ODI, that I was able to get up for a snack because it didn’t really matter if I missed a wicket. The game is all about scoring the most runs in a certain amount of overs.
With ten wickets in 50 overs, it doesn’t matter so much if the number three batsman gets out because the next guy will come in and hit a quick 40 off 27 balls and that’s okay. Then you get ten wickets to 20 overs and wickets are completely invaluable. Because it’s about scoring runs it doesn’t matter what the ball is coming down the pitch or even if a well-struck sweep shot to third man would get an easy four, the batsman will swing away for the rope.
For those who don’t know or care so much about cricket the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ over big shots and multiple wickets is a much more satisfying experience; but, for those who love their cricket, a Test is much more tantalising.
A Test is all about holding onto or taking that crucial wicket — and every wicket is crucial. With five days and four innings, every wicket is valuable and none can be thrown away. Every shot played, ball bowled, and field position is thought out and part of a tactic to keep or take a specific wicket.
Because of that, missing a wicket is like the end of the world and because any ball could take that wicket, I don’t want to miss a ball.
Furthermore, the game evolves: one team wants to take three wickets before lunch and the other wants to not lose at least three before lunch and after lunch a new game starts.
For five days you are involved in tactical warfare where every ball means something to the game and that’s what makes Test matches so special. It’s where the true skills, team-play, and tactics of cricket come to front.
You can’t fluke a Test.
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