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Home-ground advantage is a big factor in cricket – it always was and always will be. But these days, with very few exceptions, it is much more pronounced.
Formerly a visiting team lost more often than they won, but in the last few decades they are decimated, almost smashed to smithereens.
I know, I know, most countries prepare pitches to support their bowlers. But this is nothing new – it has been so for almost hundred years. The difference however was not as stark as it has been in the last few decades.
Once upon a time, a team touring Australia played against New South Wales, Western Australia, a strong Australian XI, South Australia and Queensland before the first Test. Then there were more first-class games before the remaining Tests.
Hence the visiting teams found their feet before they took on a full-strength Australian Test team.
Nowadays, the tourists play a junior Cricket Australia team (with no Test cricketers and the odd Sheffield Shield player) then play the first Test, so they are undercooked.
This is not just the case for teams coming to Australia.
The Aussies used to start Ashes quests by playing against Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Surrey, Hampshire, Kent, Cambridge University, Ireland, MCC (with many Test cricketers) and Northamptonshire before the first Test. Then more counties before subsequent Tests.
Teams touring India played Gujarat, Maharashtra, a Prince’s XI featuring Test stars, States XI, Combined University and Baroda before the first Test.
The players became accustomed to the conditions. Not so anymore.
A tour of India now usually starts with an ODI series, then a Twenty20 contest where the pitches are made for batsmen to score sixes galore, and thus pull in more spectators. Then wham-bang, a diabolical turner for the first Test.
Perhaps one first-class match will take place in between subsequent Tests.
This pattern persists the world over, with a few modifications of the theme.
The potential death of Test cricket is not only because of too many ODIs and T20 internationals, it is also because of not enough first-class matches for touring sides before and between Tests.
Practice against first-class opposition hones a cricketer’s skill to play Test cricket in different conditions. This lack of exposure to first-class cricket is ringing the death knell of the Test matches we loved and eagerly awaited.
Just look at the hapless West Indians in Australia this summer. I agree with their coach Phil Simmons, who bemoaned his team’s lack of practice against first-class opposition.
They played a weak Combined XI from December 2 to 5 before the first Test in Hobart started on the 10th. There are no first-class matches for them before either the second Test at the MCG, or the final Test at the SCG.
What an insult to the memory of Sir Frank Worrell! Except perhaps against England, South Africa and India, Test series are becoming second class, an afterthought.
There is a fortnight of inactivity as the Big Bash League dominates Australian cricket, with Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Flintoff and Damien Fleming on Channel Ten, lifting their hands heavenwards in ecstasy at each six.
What a shame that players like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo – who would make a difference and enliven a dead Test series – prefer to play BBL for money and not Test cricket for their country.
No wonder Test cricket is dying.
First-class matches against strong opponents before a Test match can revive the format. Money-rich T20 leagues are killing it.
Fair enough, the BBL provides entertainment and money. But it should not poke its head in between a Test series.
I repeat. It is not T20 alone which is assassinating Test cricket, it is lack of first-class fixtures prior to Tests.