I’ve previously written that T20 is good for Test cricket when batters apply a T20 mindset to Test match problem-solving.
Witness Ben Stokes at Headingley in 2019 with last man, Jack Leach, at the other end and 72 runs still to get.
Witness the way the Poms have been playing Test cricket since the last English summer. High run rates, nighthawks rather than nightwatchmen and no target in the fourth innings too high to chase down with audacious batting. It’s been exhilarating. And I want to see more of it.
But I do now hold grave fears for the future of Test cricket.
The proliferation of T20 franchises and the lure of large sums of money for even moderately talented cricketers has me worried.
I can’t blame a young cricketer for prioritising their long-term financial wellbeing ahead of the future of Test cricket. But it grates when I see the skills required for Test cricket undermined because a talented batter has played too much of a format where the emphasis is on hitting rather than batting. And it hurts when I see potentially great Test cricketers opting to play T20 franchise cricket ahead of representing their country in the traditional form of the game.
I don’t know whether that is why the last two Australian summers have been so lacklustre – as the gap between the top Test teams and the rest seems to widen – but there appears to be at least a correlation between the two phenomena.
So, what can we do to save Test cricket?
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
White-ball no-fly zones
I think the first step is to create windows in the international cricket calendar devoted to red-ball cricket. If there is no overlap between a Test series and a T20 franchise tournament, then a multi-format player can, if they choose, play both. They can both represent their country and earn their riches in the T20 franchises.
My understanding – correct me, Roarers, if I am wrong – is that the primary T20 franchise tournaments will take place as follows over the next 12 months:
- NZ Super Smash: 26 November to 29 January
- Big Bash League: 13 December to 4 February
- SA20: 10 January to 11 February
- Pakistan Super League: 27 January to 27 February
- Indian Premier League: 26 March to 29 May
- English T20 Blast: 20 May to 15 July
- Caribbean Premier League: 31 August to 30 September
I concede that this will require considerable cooperation between the ICC, local cricket authorities and the franchise owners, not to mention mutual goodwill, but I advocate restricting T20 franchise tournaments to the following periods:
- NZ Super Smash: early January to mid-February
- Big Bash League: early January to mid-February
- SA20: mid-January to mid-February
- Pakistan Super League: mid-February to mid-March
- Indian Premier League: late March to late May
- English T20 Blast: late May to late June
- Caribbean Premier League: mid-August to late September
Note that while the southern hemisphere leagues overlap, a T20 franchise gun-for-hire could proceed from one of those leagues to the PSL, the IPL, the Blast and the CPL.
(Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
That leaves the following white-ball no-fly zones each year, when domestic red-ball and Test cricket can be contested:
- Australia, New Zealand and South Africa: mid-November to early January
- England: early July to mid-August
- India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka: early October to late November
- The West Indies: early October to late November
This arrangement may result in, for example, Australia touring New Zealand or South Africa during its traditional cricket season. But that is a price I am willing to pay. I’d rather watch a high-quality Test match overseas than the kind of one-sided affairs we’ve witnessed at home over the last two summers.
International white-ball cricket
The program is too crowded to carve out windows where international white-ball cricket might be played.
I have two solutions.
The first is controversial and a cause for sadness. In my view, 50-over cricket has had its time. It was great while it lasted and has given me and countless others a wealth of great memories. But when it comes to the white-ball game, the public has made its preference clear. T20 cricket is the future.
The second solution is to squeeze in international T20 cricket between Test matches and the T20 franchise tournaments where possible. If the international white-ball series overlap with the franchise tournaments, then that is the price the franchises pay for commandeering the world’s best players.
(Photo by Matt King – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Other measures
I’m open to restricting Test matches to four days so that more Tests can be played back-to-back during the white-ball no-fly zones.
There are benefits. It encourages the kind of audacious cricket England are currently playing. If teams want to win, they need to get a move on.
Furthermore, one of the great features of Test cricket is a beaten team hanging on doggedly for a draw. Some of those struggles are truly epic. The fact that a team that is outplayed has an option other than losing is one of the things that makes Test cricket unique. In four-day Test matches that escape route will be within reach more often for a team facing a loss. We should see more teams fight for the draw rather than give up.
I’m not yet sold, however, on the notion of a two-tiered system, with the top four Test nations in a Test super league and the remaining Test-playing nations in a secondary league. I see the appeal of the weaker teams in the super league resisting relegation and, conversely, the better teams in the secondary league fighting for promotion.
My fear, however, is that a two-tiered system would simply hasten the exodus of the best players from those nations competing in the lower tier to the T20 franchises.
Finally, we have to get the pitches in Test cricket right. No raging minefields which make batting nigh impossible and no roads which make wickets a rarity. I know that it’s not an exact science, but if the curators can’t get it right more often, should we think about moving to synthetic pitches which give everybody an equal chance of success if they are good enough?
Conclusion
There are no easy solutions. Doubtless, each of my proposals presents its own problems.
But Test cricket is too precious to leave its future to chance. We have to be proactive. I’d hate to see the doomsday soothsayers finally proven right.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
I'm neither woke nor compelled to support the female commentators. I enjoy the different perspective the the variety in the sound. I note you base your opinion partially on the ability of female cricketers to play the game... How do you feel about Mark Howard, Jim Maxwell, Norman May, John Arlott etc etc, who never played the game at a high level? Are they qualified to comment on the men's game? Or the women's game, for that matter?
All good Peter, I know you, as author in our woke age, have to disagree re the women proliferating into mens cricket commentary. Cheers
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Thanks Zozza. I agree with you about bringing back the Tri-Series (even if in a T20 format) and encouraging the commentators to see more than just rainbows and daffodils. But I 100% disagree with you about female commentators. I'm the same age as you and I couldn't disagree more.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Sydney and English weather would be one reason. One day of rain in a four day match effectively wipes out the equivalent of an extra session in a five day match. (7.5 hours scheduled instead of six) The additional risk of bad light if playing later, otherwise its a 9am start. As it is, people are largely not watching the full day's play. Adding extra time to that will very likely just see more people tune out for longer periods.
**Apart from India, I see no big crowds at T20 cricket, be it franchise or international. That is not sustainable, no matter how much money is in India...advertisers are not dumb, and eventually the penny will drop that they are wasting their money **A set international calendar is absolutely imperative....but we are now 2 decades into the invention of T20 and the muppets that run the game internationally have not been able to agree on that yet. I am sure when you apply for a job as a Cricket administrator, the first checklist item is: 'Are you a muppet' - and if you put a cross instead of a tick, your application is rejected - Muppets only may apply **India, as a cricket nation, are over-rated. Yep great series win over Australia a few years back, but that really has been it. When they tour NZ for tests, they get a walloping. India are only good on extreme turners mass produced for their bowlers....take that ridiculous series against the Poms in India a couple years back...Indians lost the first test, so the order went out for tracks that turned square from day one to ensure a series win **In Australia, the Tri-series needs to return for one day cricket....and and and ... the TV commentators need to become more controversial, much like in the day of Channel 9. Half the reason I became a cricket fan was to stick up the likes of Lawry, Greig, and Chappel. Lawry especially, was a scathing commentator, especially when NZ toured - but I valued his praise for my Kiwis back in 2001 when, if it were not for a blind and deaf Umpire from Zimbabwe in the 3rd test in Perth, NZ would have beat that fabled Aussie test team of that era. But - good controversial commentators who take no prisoners and have a personality all add to the spice. Drop the women commentators for a start - they have no business commentating about men playing cricket at the highest level, when I, at 54, could bowl faster and hit bigger than any women cricketer **Some of my points may seem controversial - but I know I am right. The golden era of commercial TV cricket, test, and tri series was about 1980 - 2005....then it all went 'woke'.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
While we have inferior sides that are easy meat our summers are fairly bleak . Test cricket per se is not dead but against certain countries there is no interest and while we have countries coming here every summer with no lead up matches . The only lead ups these days are some ODI s and T20 which is hardly a preparation for test match cricket . T20 has taken over as the main form of entertainment and only series against England and India seem to h e competitive and even some of those matches are lopsided . ICC and CA need to get their heads together for tours that mean something.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
In South Africa we have a situation where an entire generation are being introduced to cricket . That’s unique from the perspective that a cricket culture already existed but restricted mainly to one or two population groups . Black Africans now coming on board and the problem is in the digital age of social media , cricket , rather long form cricket is unappealing . T20 still has a bit of sexiness about it and is not reliant on tradition for new converts . During the isolation years we had tons of entertainment through bands , singers etc. during long form matches . Crowds were a sellout too , thousands of kids played a bit of mini cricket on the field during breaks but that all fell away when we were readmitted to World Cricket . Crowds good at first began to dwindle . This week we have had two SA (IPL) T20 matches at Newlands in Capetown and Kingsmead in Durban . Both sellouts .Gotta spice Test Cricket up again .
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Most entertainers want fame and fortune. Only T20 provides that for 90% of the best players. The inaugral SA T20 has got off to a great start and may save SA cricket. Only IPL should be 2 months long (as the premier T20 league). The rest down to 4 max 5 weeks. Our BBL is pretty average as players come and go for various different T20 tournaments. It'de be better if NZ had December , Australia January etc. It would improve the quality of our BBL games which isn't high.
Brian
Guest
It's a 2 year cycle so even if they were in different divisions would still only be 3 years between series. No different to the 90s when the Ashes weren't competitive anyway. The 2005 Ashes was over 2.5 years after England lost the urn here in 2002 and its part of what made a great series.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
I like your thinking Brian. Looks like we're on similar page. I still have reservations about splitting Test cricket into two divisions, though. It doesn't seem likely at the moment, but what if Australia and England end up in different divisions? It could happen. And what then? No more Ashes contests until they are both in the same division again?
Brian
Guest
Need to make a proper international calendar Jan, Mar, Apr,May, Aug, Sep for t20 Rest for internationals. Let's rationalise these leagues too. Scrap NZ super smash and bring NZ teams into the BBL Pakistan, SL and Bangladesh another West Indies and USA etc. Next give IPL 3 month march to may windows in exchange for harmonising calendar and agreeing to play Pak Then the 6 months of international cricket left. 1 t20 or odi wc per year leaves 4-5 months for tests 3 Divisions say with promotion and relegation. Say Div i Ind, Eng, Aus, SA, Pak Div ii NZ, SL, Bang, WI, Afgh Div iii Zim, Ire Top 5 play 4 series of 4 tests over 2 year cycle. Yes less tests only 8 per big team per year will mean more. Proper league proper final. Division 2 play 3 match series so 6 tests per year again not too burdensome Division 3 play home and away to see who qualifies for Div II. So 1 test per year. Anyone not available for international cricket their board can ban them from t20 franchise cricket too.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
The benefit of 4-day Tests is that it’s easier to fit them into in a shorter timeframe. And, as you say, not many Test make it into the 5th day anyway…so why not?
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Well, that’s what I once thought too, Elmer. The difference is that in the 80’s, we didn’t have 50-over franchise competitions dominating the cricket calendar with huge amounts of money on offer. These days a talented young batter has a choice of honing their red-ball technique in the hope of being one of the best six batters in their country and, depending on which country we’re talking about, making a reasonable living…OR… developing their hitting technique in the hope of being one of dozens and dozens of batters making lots of money in the T20 franchises. Can’t blame a bloke for opting for the second choice. More chance of success for more money. But it’s become a genuine threat to the health of Test cricket.
Elmer Higgins
Guest
Do most test matches even last four days nowadays? 'Shortening' is not the answer, strengthening the teams is. When you get two evenly matched sides people tune in. Unfortunately they don't hire cricketers to run cricket, so they would never do that.
Elmer Higgins
Guest
Go back the the 1980s and we had exactly the same discussion about one dayer/50 over cricket killing off test cricket. Nothing is new as the old saying goes. It just has a different shade of grey.
Tim
Guest
Four day tests would be good. Just play 7 or 8 hours each day so you get around the same number of total overs across the test match. If bowler workload is a concern with the longer days, you could allow the 12th man to bowl (a “designated bowler”). They should also use a white ball for test matches. It is the best ball for being able to be seen in both day and night conditions. This would solve the issue of having to go off for bad light. Obviously the white ball doesn’t last as long as the red ball, so either use one ball from each end and change balls after 80 overs, or use one ball and change after 40 or 50 overs. Either players could then wear coloured clothing, or just continue to wear white clothes - the home team in baseball always wears white and they don’t have any issue with seeing the white ball
Ummi
Guest
Solution no three scrap it :laughing: