Considering the fading interest in Test matches, ICC should consider limited overs Test matches. One of the reasons I hate watching Test match cricket is the fact that batsmen seemingly have endless overs to play out and the bowlers have many overs to bowl. Even after five days, the match will not yield a result. Instead, give the teams only 80 or 90 overs to bat. There will be two innings just like normal test matches. This will yield a result as the team batting fourth will win if they reach the target or lose otherwise. I believe this will make the match more interesting and have more purpose. Also, it will retain the character of Test matches as batsmen and bowlers have longer time to display their skills.
Re: Re: An idea I have
by vijay M on Jul 15, 2009 07:30 PM
The Ashes was hyped to the tilt in the media for a long time. There will be people watching them. I'm talking about the general fading interest in Test matches, especially after the advent of T20 format. Case in point, the series between India and Australia in India had empty stands. A few years back, we used to have pretty good crowds.
Re: Re: Re: An idea I have
by s mumbai on Jul 15, 2009 07:33 PM
test matches are like old age homes for the useless guys..how would a player like srinath would have survived had there been tests...
Re: Re: Re: Re: An idea I have
by Megellan myself on Jul 15, 2009 07:39 PM
I agree. test cricket looks like it was invented for people with loads of time and with a flair to show of style- there is style in everything, even in leaving a ball outside the offstump!!
Re: Re: Re: Re: An idea I have
by Balaji Krishnamurthy on Jul 15, 2009 09:56 PM
Don't talk without doing your homework. Srinath had a pretty good record,when you consider that he lost two years in his prime because Kapil Dev was chasing Hadlee's record.He had 236 wickets in 68 tests, pretty decent when you consider he played most of his cricket in India, and also lost nearly a year because of his shoulder injury at his peak.He was quicker than Kapil Dev ever was and at one stage touched 90 mph, something very few Indians have done. Please talk facts,don't generalise.By the way, Test matches have their own aura,remember the cricket India and Australia have played facing each other,and other well-played matches.It is England which is spoiling Test cricket by routinely underperforming inspite of the talent available. IPL is played at the end of the Indian season, when there is practically very little international cricket played.By the way,I don't understand how a 2 year baby can destroy 130 year of tradition.The MCC better put England in order before lecturing to others
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: An idea I have
by Kurt on Jul 16, 2009 01:03 PM
balaji u r sabsolutley right. Srinath is the true and the first fast bowler india ever produced . i love Kapil Dev but he was a swing bowler a great swing bowler
I believe and feel that Test cricket is absolutely nuts game. You play for 5 days in humid and hot weather and the result is not guaranteed. It is neither entertaining nor sensible.
If Test cricket is in the verge of death, it is not a bad news for cricket. Cricket will be more famous and will be adopted in the other parts of the world if it is to be played in shorter form like 20 or 50 overs.
No sport is more that 4 or 5 hours. This test cricket is 5 days. This is the one reason cricket is untouched in most part of the world. if you are from a noncricket playing nation, you will definitely think that 5 day cricket, where result is not guaranteed, is absolutely senseless act.
Re: 5 day cricket should be banned.
by Rash on Jul 15, 2009 07:15 PM
Veru true.... We need a change can't afford to watch 5 days game without result.....
Its a good news that Test Cricket is on dying stage......
Re: 5 day cricket should be banned.
by Mohammed Islamul on Jul 15, 2009 08:04 PM
if you dont like - dont watch. We the mid 30s age group folks dont fancy the IPL and crap. Imagine how many nails I lost when India tied vs Aus in chennai in 1987?
That's test cricket.
IPL - sick ! Its for english cricketers who cant match the aussies or Indians or SAs - so they brought in a new format - only to make money
Re: Re: 5 day cricket should be banned.
by Rajesh on Jul 15, 2009 09:01 PM
boss - i'm also in my mid-30's but have a differnt opinion; so please don't speak for the group. I surely belive we don't have the time to follow a 5 day game - 1987 was a different era. Come to think of it One day cricket also now seems to be too long. I like the 20-20 format of 4 hrs cricket; follow it after work. Whether IPL is the right thing - that is a different conversation
Re: Re: Re: 5 day cricket should be banned.
by Balaji Krishnamurthy on Jul 15, 2009 10:08 PM
Sorry, people still do follow.Part of the reason for diminishing crowds is the fact that tickets are now very expensive,sponsors and association member collar all the prime tickets leaving practically nothing to the public.The amenities in stadia are poor.If Indian authorities charge a reasonable gate rate,improve the amenities to the watching public, and put more tickets on public sale, I am sure the crowds in Test match cricket can be approved. Toilet facilities smell, drinking water has to be paid for, food cannot be brought in, the food on sale is poor and expensive. Also India had a sensible cricket calendar built around the festive season.The main part of the Indian cricket schedule used to read like this, Christmas at the Kotla, New Year at Eden and Pongal at Chepauk. The last time India played something like this was in 1984-85.Now matches are played in September, when it is likely to rain.October and November are the monsoon season in Chennai,so rain again plays a part.An ideal season could start in November in the North and go down south in December January, when the weather is really pleasant.Instead matches are played in September and March, when it starts getting warmer. I wonder about 1 thing. Eden Gardens has'nt got an international match in a long time.If this is due to politics, I think the BCCI is being stupid.
Re: Re: Re: 5 day cricket should be banned.
by Against Pseudos on Jul 16, 2009 10:54 AM
Rajesh:
Do you like Olympics?.... :)
Or Tour d' France?.... :)
BTW, you are right... no one can speak for the group.... judging by the number of youth who turn up at Test matches, or follow them on the TV, they might be better sports fans than most of us on this forum.... :)
For all those who has not played or dont want to play is a story of sour grapes. Test Cricket is the real game of cricket. 50/50 has some class, but 20/20 is best entertaining,but not the real one where the likes of yuvraj singh claiming 2 hatricks is amazing.
If anyone has followed the 1st ashes test, its was an incredible match even its not won by either of the teams, i won the hearts of real cricket followers. The test cricket between pakistan and srilanka, where pakistan dominated the proceedings, but srilankans had the last laugh, if you relax, you are out of test cricket. All praise for the Bangla team beating westindies in their own den where india and other top national teams took lot of years to achieve, whatever be the strength of the team, history has been made. Unfit players are unable to whether the grind of test cricket, so we have been seeing lot of superstars want to leave test cricket, maybe just because of money, but they'll cherish to be called as test players.
We need test cricket, five day test cricket, not the 4 days which the ICC is proposing. Grounds maybe empty, but there are as many followers as a 20/20 or 50/50. The best thing to get in the crowds are, free tickets for test cricket. Then you'll see the difference.
Re: Real Cricket is Test Cricket
by k v on Jul 15, 2009 06:48 PM
Considering Bangladesh win over westindies in westindies as history making is silly. The team they had to put forward was worse then WI-A. If there were bowlers like Ambrose, Walsh , Marshal these bangladeshi batsmen will starve to get in double digits.
Re: Re: Real Cricket is Test Cricket
by Indian on Jul 15, 2009 07:07 PM
You can't survive with the good old names....time tickles and world around you will change...players are bound to retire...accept the defeat gracefully and work towards future...
Bang has beaten WI in test format meaning it is not by fluke but mere performance...
Re: Real Cricket is Test Cricket
by antar jaal on Jul 15, 2009 07:45 PM
Given the "fast" life style people have these it is obvious why people dont go to watch the match. However, I would love to get statistics on how many people watch the highlights and read about test cricket. I am sure that number is still not small and is comparable to the following of T-20s. I love test cricket but dont have the time to watch every delivery. I do follow it closely.
It is silly to expect people to take 5 days or even couple of days to watch the game. I like your idea of making it very cheap to attend. But just because the stadium is full I dont think the following is that small.
Re: what If IPL was intrduced by CA or EWCB
by Indian on Jul 15, 2009 07:02 PM
it would have been a flop show...so no controversies...In england t20 is played since long time then even have other forms which are designed for entertainment...why no cry for tht???
Not too sure of India's capability of making business out of business but we can certainly make business out of politics & sports. Let the real sport (read test cricket) die. We may not have time and plan for Agriculture but we certainly have it for IPL.
Test cricket should die. What match in the world goes on for 5 days without giving a clear result? And what a great idea a test tournament is: with say 20 matches, it can go on for 100 days.. who will watch?
Re: Will it be a 100 day tournament?
by icc on Jul 15, 2009 05:54 PM
there are people in the world who still like test cricket even though there might not be any result after 5 days. so if you dont like test cricket thats just your problem. test cricket is not meant to please people like you. if you dont like test cricket, dont watch it. as simple as that.
Need of the hour to save test matches should be sportive wickets. Nobody wants to waste money to see dull draws. Test cricket should be restricted to top 4 ranked teams to generate interest and revenue.
