Why Test Cricket is the Greatest Game of All

[Richard]

This article was written after 2005 Ashes - sums up my thoughts beautifully.

Yeah, 'twas a terrific summation of mine, too.

 

[silentstriker]

Yeah, 'twas a terrific summation of mine, too.

Also highlights why giving away Test status is futile.

 

[atisha_ro]

While we're at it, what are (or should be) the criteria for Test status?
From a purely sporting point of view, board politics notwithstanding.

 

[Goughy]

While we're at it, what are (or should be) the criteria for Test status?
From a purely sporting point of view, board politics notwithstanding.

We had a look at that point here, so you can see what some people think.

Though obviously there is always room for more ideas and debate on the matter

 

[andruid]

Yeah, 'twas a terrific summation of mine, too.

But then does the rather minimal off chance Australia may have to crush the likes of Ireland or Bangladesh on occasion qualify as reason to deny them the opportunity to play against each other in a series hat would not only build a fantastic rivalry in the mould of the Autralia v. England or India v. Pakistan rivalries. Would not the possibility of defeating a major sporting rival not draw in the crowds and the profile that these almost but not quite test nations need to make that final jump? After all since 2005 almost no one has bothered wasting their time on Zimbabwe while Bangladesh will be lucky to get more than 2 tests at a time. If India and Pakistan had not had one another to compete against when their own test status was in its infancy would we have the passionate rivalry that we see here today? If you look at the Intercontinental cup table right now there are about 4 teams who in the longer version of the game would produce highly competitive an enthralling test series if given the opportunity. While it is awonderful thing to behold Test status is alienating itself from a potentially larger audience by beins so stubborn in its insistence hat only a certain group of 10 nations are capable of producing the necessary level of cricket a reason made into a tautology by the fact that these same 10 countries hold almost dictatorial authority over everyone else in the ICC.

 

[Neil Pickup]

But then does the rather minimal off chance Australia may have to crush the likes of Ireland or Bangladesh on occasion qualify as reason to deny them the opportunity to play against each other in a series hat would not only build a fantastic rivalry in the mould of the Autralia v. England or India v. Pakistan rivalries. Would not the possibility of defeating a major sporting rival not draw in the crowds and the profile that these almost but not quite test nations need to make that final jump? After all since 2005 almost no one has bothered wasting their time on Zimbabwe while Bangladesh will be lucky to get more than 2 tests at a time. If India and Pakistan had not had one another to compete against when their own test status was in its infancy would we have the passionate rivalry that we see here today? Come on people

Er, given the political history, I think so. Ireland v Bangladesh is never going to make that happen.

 

[atisha_ro]

well, if you mention "natural rivalries", you may invent some regional tournaments to raise the standards for nations below test level.
say: Ireland, Scotland, Holland - or Bermuda, Canada, USA - or Nepal, UAE, China, triangulars like that, with 4 day matches, home and away.
with some support from the ICC when finances come to talk.

 

[andruid]

Er, given the political history, I think so. Ireland v Bangladesh is never going to make that happen.

Oh well TBH Kenya v. Bangladesh was a rivalry I feel got killed when Bangladesh got test status and Kenya didn't meaning all off a sudden Bangladesh were too important to orgabise games against Kenya on a regular basis.

 

[silentstriker]

Oh well TBH Kenya v. Bangladesh was a rivalry I feel got killed when Bangladesh got test status and Kenya didn't meaning all off a sudden Bangladesh were too important to orgabise games against Kenya on a regular basis.

I've no problem Ireland and Kenya and Bangladesh playing four or five day cricket games against each other. But they should be classified as FC, not Tests.

 

[andruid]

I've no problem Ireland and Kenya and Bangladesh playing four or five day cricket games against each other. But they should be classified as FC, not Tests.

Why? Is it not conceivable that these countries can, if not right now, produce cricket of 'Test' standard?

 

[silentstriker]

Why? Is it not conceivable that these countries can, if not right now, produce cricket of 'Test' standard?

Yes, it is inconceivable that they can produce cricket of Test standard. When they show that they can, I've no problem giving them Test status.

 

[andruid]

Yes, it is inconceivable that they can produce cricket of Test standard. When they show that they can, I've no problem giving them Test status.

Which brings back the question just what sort of cricket constitutes does 'test' standard cricket ?

 

[silentstriker]

Which brings back the question just what sort of cricket constitutes does 'test' standard cricket ?

Being competitive against the majority of existing Test sides. E.g, being able to consistently get, at the least, draws, and some wins against most Test sides.

 

[Redbacks]

Being competitive against the majority of existing Test sides. E.g, being able to consistently get, at the least, draws, and some wins against most Test sides.

England are in trouble then

 

[Precambrian]

It is a great game.

A game for intelligent people with long attention spans.

I am all fours for Test cricket. But is it like a too-good-too-idealist an ideology like socialism in this present world? And is it relevant in this world where people have lesser and lesser attention spans for the game?

Test Cricket is magnificient in the fact that it has been a survivor. A smashin one at that. And a hell lot of credit goes to the top two supporters of the format Australia and england. The Engine has been Australia, which didnt cave in to the lucrative ODI deluge of the late 90s and instead still held on 4 and 5 match test series and instead brought to test cricket the eye catching factor of ODIs, namely in-your-face aggression. England also deserves a pat ehre in the sense they also stuck to the long test series table and tried to copy Aussie way of play and made the play refreshing.

While India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka ran on and on with unending ODI schdules across Deserts and Snowfields from Sharjah to Toronto. They certainly "popularised" the game fo cricket. And brought more crowd to the game. Who enjoyed the ODI game first, then saw the game in whites, heistated, then tasted it a bit, and found it pretty good, and soon was enjoying that too.

 

[silentstriker]

England are in trouble then

Nah. The only non-Test standard team is Bangladesh. West Indies are on the edge, but they did win recently in SA. If that was just an aberration, I'd consider them to be at the bottom edge of what I'd call 'Test standard'.

 

[Redbacks]

I just hope the Ashes survives and remains a 5 or 6 test format into the future.
I would give credit to the English who appear to have alot more regard for Test matches than ODI cricket. Thier large travelling supporters (barmy army) make it financially $$ profitble to play in Aus, as do India in recent times. It's a cricket lovers dream to be able to sit down with a mate all day watching the game, arguing every decision and being able to leave the room for 30mins come back to see you haven't missed much of the game.

ODI is really a TV game. I've been to one game live and was bored, you don't get the good angles and after the feilding restrictions stop its just a single a ball really. Its the drama of the test match that makes the day special. We have been lucky in Adelaide in recent years i've seen:

Warne drop a dolly to deny Fleming a hat-trick v Windies
Watched Australia win after England made 500+ in first dig
India beat Australia after a ponting 200, what a partnership by Laxman and Dravid
Tendulkar duck a bouncer and get hit at about half stump hieght LBW.
McGrath's catch and Vaughn's hundred
Lara's awesome hundred
Warne dismiss Kirsten on the last days play + Haydens 5th consecutive test with a Hundred

 

[honestbharani]

I just hope the Ashes survives and remains a 5 or 6 test format into the future.
I would give credit to the English who appear to have alot more regard for Test matches than ODI cricket. Thier large travelling supporters (barmy army) make it financially $$ profitble to play in Aus, as do India in recent times. It's a cricket lovers dream to be able to sit down with a mate all day watching the game, arguing every decision and being able to leave the room for 30mins come back to see you haven't missed much of the game.

ODI is really a TV game. I've been to one game live and was bored, you don't get the good angles and after the feilding restrictions stop its just a single a ball really. Its the drama of the test match that makes the day special. We have been lucky in Adelaide in recent years i've seen:

Warne drop a dolly to deny Fleming a hat-trick v Windies
Watched Australia win after England made 500+ in first dig
India beat Australia after a ponting 200, what a partnership by Laxman and Dravid
Tendulkar duck a bouncer and get hit at about half stump hieght LBW.
McGrath's catch and Vaughn's hundred
Lara's awesome hundred
Warne dismiss Kirsten on the last days play + Haydens 5th consecutive test with a Hundred

Indeed, for very similar reasons, I think I have been privileged to be living in Chennai..... The moments are honestly too many to list out right now..


Hoping to see some special stuff later this month when SA play India here.



And yeah, Test Cricket rules!!!!

 

[Richard]

We have been lucky in Adelaide in recent years i've seen:

Warne drop a dolly to deny Fleming a hat-trick v Windies

That's lucky? I'd have thought it'd have been somewhat agonising TBH.

 

[Redbacks]

Funny because of the tention between the two before and after the catch. One wonders if he dropped it on purpose?

series was well over at that stage 5-0 inevitable