Boundary
Cricket Spectator
In a post written a few days ago, I spoke of my deep passion for first-class cricket, particularly test cricket. I also spoke of my concern at increasingly embarrassing attendances at test matches, a trend that shows no sign of reversing.
I apologise in advance if this topic has been done to death on these forums, and I imagine it has been. Worrying about test-cricket's future is nothing new. You could be forgiven for thinking that the worries attached to its future are as much a part of test cricket's fabric as white attire and the red ball.
I am no expert in promotion, but I do believe that any sport can thrive under the right guidance. I will take the examples of snooker and darts. Darts struggled for years, its potential stifled by an overtly traditional and frankly questionable administration. Following the defection of many top players to the PDC from the BDO, the PDC has thrived. Its World Championship, played over the Christmas period, is a highlight of the sporting calendar at this time, while the standard of play has improved enormously. Attendances are fantastic at virtually all its events. There are elements of its typical audience that may attract criticism, some of it deserved, but considering that the game itself has improved tremendously, and so too have the opportunities for players and fans, I see no issue. It involved no tweaking with the basic fabric of the sport itself. Snooker struggled for much of the 2000's, but has seen a dramatic improvement under the stewardship of Barry Hearn, the same man at the head of the PDC.
I feel something needs to change with test cricket. The game itself is fine, and it should never turn to such nonsense as power plays (which I feel has made a mess of the likeable ODI format). If the game had to turn away many disappointed fans for Ashes test matches less than ten years ago, the format clearly has potential to draw good crowds on a regular basis. I feel day-night matches are an interesting option. the game is too bound by tradition. I am no expert in marketing, but I see no problem with deviating from the tradition of wearing all-white, although that is a slight issue and is sidestepping more serious matters.
I think test cricket needs a more meaningful competitive structure. I am not sure if the proposed test match world championships would provide the correct format for this to happen, as its knockout structure leads to all sorts of issues and headaches, particularly with draws. Even if you extend the matches lengths to six days, it may reduce the intriguing significance of the declaration, and even at six days producing a result is STILL not guaranteed. I feel a two-tier league structure, with promotion and relegation, is the way to go. You could perhaps have eight 'test' playing nations at any one time. If I'm being honest, I am also not sure if MOST test-series pairings are all that identifiable with many audiences, and that is why a meaningful, recognizable competition is something test cricket needs. That is what any sport needs. Allow the series' that respective national boards want to organise to take place during particular windows. The Ashes should always be a central part of test cricket, and that is the way it would remain, as would be the case with other great series, or series between the top teams of the time. A league format should be structured in such a way as to allow this to happen separately to the league itself.
In regard to Jason Gillespie's suggestions with giving Ireland test status, there is nothing I would love more, and I actually think Ireland have done more to earn this status than Bangladesh had done. However, those nations were given their status too soon, and I feel patience is needed with Ireland. Allow Ireland to play one off matches at home, and allow its domestic structures to improve (the effectively first class competition is a step in the right direction, but needs time to improve). In time, give Ireland more room to maneuver. But do not make the same mistakes as were made with Bangladesh in rushing the situation. Another genuinely competitive test nation would be wonderful for the game, but for that to happen it may take some time.
I apologise in advance if this topic has been done to death on these forums, and I imagine it has been. Worrying about test-cricket's future is nothing new. You could be forgiven for thinking that the worries attached to its future are as much a part of test cricket's fabric as white attire and the red ball.
I am no expert in promotion, but I do believe that any sport can thrive under the right guidance. I will take the examples of snooker and darts. Darts struggled for years, its potential stifled by an overtly traditional and frankly questionable administration. Following the defection of many top players to the PDC from the BDO, the PDC has thrived. Its World Championship, played over the Christmas period, is a highlight of the sporting calendar at this time, while the standard of play has improved enormously. Attendances are fantastic at virtually all its events. There are elements of its typical audience that may attract criticism, some of it deserved, but considering that the game itself has improved tremendously, and so too have the opportunities for players and fans, I see no issue. It involved no tweaking with the basic fabric of the sport itself. Snooker struggled for much of the 2000's, but has seen a dramatic improvement under the stewardship of Barry Hearn, the same man at the head of the PDC.
I feel something needs to change with test cricket. The game itself is fine, and it should never turn to such nonsense as power plays (which I feel has made a mess of the likeable ODI format). If the game had to turn away many disappointed fans for Ashes test matches less than ten years ago, the format clearly has potential to draw good crowds on a regular basis. I feel day-night matches are an interesting option. the game is too bound by tradition. I am no expert in marketing, but I see no problem with deviating from the tradition of wearing all-white, although that is a slight issue and is sidestepping more serious matters.
I think test cricket needs a more meaningful competitive structure. I am not sure if the proposed test match world championships would provide the correct format for this to happen, as its knockout structure leads to all sorts of issues and headaches, particularly with draws. Even if you extend the matches lengths to six days, it may reduce the intriguing significance of the declaration, and even at six days producing a result is STILL not guaranteed. I feel a two-tier league structure, with promotion and relegation, is the way to go. You could perhaps have eight 'test' playing nations at any one time. If I'm being honest, I am also not sure if MOST test-series pairings are all that identifiable with many audiences, and that is why a meaningful, recognizable competition is something test cricket needs. That is what any sport needs. Allow the series' that respective national boards want to organise to take place during particular windows. The Ashes should always be a central part of test cricket, and that is the way it would remain, as would be the case with other great series, or series between the top teams of the time. A league format should be structured in such a way as to allow this to happen separately to the league itself.
In regard to Jason Gillespie's suggestions with giving Ireland test status, there is nothing I would love more, and I actually think Ireland have done more to earn this status than Bangladesh had done. However, those nations were given their status too soon, and I feel patience is needed with Ireland. Allow Ireland to play one off matches at home, and allow its domestic structures to improve (the effectively first class competition is a step in the right direction, but needs time to improve). In time, give Ireland more room to maneuver. But do not make the same mistakes as were made with Bangladesh in rushing the situation. Another genuinely competitive test nation would be wonderful for the game, but for that to happen it may take some time.
Last edited:
