The Future of Test Cricket

[OverratedSanity]

Makes sense tbh. The big 4 playing tests against each other will retain its viability. SL and Pak and Bangladesh should be playing against each other more as that is viable.

This is unbelievably stupid.

 

[harsh.ag]

This is unbelievably stupid.

They've sold the rights to broadcasters for a lot of money who have every right to demand test cricket which people actually tune in to watch.

Can't have both. Either ICC should price the broadcasting rights at a lower value so that there isn't so much pressure to deliver eyeballs or they have to do this.

Now, of course test cricket has to be subsidized to an extent and I think everyone recognizes that. Just lesser than they used to.

 

[SeamUp]

41 out of 81 Test series in the 2019-2023 FTP will be 2-match test series.

 

[Gnske]

Test cricket deserves this slow death for being such a slow boring ****ing game.

 

[Starfighter]

41 out of 81 Test series in the 2019-2023 FTP will be 2-match test series.

**** that is depressing. People have talked about the death of test cricket over and over again but this could genuinely be the beginning.

 

[morgieb]

41 out of 81 Test series in the 2019-2023 FTP will be 2-match test series.

That is genuinely ****. Basically two Test series should only really exist for low profile opposition, and one-off Tests not at all.

 

[harsh.ag]

23% one-off tests is even more depressing than the two-tests number. Wow that is ****. Didn't think it would be this bad.

Hopefully there is pushback from the spectators.

 

[OverratedSanity]

41 out of 81 Test series in the 2019-2023 FTP will be 2-match test series.

Damn, that really does suck

 

[Second Spitter]

This realty is the worst. It's really going to be the nail in the coffin for Test cricket in certain places, most notably WI, NZ and maybe even SAF.

Is it any different than the two division system they wanted in the first place?

 

[cnerd123]

23% one-off tests is even more depressing than the two-tests number. Wow that is ****. Didn't think it would be this bad.

Hopefully there is pushback from the spectators.

"Well look at that. The viewership numbers are in. Hardly anyone is tuning in to our Two Test series. Maybe we should just scrap Test cricket all together..."

I don't think the solution is to refuse to watch cricket because it isn't exactly how you want it. I think the solution is to watch even more of the cricket that you actually want to see - tune in every time the Associates or WI or NZ are playing. Tune into every 3rd, 4th and 5th Test of a series. If you can attend these games, go ahead and attend.

Ultimately these guys follow their wallets. The TV broadcasters follow viewership figures, and the ICC/BCCI follow the TV broadcasters. Until this dynamic shifts, what you choose to pay attention to matters. And if these 1 or 2 Test series have people watching every single day because that's the only cricket they are getting, while the 3-4-5 Test series have people following it passively, then we're going to get more 1 or 2 Test series. They don't care what we say we enjoy on forums or reddit or facebook or cricinfo comments. The don't care how much we tweet that we love 5 Test series and that anything less than 3 Tests is meaningless. They don't care how much we criticise them for not supporting the game in other countries. If we aren't watching, they aren't going to give it to us.

 

[Starfighter]

74% of test series will be of an unsuitable length. It gets worse each time I think about it.

Near zero chance of any teams being competitive overseas over a 'series', and almost no chance of any significant aggregate records being set for most or all major countries.

 

[harsh.ag]

74% of test series will be of an unsuitable length. It gets worse each time I think about it.

Near zero chance of any teams being competitive overseas over a 'series', and almost no chance of any significant aggregate records being set for most or all major countries.

On the other hand, this would have meant India won 1-0 in England.

 

[vcs]

This is pathetic. Two match series with **** all preparation time, it's going to get even more one-sided in favour of home teams.

 

[S.Kennedy]

If people stopped watching one-day rubbish instead, this wouldn't happen. Vote with your wallets.

 

[Burner]

If people stopped watching one-day rubbish instead, this wouldn't happen. Vote with your wallets.

Of course. Let's starve the game of money, that will solve all the problems.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Of course. Let's starve the game of money, that will solve all the problems.

I should have said, and switch to test and (domestic) first-class cricket.

 

[morgieb]

"Well look at that. The viewership numbers are in. Hardly anyone is tuning in to our Two Test series. Maybe we should just scrap Test cricket all together..."

I don't think the solution is to refuse to watch cricket because it isn't exactly how you want it. I think the solution is to watch even more of the cricket that you actually want to see - tune in every time the Associates or WI or NZ are playing. Tune into every 3rd, 4th and 5th Test of a series. If you can attend these games, go ahead and attend.

Ultimately these guys follow their wallets. The TV broadcasters follow viewership figures, and the ICC/BCCI follow the TV broadcasters. Until this dynamic shifts, what you choose to pay attention to matters. And if these 1 or 2 Test series have people watching every single day because that's the only cricket they are getting, while the 3-4-5 Test series have people following it passively, then we're going to get more 1 or 2 Test series. They don't care what we say we enjoy on forums or reddit or facebook or cricinfo comments. The don't care how much we tweet that we love 5 Test series and that anything less than 3 Tests is meaningless. They don't care how much we criticise them for not supporting the game in other countries. If we aren't watching, they aren't going to give it to us.

Yeah unfortunately there really isn't a great solution for this unless people really flip their viewing habits.

 

[Flem274*]

test cricket is only dying because administrators want it to

 

[SeamUp]

Still thinking about this in disbelief. Miss the days of a full-band of competitive test teams who played proper test series.

 

[srbhkshk]

Kinda weird how everyone is so concerned about test cricket and yet pretty much everyone was taking the piss on SL touring India for the first time in like 7-8 years.