File image of the Australian cricket team© AFP
After the second Test of the India vs South Africa series ended in less than two days, once again there has been a fresh debate about the future of the format. The spectator attendance have been falling. Recently, South Africa also named a depleted squad for their Tour of New Zealand. It made cricket supporters around the world wonder if Test cricket has lost its tag of being the ‘ultimate’ format. In the most of this former Australian cricket team captain Ian Chappell suggested some wholesome changes.
“It’s no secret that Test cricket is an endangered species. Administrators are enamoured of T20’s popularity and its huge financial rewards; there has been a world-wide explosion of T20 leagues and now players are signing long-term contracts with major T20 franchises. These are all contributing factors. However, the list also includes the exorbitant cost of preparing cricketers through longer-form first-class competition, and a lack of competitiveness among a number of Test-playing nations,” Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPN Cricinfo.
Chappell said that only the rise of T20 leagues cannot be blamed for the fall of Test cricket. He also said there is a lack of initiative from the administrators too.
“Discussion is gaining momentum for four-day Tests in the wake of five-day games lasting slightly longer than a 50-over match. There are valid arguments about the increasing costs and for the introduction of four-day Tests, but why isn’t the tardy pace of play being addressed?
“The pace of play in Test cricket is abysmal. It’s slowing every day and nothing is being done to improve matters. On the one hand Ben Stokes genuinely strives to improve the entertainment quotient of Test cricket but he’s being undermined by the administrators’ lack of initiative.”
In the same column he mentioned about an incident where Australian cricketers charging at umpires. he mentioned that the incident happened in a match in Sydney.
“How come players are allowed to charge at umpires while they are appealing, without any recrimination? I was appalled to see Australian players indulging in this heinous behaviour in the SCG Test recently. This bad habit should be subject to penalty,”
“How can it be fair that a bowler has to nominate his method of delivery through the umpire (right- or left arm, over or round the wicket) but a batter can face up left-handed but then change to play a right-handed shot? There’s one main reason for this – to undermine the field placings. There is no doubt it’s skilful but it’s not fair. Fairness should be a consideration when framing cricket’s laws. A batter shouldn’t be allowed to change the order of his hands or feet.”
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