What do you think about the future of Test cricket?
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Australia and New Zealand are considering playing a day-night Test late in 2015. Rahul Dravid said when he played under lights with the pink ball it seemed to "hold up okay".
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Every year during the IPL, several international players have to make the choice between playing for their Test teams or their franchise. The ICC has said it will not consider creating a window for the IPL.
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With every passing day the doomsday predictions for Test cricket seem to grow louder. But the format seems in reasonable health. That's not to say there aren't problems.
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The proposed 2017 World Test Championship has been put in doubt again as broadcasters and sponsors still hold grave reservations over the global appeal of such an event.
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Test cricket outside the top four teams is neither adequately competitive nor played frequently enough to matter. That is an issue that needs addressing.
I honestly don't see T20 as a bigger threat to the Test matches. The larger issues are the disparity between two teams and the type of highways that are prepared.
While the T20 and bilateral / existing ODI series continue in the existing schedule and format, Test Championship should be decided on yearly basis in a format similar to English Premier League. All bilateral test series should be stopped and there should be 1 test championship for the whole year. 10 teams. Each team plays with every other team. 45 matches (should be feasible given that there are around 40 matches being played in a calendar year currently). This championship runs year long. Whoever has highest points at the end of the season wins. A parallel championship runs whole year for the non test-playing nations (tier 2). There should be relegation for the bottom 2 teams in the main tournament. Top 2 from the tier 2 championship qualify for the tier 1 tournament following year. And people say they miss the Ashes? Definitely fans would love to watch 2 teams face off once in an year than 5 matches on a trot for once in every 3 years or so.
The top 3 ranked teams should play 4-5 test against each other, home & away. And top 5 ranked teams should a minimum of 3 test matches again each other. The lower ranked teams should play a minimum of 2 test match series. This will ensure the best compete well against each other & the weaker teams get a decent exposure.
The last month-and-a-half has been superb for test cricket. You've the Ashes where, even though one-sided, has been a thrill to watch with an unlike scenario of bowlers taking centre stage. Then you have Windies springing back miraculously after being asked to follow-on. And then there came by the Jo'burg roller coaster. From the sight of Windies being folded up in three days, these are epic days. If you look at it, the players or the connoisseurs still regards Test as the ultimate game of Cricket. But it's the "fans", without whom the game can't move-on, who needs a good councelling. Having said that, the record turn up at MCG, adds to the positives. Just the ICC have to move ahead with Test Championship. Host it in either England or Australia, which will make sure it does get the attention it deserves. And should be between the top four as was recommended because the gap between them and the rest are quite big and will lead into more as we saw in Windies tour of India.
I don't think there's an honest effort by ICC or the so called "top four teams" to promote Test cricket. If they really want to promote that version of cricket then they should play with other teams time to time instead of keep on playing with each other. I mean two Ashes in same year and then again after two years? How many times we ll have to see India vs England series? South Africa vs Australia just played a year ago and they schedule for another series yet again? India touring England for another long series? C'mon play other teams if you want to promote. And do something abt bringing cricket back to Pakistan, it's not security issue it's diplomatic issue. You are starving a vast majority by not bringing cricket there. I bet if Pakistan plays even test cricket at home, there will be larger crowds. There's just not an honest effort by ICC it's all just talk. They worried abt their rankings and money in their pocket. It won't change unless there's a real effort.