What Gavaskar and Viswanath didn't have
Earlier posts: intro , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 .
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
A few reactions to what some of my fellow participants in this discussion have said:
With regard to Harsha's post, I'd say that the incentive structure has indeed changed. The superstars are now entrepreneurs - they don't hold sports-quota jobs. It is entirely upto them how much money they can leverage out of their talent. This wasn't true in any earlier era where even the Gavaskars and Viswanaths collected salaries as employees.
Of course, that changes priorities for a sportsman and it may lead to stronger performance since performance is more clearly linked to reward.
As for structures and policy, truly chaotic sporting structures, as in Brazilian soccer, and nasty regimented concentration camps, such as in China and the erstwhile East Germany, have delivered equally excellent sporting results. So I don't know if running the game more professionally would necessarily deliver improved results, though it would make life easier for fans.
With regard to Mukul's post, I'd say that the one-day international has become a game of very rich strategic content. It now requires a far wider range of skills than Test cricket. An ODI player always has to keep an eye on the equation, and also on nuances like powerplays, super-subbing etc while delivering on core competency -- whatever that is.
A Test player simply has to deliver on core competency, though he must do that at higher standards, perhaps, than in a one-day international. Of course, Tests require a deeper knowledge of a more narrow skill base, and they are more "forgiving" and allow everyone two chances to showcase their talent. Also, there is the option of playing to draw, which requires a different mindset.
So they are different games. Why is there a problem in two (or more) forms of the same game co-existing? This is the case in several sports (chess, bridge, rugby -- hell, I keep thinking of strategic games!) and it's possible that Test cricket will also evolve and become more interesting strategically, and thus hold viewer interest, circa 2020.