Test Cricket - a 3 Day affair ? Image courtesy: CricketNext.com
Test Cricket - a 3 Day affair ? Image courtesy: CricketNext.com

Test Cricket – a 3 day affair ?

You read it right – unfortunately Test Cricket has become a 3 affair – which is apparently true, especially in India. It still remains the full ‘5 Day test Match’ elsewhere in the world, like the one going on down-under between Australia and New Zealand – the two teams will be playing the first ever Day and Night test match with the pink cricket ball. ICC has been working that extra mile to revamp and revive the ageing Test Cricket. But things are different in this part of the world where test matches are coming to an end in just 3 days !

A shot from the ongoing India vs South Africa Test Match. Image Courtesy: ndtv.com
A shot from the ongoing India vs South Africa Test Match. Image Courtesy: ndtv.com

The past two test matches that have been played between India and South Africa have been low scoring games. Thanks to the ‘square’ turning wickets that none of the batsmen from either side have been able to stick on for long. Will these kind of pitches help Test Cricket ? Certainly not. These matches are not good advertisement for test cricket. At one side you talk about the slow death of Test Cricket and on the other hand we are able to play Test Cricket – the T20 way and complete it well within the stipulated time.

What Test Cricket Should Be Like ?

This is how Test Cricket should be. Image Courtesy: cricketcountry.com
This is how Test Cricket should be. Image Courtesy: cricketcountry.com

Recently we saw England fighting till the last ball of the 5th day trying to win the match against Pakistan when the match was called off due to bad light. The amazing double century by David Warner and the magnificent reply by Ross Taylor to draw the test match. And how could we forget VVS Laxman and Pragyan Ohja helping India win that amazing Test Match against Australia – these is how Test Cricket should be. Exciting, nail biting till the very last ball. What’s happening in India is not at all justified.

I agree spin is India’s strength and they want the pitches to match their strength, but I don’t think this is being done in the right manner. A good wicket is the one where the real action starts around Day 3 last session and not when the ball is turning right from the first day ! With the matches getting over in 3 days, there’s no ‘test’ for the players.

Was reading an article by Wasim Akram in TOI today (26/11/2015) – link here – where he talks about rating pitches world-wide. He spoke how the ECB earlier used to deduct point for substandard pitches. I completely agree with him that even the ICC should come up with such points system so that we get good pitches everywhere.

Even the third test match between India and South Africa looks like a low scoring one and heading towards a 3 day finish. I hope we get better pitches that suit India’s bowling strength while allow the play to go on for 5 days.

Read how British Airways was left Red faced after it asked Sachin for his full name !

About Atulmaharaj

A seasoned blogger and a content marketer for close to a decade now. I write about Food, Technology, Lifestyle, Travel, and Finance related posts. Blogging brings me joy and the best part is I get to read and e-meet so many amazing bloggers! PS: I'm also the founder for Socialmaharaj.com :) Favorite Quote: "Traveling is like reading a book, one who hasn't traveled, hasn't turned a page.

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