Not so long ago, many epitaphs were penned announcing the death of Test match cricket. The game was said to have moved on with shorter formats gaining far better traction with people. So true! Only it is proving to be as long-lasting as attraction to instant coffee or, better still, fast food!
Sport is all about celebrating superlative performance! Its a celebration of better skills, both physical and mental, than the average human can be expected to possess! That is the reason why champions are placed on a pedestal to be admired and their achievements serve as challenges to the rest of the world.
That's exactly what Test matches are to the game of cricket. The crucible where talent is ground to perfection and performances scanned under microscopes as player after player displays his talent. Test cricket, now played over five days, is the true examination of all that international sporting competition requires ... fitness, skill and stamina (both physical as well as mental).
Shorter formats appear more spectacular and may seem to be more marketable but that is like picking a burger over a traditional masala dosa!
Over limit cricket may pack the action into a shorter span of time but the skills and mental toughness required for these slam-bang contests must be honed through long hours on the field. And the grind can only come through Test match cricket.
There haven't been many players who made a stunning arrival through the limited overs game but hung around long enough to achieve legend status. The short game also gives players short careers as they lack the maturity of technique and temperament for the long haul. Within a few seasons such players are jaded and fade away, sinking without a trace.
The advent of 20-over leagues has thrown up plenty of overnight stars but come the dawn, few seem to be fit for repeating the performances game after game, night after night! Stroke play may have got creative but when its crunch time, the correctness of pure cricketing technique is what wins the bigger battles.
Without the staying power needed to play Test match cricket, batting through full 20 overs appears a burden when Tests could require batsmen to go through more than a full day at the crease. Same goes for bowlers and fielders. Sending down a maximum of certain number of overs leaves the bowlers with no room for experiment and makes them more automatons than creative artistes. Fielding is a chore that players may loathe but when its a battle for survival, Tests push the limits of human endurance.
Of late, Test match cricket may have lost a fair bit of its sheen but the responsibility rests squarely on Australia, England and India to show the way and rekindle interest, as suggested by former Australian captain Greg Chappell. If these big three cannot do it, the game of cricket may suffer ... making it different only in patches from the far more popular baseball.
Hitting the ball out of the park is the highlight of both sports. But that's where the similarity should end. And for that to happen cricket needs youngsters to be hooked on to Test match cricket for a sound foundation. Else cricket may soon be be robbed of the special display of skill that attracts the fans!
Sport is all about celebrating superlative performance! Its a celebration of better skills, both physical and mental, than the average human can be expected to possess! That is the reason why champions are placed on a pedestal to be admired and their achievements serve as challenges to the rest of the world.
That's exactly what Test matches are to the game of cricket. The crucible where talent is ground to perfection and performances scanned under microscopes as player after player displays his talent. Test cricket, now played over five days, is the true examination of all that international sporting competition requires ... fitness, skill and stamina (both physical as well as mental).
Shorter formats appear more spectacular and may seem to be more marketable but that is like picking a burger over a traditional masala dosa!
Over limit cricket may pack the action into a shorter span of time but the skills and mental toughness required for these slam-bang contests must be honed through long hours on the field. And the grind can only come through Test match cricket.
There haven't been many players who made a stunning arrival through the limited overs game but hung around long enough to achieve legend status. The short game also gives players short careers as they lack the maturity of technique and temperament for the long haul. Within a few seasons such players are jaded and fade away, sinking without a trace.
The advent of 20-over leagues has thrown up plenty of overnight stars but come the dawn, few seem to be fit for repeating the performances game after game, night after night! Stroke play may have got creative but when its crunch time, the correctness of pure cricketing technique is what wins the bigger battles.
Without the staying power needed to play Test match cricket, batting through full 20 overs appears a burden when Tests could require batsmen to go through more than a full day at the crease. Same goes for bowlers and fielders. Sending down a maximum of certain number of overs leaves the bowlers with no room for experiment and makes them more automatons than creative artistes. Fielding is a chore that players may loathe but when its a battle for survival, Tests push the limits of human endurance.
Of late, Test match cricket may have lost a fair bit of its sheen but the responsibility rests squarely on Australia, England and India to show the way and rekindle interest, as suggested by former Australian captain Greg Chappell. If these big three cannot do it, the game of cricket may suffer ... making it different only in patches from the far more popular baseball.
Hitting the ball out of the park is the highlight of both sports. But that's where the similarity should end. And for that to happen cricket needs youngsters to be hooked on to Test match cricket for a sound foundation. Else cricket may soon be be robbed of the special display of skill that attracts the fans!
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