Cricket in 2070?

I have been a very loyal fan of test cricket and I continue to do so. Test cricket has always fascinated me. I have always loved the intricacies of the game. In fact, when T20 cricket came into being I did not even consider it a game. I had considered IPL and T20 profane and had thought it to be a grave disrespect to our revered sport.

Over the last couple of years, though, I have become a lot more liberal with my views. I have not only managed to accommodate both T20 and the IPL into my cricketing life but have also started appreciating the various nuances of the shortest form of the game. This in no way means that my interest towards test cricket has come down. The shortest form of the game requires a completely different set of skills when compared to test cricket, but nevertheless are skills worth appreciating. In the same breath when I look at the way Test cricket is progressing it does send some shivers through my spine.

Future of the game has always been the discussion in the recent past. How would cricket be in say 2070? Would cricket and in particular test cricket still find a place in that era? If I shed my optimism away and view the future as a realist, I have to admit that test cricket has to fight hard to survive and sustain itself for such a long time. Sparse crowds for cricket matches especially test cricket has become a common sight in India. Pakistan has been sans international cricket for a while now. West Indies cricket is in a turmoil owing to poor administrators. In NZ cricket has never been a primary sport and things have not changed dramatically; the fact that WI is dominating them does send signals of concern. Sri Lankan cricket has done reasonably well, but with the advent of SLPL test cricket is not going to gain popularity. 

Test cricket is still a humming and buzzing entity in the UK and Australia. It is still quite popular in South Africa. But, the sad truth is that in the major parts of the globe the popularity of the longest form of the game is on the decline. Some urgent measures have to be taken to revive Test Match cricket in Asia. For the first time, the Eden Gardens witnessed a test match played in an almost empty stadium (India versus West Indies). Later, a One Day international was played in front of a really sparse Eden Gardens crowd (India v England). When this happens, it should definitely ring the alarm bells. 

Many may jump to the conclusion that a five-day game does not find a place in the fast moving world. I personally do buy that claim. Australia, UK and South Africa are the places where the most exciting brand of cricket is played. And it is in these places where test cricket has thrived. 

Test Cricket is indeed the highest form of the game. A form of the game which can be appreciated and enjoyed only when played by great players in really good conditions. A T20 between two ordinary teams could be enjoyed, but the most important requirement to produce a great Test Match is to have two really good teams. After staging two really good teams, a good surface becomes essential. Test Cricket can go to either extreme very easily. If played on a sporting track, by two really good teams, Test Cricket can be a thoroughly exciting and an entertaining sport. The same sport could be easily reduced to a dull and boring sport if the contest between bat and ball is reduced. There is no fun in watching a team pile up over 500 runs and the opposition respond with another 600. Preparing a batting beauty for a test match is definitely not a good advertisement for the game. The recent Pakistan - Sri Lanka series has disappointed me in precisely this regard. It is not just the pitches in Test Matches, but also in First Class cricket which have to be made lively. Once the quality of first class cricket improves it would automatically, produce good players which in turn would make Tests a great spectacle.

Another important task is to bring a context to every game that is played. A lot of meaningless series' have been played in the recent past. The ODI tours of West Indies and England to India in 2011 are few examples. I would even say that the current England-Australia ODI series lacks context. Even in test cricket, the West Indies tour of India (in 2011) lacked context, as India had just toured WI just a few months back. The fan has to be kept waiting before unveiling the spectacle. Too much cricket of the same kind is detrimental to its future. Again, I can never fathom the context of the India's tour on SL late this month. The idea of test championship was great to step forward in bringing contest into the game. It is sad that the idea did not materialise.

Finally, measures have to be taken to encourage players to play First Class cricket. The quality of FC cricket directly affects the quality of test cricket. Producing sporting pitches is the first step forward. I am glad that BCCI has taken measures to make Ranji more competitive. Next important measure is the coverage of FC cricket. Media has to take it up as a responsibility to cover FC cricket in a more elaborate manner. A better coverage would result in more people following it and thus adding more value to FC cricket. Drawing in crowds for FC is being very optimistic, but people should be encouraged to at least keep a track of the scores FC games going around.

Yes, T20 is a great innovation. The IPL is doing well. But, it can in no way be a replacement for the traditional form of the game. The administrators have to take special care to protect and preserve this great heritage so that our future generation can experience the thrills of this form of the game.

The real challenge in front of the cricketing world is how to encourage young kids who are 6 or 7 now to come to test cricket. These are the kids who have been brought up on the IPL diet. They might have never seen and will probably never see the ball being flighted in the air or a perfect forward defensive shot. For them, batting has been about switch-hits, reverse-sweeps, scoops and probably clean hitting. Bowling has been about slower deliveries and yorkers. Would these kids be encouraged to play in the traditional way? Will they experience the joy of scoring a fourth innings hundred or getting those late break-throughs in the final session of the day?  Or would genuine fast bowling and classic spin bowling be restricted only to YouTube videos?