Certain trends are emerging, which might be an indication of the future of Test cricket. Apart from the first two matches of the tournament none of the matches have gone on for five days unless there has been a weather intervention. Will the future of Test cricket be 4-day game? Here’s Vijayhardik’s opinion, exclusively for Different Truths.

Barring the first two games of the newly inaugurated World Test Championship none of the games have gone into the fifth and final day. The first Test of Ashes 2019 and the first in the bilateral series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka are the only games to do so. Without intervention from the weather any of the remaining games would not have stretched into the final day.

These rain disturbances were responsible for the match going into the last day. It would have been a lot better for world cricket if individual performances and team spirit were the cause for it.

Rain intervening in a couple of games pushed the games into the final day. The second Ashes Test saw the first day of play sacrificed to the Rain gods. A result was achieved in the Headingley Test match in four days of play. The second Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was interrupted by sporadic disturbances of rain. These rain disturbances were responsible for the match going into the last day. It would have been a lot better for world cricket if individual performances and team spirit were the cause for it.

But why is this trend emerging of late in Test cricket?

Many cricketing legends and experts bemoaned the entry of shortest format T-20 when it was introduced to cricket. A bit puritanical in sense, they refused to recognise it as a genuine form of cricket.

Many cricketing legends and experts bemoaned the entry of shortest format T-20 when it was introduced to cricket. A bit puritanical in sense, they refused to recognise it as a genuine form of cricket. They considered the format to be slap-dash and opined that fortune played a larger role than skill.

With the passage of time and evolution of time, the opinions might have changed. But the truth is that the shortest format is still about biff and bang. Look around T20 leagues around the world. Franchises invest in players who have the ability to clear grounds at will and tonk the ball hard. If they can add value by offering options in other fields, they are preferred over the one trick pony. 

The shortest format of the game was introduced as a measure to make cricket popular around the globe.

The shortest format of the game was introduced as a measure to make cricket popular around the globe. But in a world where instant gratification was becoming the norm and doubts were raised about the popularity of the 50 over format, the T-20 format presented itself as a viable and lucrative alternative.

It brought the crowds back to the grounds. Opened up new vistas and avenues for cricket around the world. With changing lifestyle trends the format offered the new fans of the game and some older fans a choice that was in sync with the fast paced world. And it brought in the moolah.

The T-20 format may be filling the coffers of the cricket boards and paying hefty fees to players.

The T-20 format may be filling the coffers of the cricket boards and paying hefty fees to players. It might have helped in combating reducing viewership due to its shorter time format and also brought in new fans from new regions but it does seem to have come at a cost.

While it brought in innovation and made games livelier, the cost paid by the game was the loss in technique and temperament of the emerging batsmen. Earlier, there was a conception that Asian teams travelling overseas were susceptible to the swinging delivery and the teams visiting the sub-continent were found trying against the spin bowling attacks possessed by the sub-continent teams.

Many a team has found themselves wanting on the first morning of a Test match. It is now a recurring theme that has played out many times. 

In today’s times while the latter more often than not holds true, the former argument does not hold good enough. Many a team has found themselves wanting on the first morning of a Test match. It is now a recurring theme that has played out many times. In the last fortnight, the reality of a scenario of a team getting bundled for a score below hundred presented itself thrice. While West Indies managed an escape from that dubious distinction twice in the same match against India a few days ago, England was not lucky enough to escape unscathed.

Though England managed to win the Headingley Test match riding the wave of victory on Ben Stokes magnificent knock of an unbeaten 135, they found themselves in an abyss from which they managed to crawl out. In response to the first innings score of Australia who put up a less than impressive 179 on board, England capitulated to a double digit total of 67. 

This is a phenomenon in batting where we witness teams having batting collapses at alarmingly regular rates.

This is a phenomenon in batting where we witness teams having batting collapses at alarmingly regular rates. In the earlier decades, where pitches were much more lively and bowlers were much more fiery and feisty; batsmen facing these towering bowlers without the protective paraphernalia scores never so abysmally low. There might have been an odd instance or two of their times. 

The batsmen of those times were more technically equipped to handle the rigours of five day cricket. They had the patience to weather the tough phases of the game by being diligent and boring. In a day and age where trying to be on the right side of  the fence is naivety, grinding down and doing the basics instead of being fancy is boring.

Test cricket is the only form of sport that can be compared to life. Akin to life, teams and players go through troughs and crests. They weather out of the tough phases giving respect to the opposition and trying to stay within the limitations of their game.

Test cricket is the only form of sport that can be compared to life. Akin to life, teams and players go through troughs and crests. They weather out of the tough phases giving respect to the opposition and trying to stay within the limitations of their game. And when the conditions and situations turn favourable they make the most of it. To do this requires to commit to a lot of repetitive and boring tasks.

But with T-20 leagues such as the Indian Premier League, Big Bash and Vitality Super Series becoming cash cows, the cricket boards have stopped taking care of First Class cricket. While India remains an exception in this case, Australia and England have their Sheffield Shield matches and County matches parallelly to their respective T20 cricket leagues.

The consequences of these actions are being felt on the international stage.

The consequences of these actions are being felt on the international stage. Players who could have learnt the art of building an innings playing in the four-day league games, get adapted to different and difficult situations, hone their skills and temperament are busy playing their in the cash rich leagues. As a result, it brings down the standard of the first class leagues.

With the reduced pool of players to groom and pick to field on the international stage, not having the calibre of the previous generation of players that emerged from the system and lack of skills which are exploited by the international teams ensures that games are finished a lot earlier.

…the International Cricket Council witnessing the trend of a majority of Tests being completed in under 5 days are mulling to shorten the longest format of the date to 4 days.

The advent of the World Test Championship too is proving the same thing. While there is an increase in the number of Test matches and incentive for national cricket boards to improve the structure and infrastructure, the International Cricket Council witnessing the trend of a majority of Tests being completed in under 5 days are mulling to shorten the longest format of the date to 4 days.

With the World Test Championship still in its infancy, the axe of judgement on the future of Test cricket might be held in abeyance for a while. But the recent trend of results are making a strong case for a four day game. 

Photo sourced by the author from the Internet