Test cricket is dying and there cannot be any doubt about it. Cricket may be the world’s second most popular sport after football, but it is quite clear that the mainstay of cricket – Test cricket – is on its last legs. The fact has been emphasized by a new documentary, “The Death of a Gentleman” by journalists Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber.
As Collins and Kimber explain in the documentary, too much of the power in cricket lies in the hands of administrators from the Big 3 – India, England and Australia, while the rest of the cricketing world get a short shrift in comparison.
Apart from bilateral Test series such as the Ashes and a big Test series that involves India, there is no demand for any Test cricket played by the other nations. This has led to cricket becoming a small world dominated by just 3 countries, India, England and Australia, who play each other all the time, while the other countries languish in oblivion.
This is something that ICC chief executive David Richardson has been warning about for quite a while now. Richardson says, “Apart from series such as the Ashes – which has an iconic, traditional status – and series between India and the top Full Members, many bilateral series are perceived as having little relevance. Attendances in most series, especially for Test cricket, have fallen and the revenues generated from these series are not growing.”
Richardson said the issue was on the top of ICC’s agenda: “The international cricket landscape has changed over the years and even more significantly in recent times with the advent and success of domestic Twenty20 leagues such as the IPL, the Big Bash and the CPL. These events are attracting widespread support from fans and hence the interest of broadcasters, sponsors and other commercial partners.
“Similarly the interest in and value of ICC events such as the World Cup, the Champions Trophy and World Twenty20 has grown significantly over the last eight years or so. The increase in interest in ICC events and domestic Twenty20 leagues effectively provides competition for the interest in bilateral international cricket series (FTP series).”
So, is only the Big 3 to be blamed for the sad state of Test cricket? What about the rest of the cricketing nations? Richardson does not let them off the hook. He explains, “How can we grow interest in bilateral series – bigger crowds, more people watching on television, following the series on their phones, tablets and computers?
“For this to happen bilateral series need greater context, a clear narrative, improved marketing and a more certain and coordinated schedule. What’s the use of scheduling a series in the monsoon season or how can you expect to grow the fan base or attract attendances if series are scheduled or changed at the last minute?”
What are the possible solutions to this grave crisis? Richardson says, “We are just in discussions at the moment. Michael Holding has spoken about a Test league of two divisions, others have previously suggested a six-and-four teams format. But first the principles and then the detail needs to be debated and agreed. I think it is achievable if all the Full Members think it is worthwhile and want it to happen.”
Richardson added that such a league would be independent of the ICC ranking, was more like the qualification leagues in football. “The debate on leagues is still in the drawing board phase, but even if leagues were introduced, the rankings would still coexist. The ICC rankings will always be there. Take international football, for example, they have qualifying leagues for the FIFA World Cup and Continental tournaments, separate to the world rankings.”
For the sake of hundreds of millions of people around the world who have grown up watching Test cricket, it is hoped that some action is taken and Test cricket is not allowed to fade away into obsolescence.
