Will Test Cricket pass the stiff test ?


With English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff ‘s retirement from test cricket , what was just a premonition is now looking an unpleasant reality . The commercials of T-20 beast is hovering to wolf down test cricket, with favours from injuries and excessive cricket .The timing of the decision is interesting, but the rational behind is not incongruous .It came between the Ashes test series and Flintoff giving into the body’s voice to stop , that has been battered due to a spate of futile surgeries. Meanwhile, he safeguarded the future by focusing his energies on T-20 and 50 over version of the game.

Forsake test cricket and embrace one day format and T-20 is the latest trend . Few years ago, the players opted for the longest format , to prolong their career .Shane Warne , Steven Waugh , Brain Lara, Steve Harmison gave the highest honor to tests and sacrificing the limited over internationals.

But with the unprecedented success of IPL , the winds have reversed the direction .The injuries take a toll on the international cricketers , with rehabilitation period some times making them unavailable for months. And often, it becomes difficult to come back in the reckoning with full fitness and same vigor ,not to mention the unaltered mindset . Then ,avoiding the demands of test cricket comes an easy option , the staggering money associated with it swings the pendulum in the favour of T-20 and to a lesser extent 50 overs internationals. Twenty20 is where all the revenue is, where all the sponsorship is, where all the crowds are, where all the players are heading!

Donning the whites and playing test cricket, an ultimate dream for any youngster few years ago is now passé .


The spectators are declining to turn up any more, with empty stadiums and benign tracks undermining the balance between the ball and the bat . There is every chance that many of the players, too, will soon be reluctant to pitch up for Test cricket.Still young and in the late 20s and early 30’s players might secure their future by premature retirement .The world heard about Chris Gayle’s thoughts about the test cricket and Flintoff’s decision will not retard the doomsday for tests.

Countries like Australia and England are still safe but signs in India and West Indies are a matter of concern and bourgeoning schemes in the US to come up tournaments on the lines of IPL , the carrot is out for the stars who are uncertain in tests and yet have still cricket left in them .However, it will take away charismatic match winners like Flintoff , further eroding the thin base of test cricket

So, is excessive cricket also a catalyst to accelerate early retirements? The all rounders always a rare breed, is the most susceptible to the demands of the crammed international calendar, with the surge of T-20, the pressure will only increase many manifolds .The bowlers and all rounders will be at risk as well , with varying degree .While the batsman is already finding it difficult to maintain the consistency in all the three formats, eventually being probed on adaptability all-time .Then there is distinct possibility of developing technical flaws as there is no time to look at one’s game. The final outcome indifferent form and in some cases mental fatigue, with a dip in motivation .


Is the time ripe for having a relook at the test model ? Will the introduction of pink balls and the concept of test championship , revive test cricket .Only time will tell. But there is certainly a injection required to energise test cricket , else it will be anachronistic.

Where is the ray of hope amidst dark clouds ?
The first Test match of the Ashes series between England and Australia has been a resounding success .While the second test only adding to the excitement .The critics and sceptics being won over by five days of enthralling cricket on the field and the spectators delighted .Watching Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar blocking their way to the end of play to keep Australia away from the crease at Cardiff .This was followed up with Flintoff sending down 10 high octane overs to seal the deal for the Englishmen This brought back all the drama , nervousness and suspsense of the Ashes series.The icing on the cake was gross collection of £6m with a seven figure profit on that.Still, there is hope …
.A test match drawn after the opposition couldnot take the final wicket , scoring 400 plus to win a test , changing the natural game to suit the team needs , dour defence to save the test , applying the skills on a barren track to claim a five for , are memories that is test cricket’s gift to us.Thats the ultimate test of character and mental toughness of a cricketer defying all odds . In that , test cricket will always remain special.
The surge in the Twenty20 game is unstoppable as the spread of mushrooms in rainy season. The greater challenge lies in bringing back the crowds and arrest the fall in television revenues. A compelling contest with late starts and night games may be the starting point of revitalising the traditional form of cricket
The ICC has its plate full, with that an opportunity is there to change the game of test cricket !

Ponting will be tested

England carried the advantage of freak escape into the second test and ended the Lords jinx with a 115 runs victory and a 1-0 lead in the Ashes. .This is hard test cricket for you .And the wrecker in chief was Andrew Flintoff who sent out 10 high quality overs unchanged, to end with a man of the match award.

Now then , England suddenly are looking a potent outfit with a good bowling attack. Graham Onions was straight and full on most occasions while Graeme Swann extracted a fair turn from the surface. Jimmy Anderson probed with a nagging length and immaculate direction with a fair support from Stuart Broad .But one man chose the occasion to leave a mark on the last test at Lords .Andrew Flintoff. Bowling consistently in excess of 150 Km/h he defied pain to script a famous win for England . One just wonders if Flintoff would have been fully fit for most part of his 77 tests and had pitched the ball up the way he did at Lords , how many more wickets he would have added to his kitty !.

The match appeared to go down to the wire after the Cardiff show. But any thoughts of that soon vaporized when Brad Haddin edged one outside off stump towards the second slip .Then onwards it was just delaying the swift conclusion.


It was the bowling that made the difference, eventually .Australia was always going to be a depleted bowling attack after Brett Lee’s loss due to injury .Mitchell Johnson went for pace and sprayed the ball around whereas Ben Hilfenhaus maintained a steady line and length just outside off stump and consistently troubled the English batsman with his swing was the only bright

Michael Clark must find a mention for the way he timed the bowl and was decisive off either foot . This was a top effort repeatedly penetrating the covers area for boundaries and he got able company in Brad Haddin who is trying his best to fill up the void of Adam Gilchrist .

Australian captain will be severely tested hence forth , not many times one finds the Australian team trailing in the series .
At 1-0 down, and after surrendering their 75-year sovereignty of Lord’s, Australia are in unfamiliar Ashes territory. In fact, the last time they trailed England so early in the series was in 1997. However they went on to win the next three Tests.
Having lost most stalwarts to retirement, he will have to make some tough decisions and the name which comes under scrutiny is Mitchell Johnson who has failed to carry the load of a strike bowler in Lee’s absence


What an advertisement for Test cricket these two matches have been. This after the T-20 fever threatens to suffocate test cricket. There is a big break before the third test and it remains to be seen how Ponting gets his combination right .Will Ponting the batsman again come to Ponting the captain’s rescue ? .At the moment the plate looks full for skipper Ponting .With Lee looking least to be risked against Northamptonshire, Stuart Clarke is the only realistic choice if Ponting takes the bold decision to leave out Mitchell Johnson .Whereas Shane Watson will be seen as a batting all rounder , which does not aid Australians to make a strong statement of intent towards taking 20 English wickets . If he decides to go with five specialist bowlers , who will be left out ?
Testing time ahead for Ricky Ponting !