Martin Crowe prefers Tests and T20 over ODI
Martin Crowe, former skipper of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 has said that if the International Cricket Council (ICC) wants to secure the futures of cricket then it should focus on Test and T20 cricket. Test Cricket (the oldest and the longest version of cricket) and the T20 (the latest and the shortest version of game).
Talking about the experiments that ICC is doing with the One Day format on Cricket http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s suggestion, Crowe said that would make the ODI game confusing and defame the prestigious game. The former captain of Blackcaps suggested that rather than experimenting with ODI cricket, ICC should provide milieu to Test cricket by introducing a yearly knockout Test Championship while securing the worldwide fame of T20 cricket.
While talking to media reporters, 47-years old Martin Crowe showed his reservations about the future of all the three formats of modern day’s cricket. Crowe believes all three formats would not work. He said that playing with rules would do nothing but make the respectable game of cricket another fun park with many rides and attractions. Crowe further added that the introduction of rules like split innings would further dilute the market of the game creating confusion and chaos among the players as well as the fans of cricket.
"I don't believe three forms will work, I think it is confusing. I think new formats, tinkering with rules like silly split innings will only see the global game become another fun park with different rides and attractions. That will just dilute the market and create confusion and chaos”.
If the ICC wants to market the game in a better way it should consolidate the two formats, Test and T20. The same had happened in the seventies and eighties when the 50-overs Cricket was introduced. At that time as well, both Test cricket and the 50-overs cricket were taken together, both serving as a strong pillar for each other. With 50-overs cricket losing its fame due to the introduction of T20, Test cricket should be given a chance to establish itself as a strong pillar besides the fastest T20 format.
Earlier in September 2009, Martin Crowe - who is also a member of MCC’s World Cricket Committee, had revealed his plans to make Test cricket more attractive and competitive. The plans were also presented to the international Cricket Council before publicizing them. Crowe suggested an annual Test Championship consisting of 7 six-day knockout matches, with the top four Test teams hosting the bottom 4 teams in the quarterfinals as a part of FTP (Future Tour Program) that starts in 2011. The final of the game, as per Crowe’s proposal, would be played at the ‘home of cricket’ Lord’s.
Crowe said that the arenas where the seven games and the final of the championship would be played will become great focus for media, teams and the cricket fans throughout the year. The knockout championship would give all the team’s equal chances of winning the title and would also make Test matches more pertinent.
Shorter formats of cricket are dominating the landscape, sidelining the original and best form of cricket. At present all those championships that crown a champion belong to limited-overs cricket like World Cups, Champions Trophies, Champion Leagues, and IPL etc but the purest form of cricket does not have any such lucrative championship.
Crowe also favoured floodlit Test matches and the use of a pink ball to make the purest form of cricket more attractive and draw more audiences. He admired that the day-night Test cricket would not suit all the countries rather the conditions of some countries would not allow it but he was hopeful that at some places the idea would work remarkably well for the local market.
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