The Survival of Test Cricket - A huge concern in the face of growing popularity of the shorter formats? - Part 1
Cricket, referred to as the "gentleman’s game" initiated internationally in the 18th Century. Today what we know as the Test format, is the original, oldest and the longest form of the game. Considered the most challenging, the five-day version
is said to test the abilities of the players and teams to the fullest.
In the globalised world, time has immense value. Much like other things, Cricket as a game has also evolved, and smaller, more exciting formats came to the fore. The One Day format (50 overs per side) and the Twenty20s (20 overs per side) are a product of
that evolution.
The birth of such formats marked the ever increasing popularity of the game, inducing a vast number of supporters and sponsors. The shorter formats of the game have sparked a new life and significantly turned it towards more commercial ends in an attempt
to redeem the sport from its long-held image and attract vital media and monetary support. T20 cricket alone having a value of around one billion dollars world-wide, the game stands tall amongst the richest industries in the genre of sport.
With great progress, came a great debate on the survival of the traditional Test format amidst the growth of the game's shortest version. For players of the game, the classic format will always be the most valuable, as it exposes the true capabilities of
an individual during the course of five days. However, the shorter formats garner more support from both fans and sponsors.
Most critics and former cricketers find the shorter versions counterproductive and believe that upcoming cricketers need to go through the rigours of the original format to build solid techniques, something which the shorter versions can not provide.
However, in modern times, even the 50-over format, let alone the 5-day game, struggles to excite the audience looking for quick thrills.
This trend has forced the authorities that govern cricket throughout the world to rethink their policies towards the original format in order to preserve the true essence of the game, alongside furthering commercial goals through the shorter formats.
Acknowledgement of the fact that Test cricket is losing its popularity, and with the clear divide of opinions between the stakeholders, the question over how to revive the oldest format arises.
Why is it that on one hand, in the recent Test game between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and the touring Englishmen has crowds gathered in huge numbers?
What is so different about the two games which is causing such disparity in attendance? Is it the teams, the venue, the media coverage or the timing of the matches?
Let us try and look at each aspect in turn. Starting from the teams, perhaps they do make an impact, as encounters between bigger and more prominent sides are more likely to attract better crowds, while less popular teams mostly play to empty stadiums. Stronger
teams often have popular players, who command good fan followings. When these stars come out to play, fans are expected to gather in numbers to support them.
Continued in Part 2...
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