Test Cricket-Cricket’s bread and butter, the traditional
format of the game is unfortunately going through a process of slow death. Even
though there are ten nations playing Test Cricket, it seems that only four to
five teams are playing enough Test Cricket and taking it seriously while the
rest of the lot are either not playing enough of it or are just not technically
capable of playing the game at the highest level. While many experts may blame
the rise of T20 cricket or the fact that Test Cricket is not played at the
night time as the reasons of its decline, however the root causes of decline of
Test Cricket are quite different if you unfold the results of Test Matches that
are being played in recent times. Two of the major causes of decline of Test
Cricket are:
#1: Inability to
play abroad
The term ‘Home sweet home’ is far more applicable to teams
playing Test Cricket these days. There have been many instances in past six to
seven years where a touring team, even stronger teams like England, Australia,
India have been mercilessly whitewashed by the home team. Losing is not a
problem but the way the teams have lost the matches is a matter of concern.
In
recent times, South Africa’s mere surrender to India in India, India’s 4-0
losses to England and Australia away from home and Australia’s cluelessness
against India in India in 2013 have been some of the glaring examples where visiting
team’s inability to play in alien conditions has been completely exposed and in
the process has killed the contest itself. There is nothing more enjoyable than
the absorbing days of Test Cricket where two teams fiercely compete against each
other and state of the match swings like a pendulum over the course of the five
match days. But due to the increasing inability of players to play away from
home has made the quality of Test Cricket poorer and in the process has led to
its gradual decline.
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| South Africa's inability to play spin was completely exposed in India |
#2: Widening of
rift between upper-ranked and lower-ranked Teams
When Windies toured down under for a 3-match Test series in
2015-16, the result 2-0 loss of West Indies was not at all annoying for a Windies
fan or a cricket fan in general, but what was annoying was the massive rift
that was clearly evident between the performances of two sides. Performance of
West Indies in all the departments was so sub-par that it didn’t feel that
there was any contest going on and no wonder the matches were boring, one-sided
that hardly brought any attention of the fans. Similarly the just concluded
Test series between England and Sri Lanka too was a lop-sided affair that once
again highlighted that lower-ranked teams are just not technically capable
enough to compete better teams that is ultimately affecting the future of Test
Cricket.
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| WI Vs Aus Test Series was a no contest whatsoever |
Thus, the technical and temperamental inability of players to
apply themselves in tough conditions and situations is responsible for the
decline of Test Cricket.
