The decline of Test Cricket

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.

South Africa's inability to play spin was completely exposed in India

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.

#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.

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.