Bangladesh, Windies inject fresh life into Test cricket
NEWDELHI:“Test cricket is in danger.” “Test cricket needs more of Ashes and India vs Pakistan clashes to keep the format viable.” “Test cricket is ultimate.”
For the last 10 years, these statements regarding Test cricket have become common. The ICC are proposing a two-tier Test system, where the top five teams plays more often and grab more eyeballs and revenue. The bottom five play less frequently and are played as if they are out of sight, out of mind.
West Indies and Bangladesh are part of the ‘bottom five’ of Test cricket. They have been singled out for lack of competitive spirit which fails to give context to competitive Test series. In West Indies’s case, it is more disheartening considering the fact that they were the original superpowers of the game from the 70s to the 80s. When one looks at Bangladesh, for 16 years since their introduction to Tests in 2000, they have hardly caused ripples.
Yet, in the last two days, West Indies and Bangladesh have gone a long way to dispel the myth that Test cricket is in danger.
BANGLADESH’S RISE
On instinct, a Bangladesh win over Australia qualifies as an upset. However, is it really an upset? Yes and No. Yes, for the fact that prior to this match, Bangladesh had won only 9 out of 100 Tests. No, for two reasons. One, since October 2016, Bangladesh had defeated England and Sri Lanka, home and away. Those two wins had signalled Bangladesh’s coming of age. Second, Australia have shown time and time again that they collapse like a pack of cards on spinning tracks in the subcontinent.
In the backdrop of Australia’s struggles in the Asian subcontinent, this win should technically not be counted as an upset. In view of Bangladesh’s recent success, this win can only signal the arrival of Bangladesh on the bigger stage.
For Tests to gain popularity, the world would want Bangladesh to perform away consistently. Once they start winning away regularly, the dynamics will change. The win over Australia has shown they cannot be considered minnows anymore.
IMPROBABLE WINDIES
“Painful to watch.” “Worst Test match team.” “Very embarrassing.” These were the terms that described the West Indies team after their defeat in the Pink-Ball Test. These terms were painful to read for fans who knew the “Fire in Babylon” West Indies of the 70s and 80s.
However, in Leeds, the Windies displayed grit and passion. The improbable nature of West Indies’ win has once again created hope of a side putting away all their off-field squabbles and consistent decline to rest.
Fight and belief. These two factors defined the wins in Leeds and Dhaka. However, things could change. In the next game at Lord’s, West Indies could get thrashed. Australia could level the series in Chittagong and all the cynics could say that the status quo remains.
But the wins in Leeds and Dhaka have shown is that Test cricket will survive only if lessfancied teams like Bangladesh and West Indies perform consistently. For the moment, it can be said that Test cricket is in no danger. However, West Indies and Bangladesh will be hoping their success is not a flash in the pan.