Big rivalries needed for Test cricket’s survival: Tendulkar
Batting maestro feels the longer format needs strong, longlasting competitions
NEWDELHI: Test cricket, from the 70s till the start of the 21st century, was defined by two factors. One was dominance by teams like the West Indies and Australia. The second was engaging rivalries between individuals. These individual rivalries made Test cricket more engaging. There was the Imran Khan-Sunil Gavaskar tussle which gave added spice to the India-Pakistan rivalry. There was the Jeff ThomsonViv Richards rivalry that made the battle between bat and ball a magnificent spectacle. Later on, there were rivalries between Brian Lara and Glenn McGrath and between Curtly Ambrose and Steve Waugh. In the mid-70s and 80s, every team struggled to beat West Indies in any part of the globe. In the mid 90s till the start of the new millennium, Australia conquered every nation and set a new blue-print for dominance. In the modern era, Test cricket has undergone a sea change. There have been talks in the last couple of years to make Test cricket more exciting. There is talk about Test cricket’s survival amidst flourishing Twenty20 leagues around the world. The introduction of the Pink Ball Test was added to get more viewers in stadiums. On Saturday, India’s batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar has shared his outlook on the current scenario. Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Tendulkar said: “Test cricket is not dying. People’s mindset has changed. It’s about the big rivalries. There was a time when everyone wanted to beat West Indies. Later, it was Australia. They had nine world class players and two terrific players. If three-four of their players clicked and did the job, they would win.”
Tendulkar lamented that at present, there were no such big rivalries and this was hurting world cricket.
In an international match, the crowd gets engaged if there is a brilliant innings, a magnificent bowling spell or a defining individual moment. Tendulkar pointed out one instance in the 2015 World Cup that got crowds buzzing with excitement.
“To engage the crowd, there must be an even contest between bat and ball. The Wahab Riaz spell against Shane Watson in Adelaide left an impression in my heart,” he said.
In that quarterfinal encounter, Riaz bowled a hostile spell and troubled Watson with bouncers. This contest was one of the most memorable encounters in the 2015 World Cup as Australia scraped through by six wickets.
He also mentioned a brilliant innings by Gavaskar during the fifth and final Test against Pakistan in 1987. “Gavaskar’s 96 was a great knock because he scored the runs on a difficult surface. It was about skills like footwork. This is what makes an innings special,” Tendulkar stated.
However, Gavaskar’s knock went in vain as India lost the match by 16 runs and the series 0-1.
Tendulkar’s suggestions, in the backdrop of changes in Test cricket, could make the ICC and BCCI sit up and take notice.
ON BACKTOBACK SERIES Two years ago, we played in England. They have lost a couple of players (since then). A couple of our players has changed. A fair contest will be to play backtoback. ON LODHA PANEL I got a lot of support from the BCCI and Mumbai association. The way they have managed things has helped us get where we are. (But) we need to make changes . ON KOHLI’S TEST TEAM They remind me of what we did from 2000 to 2010. It will always be the best, soon rest of the world will also rate them the best. It is a very balanced side. ON ADVISING SEHWAG Once he (Sehwag) blocked and got out. He was upset when he got to the dressing room. I should have blocked, he said. But by then I know, whatever I said, he will think the opposite. So I told him ‘you should have hit over cover for six’. Immediately, he said ‘I should have left it alone.’ And that is what I wanted! ON WI & AUSTRALIAN SIDES West Indies in the 1980s and 1990s was a magical side. Then came Australia. They played incredible cricket. Even if four or five guys click, they would win the game. ON ATTACKING MCGRATH That was done strategically. Sourav and I were walking out to bat. After the first over I told him if I played like this McGrath would finish with 8564.