The reality of cricket
FOSTER’S FAIRPLAY has removed its blinkers which for all these years have obscured the reality of cricket. A lesson was learnt after watching the final of the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL).
It arrived on the heels of a breathtaking performance by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), bettering 178 for six by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, posting 181 for two. Virtually batting on one leg, hobbled by a hamstring restriction, it was a Man of the Match offering by Australian Shane Watson of 117 unbeaten that steered the CSK ship into safe harbour. This shortened version has taken the game by storm, and it seems that there is no stopping its advance to top the world in excitement and entertainment.
Former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Jeffrey Dujon made a statement a week ago. It spoke to “the rich history of Test cricket that will keep it alive.” Having been a part of this version of the game, albeit limited to being an avid fan, there was a struggle. That conflict has been blown away after the IPL final, now cast in concrete. But what was it that was delaying the conclusion that has now been reached?
The experience of listening to the West Indies 3-1 triumph in England in 1950 reigns supreme. Even at the tender age of eight, there was a clear realisation that the three Ws batting machine – Weekes, Worrell and Walcott – was cut from fine cloth. Without the speed demons who were to follow, it was the spin of Ramadhin and Valentine that mesmerised the English batsmen into a leaden-footed and highly ineffective response.
Garfield Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Lawrence Rowe, Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Brian Lara, along with Wes Hall, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and Colin Croft, with Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh to follow, kept the flag flying during a period when the West Indies enjoyed ascendancy or somewhere close.
These were the players who kept smiles on the faces of West Indies’ supporters as they charmed the world at large. They possessed the magic that engulfed not only their own but the rest of the world who salivated at a pending encounter with the virtual champions of the world. Contrary to what Dujon is now saying, a substantial portion of all that is no more.
The Ashes series with England and Australia continue to haul in huge crowds, and India is expected to follow in that vein, regardless of who is playing against them. Apart from that, one cannot see how “the rich history” on its own can ensure the survival of the game we have come to love as Test cricket.
If it were possible to roll back the years, it could be said that it was the International Cricket Conference (ICC) which left open the door through which sneaked this Twenty20 phenomenon. As old-time people used to say when they rued a situation gone sour, “Yuh see what yuh mek happen now?” As evidenced by the IPL final and what it put out for the world to witness, it is difficult to fathom a comeback for the longer format.
Maybe back then, Twenty20 cricket should have been accepted but given a different name that would not impinge on or threaten that which was firmly in place. That would have been Twenty20 vision, and with the present conversation, is that what is required?
Questions should be asked of the ICC. Now that this new thing has taken root, is it what you had in mind? Was your intention to rupture Test cricket and its full meaning – a true test of the best?
If the answer is in the negative, then it is in your province to fix it.
As evidenced by the IPL final and what it put out for the world to witness, it is difficult to fathom a comeback for the longer format.