These are Testing times for longest format of cricket
THE Ashes may have been saved this winter but there’s still a lot of work to do to ensure that the future of Test cricket doesn’t go up in smoke.
That’s the view of former Australia coach John Buchanan (right) who fears that unless something drastic is done, series like The Ashes might soon be a footnote in cricket history.
The Covid crisis threw this winter’s showdown against Australia into question and created the very real threat of a boycott by an England team unhappy at the strict conditions currently in place across much of Australia.
Any cancellation of that series would have plunged the longest format into an unprecedented crisis.
Although the tour is now set to go ahead, Buchanan – the Australia coach during the iconic 2005 series – is adamant that this should be an alarm call.
And that change is necessary to ensure that Test cricket survives.
Even if that results in Test series consisting of far fewer matches in future.
“I am big believer in less is more,” he said.
“There is simply too much cricket being played around the world now.
“Short-form versions of the
By game is the only way to satisfy the ever-increasing demands for world and domestic competition – both from a scheduling perspective and a commercial driver.
“That means longform cricket will have to change, whether that’s three-day, fourday or five-day Tests.
“Domestic competitions may no longer have time to schedule home and away fixtures.
“Test matches may reduce to series of one, two or three Tests depending on Test rating.
“An Ashes series would be in the top band of rating, and so it would be a two or three-test series.
“It would be the same for India versus Pakistan.
“Other lower rating series would be one Test only, with the occasional two-test series.”
Another Aussie coach, Tim Nielsen (above), who was in the Aussie corner during their 3-1 thashing by England in 2010-11, believes that a completed Ashes series is also critical for the future of a format dating back to 1877.
He said: “Even in 2010 when you guys came over, the build-up to every game was huge.
“Each Test was a massive occasion.
“You can’t put a price on that.”