The recently concluded Test in Barbados has set off some alarm bells regarding the state of Test cricket. The topical series in England has also provided a stark reminder that things need to change in the most challenging format of the game. All is well when the sun is shining and a fascinating encounter is unfolding session by session, just like an enthralling novel. However, when inclement weather is an unwelcome guest, patience is severely tested.
During the current series that has been illuminating our television screens, inactivity has been a common and frustrating thread whilst the weather gods pour scorn on the game. Spectators have voted with their feet and delayed attendance whilst those at home surf channels for something more entertaining. A flick or two of the remote and those who originally preferred a day of armchair cricket watching are smitten by some competing sporting activity elsewhere.
It seems to me that most other sports recognize there is an abundance of competition for eyeballs these days and many are doing their utmost to entertain as much as possible. I am not sure anyone can genuinely agree that Test cricket has the same interests at heart. T20 cricket has definitely adopted that strategy but the wiser and more distinguished older relative has remained stoic… even ancient.
The second Test in Barbados was abruptly concluded in a somewhat surprising manner. The umpires, who also surprised with a startling decision or two, deemed the light inadequate to carry on and unexpectedly drew stumps. This Test was hurtling towards a fascinating conclusion with eleven overs left and India needing only three wickets to wrap up the series, but that mattered not. In their wisdom those in black trousers who control the game in the middle astonishingly decided that after almost five days of protracted action it was too dangerous to carry on. Surely for starters a word or two to Dhoni prior to the final act would have resulted in the ‘tweakers’ being employed to instantly remove the danger factor. To add further insult to injury, minutes later in a completely farcical scenario, the post match presentation podium was bathed in sunlight.
Throughout the Test we were subjected to time robbing frustrations due to the archaic nature of this beast. Test cricket has not evolved with the times and laws that were introduced in a different era still stand. How ridiculous that the scheduling of lunch cannot be moved nor the duration altered. It should in fact not only be altered to allow more play when the sun shines, it should be forfeited completely when appropriate. The same applies to the tea interval. The umpires also need to be universally far more proactive in their endeavour to get play underway, and they must be unconcerned about any lagging moisture on the surface area that will not directly affect performance. Damp or wet outfields need to be considered a part of the game unless they pose a very serious risk of injury. This is the case at night in the shorter formats when dew soddens the playing surface.
One of the more exasperating aspects of Test cricket is the limitation on overs per day caper. Why on earth, when players have been sitting on their backsides for a majority of the Test or the day’s play, can they not do overtime? If half the day is rained out, why can’t they get on the park and play until sunset if the sungods are beaming, and complete the scheduled ninety overs? That is surely only common sense and whilst it may affect strategy, it importantly, in modern times, feeds the appetite of entertainment.
Kensington Oval in Barbados also possesses floodlights. Whilst a decision is taken at the commencement of the series regarding the use of lights I feel that flexibility needs to be employed. Surely if a ground has lights they should be used.
I have no doubt that during the tense battle in Bridgetown Barbados things could have and should have been different. Scrutiny of a couple of my suggestions alone would have bought an extra session at least and that subsequently would have resulted in a satisfactory finality. Instead we were all left feeling irritated and unfulfilled.
Tense conclusions like we witnessed in the dying hours of the second Test are rarities in themselves. The playing conditions definitely deserve greater attention to satisfy.
Test cricket needs to modernise.
We were robbed.
SEO Manik 