I have been reminded of C L R James' question every time I read that Test Match Cricket needs to be protected and made attractive and so on.While a Test Match played over five days in the peak working hours especially in India does pose a problem, what really surprised me was Harsha Bhogle's distinction between those who follow Test cricket and those who watch it.Those who follow Test cricket are generally the universe from which will emerge those who will watch Test cricket.That universe may be small but is surely as big as the following of Golf or Tennis.Test Match cricket has been around for over a century and thirty years and has been adapting with the times.Mukul Kesavan recently wrote about the Test Match lovers being put on notice by the band of writers and commentators who are benefitting from IPL ant T20 formats.However,Test Matches have little or no competition to flourish as a minority sport but it is the Formats of cricket which require attention span ranging 4 to 8 hours that are at the peril of the TV driven popularity.
And the notice coming loud and clear from Poland and Ukraine and the TV watching kids is that India will soon be a football loving and following country.IPL and the ODIs will have to compete for the same eye balls.I would shudder what would happen to our mediocre cricket team if our foot ball team breaks into the top 50 or so. Leagues like IPL will not know what hit them when the I league starts attracting some of the leading players.Imagine Rooney or a Ronaldo, even five years from now plying their ware at Yuba Bharti Krirangan. would Eden Gardens be able to get a full house for IPL? A test match will still attract 10000 or so and that would be enough for the Test Match economy. Those who follow will follow it on the Smartphone or in the news and some will venture to the ground as well.
Things will change to the extent that a cricketer playing Test matches may be paid significantly less.May be none at all.May be Test Matches will make it a sport for Universty Cricketers who are gainfully employed in occupations ranging from Finance to Medicene and will take a few weeks off to play test Cricket.May be a three Day First Class structure with matches beginning only on Saturdays or Fridays will be needed.Those who fear for Tests need to be reminded that Test Cricket has survived two World wars, the decline and fall of the largest empire of all times and will survive the onslaught of limited overs cricket as well.
And the notice coming loud and clear from Poland and Ukraine and the TV watching kids is that India will soon be a football loving and following country.IPL and the ODIs will have to compete for the same eye balls.I would shudder what would happen to our mediocre cricket team if our foot ball team breaks into the top 50 or so. Leagues like IPL will not know what hit them when the I league starts attracting some of the leading players.Imagine Rooney or a Ronaldo, even five years from now plying their ware at Yuba Bharti Krirangan. would Eden Gardens be able to get a full house for IPL? A test match will still attract 10000 or so and that would be enough for the Test Match economy. Those who follow will follow it on the Smartphone or in the news and some will venture to the ground as well.
Things will change to the extent that a cricketer playing Test matches may be paid significantly less.May be none at all.May be Test Matches will make it a sport for Universty Cricketers who are gainfully employed in occupations ranging from Finance to Medicene and will take a few weeks off to play test Cricket.May be a three Day First Class structure with matches beginning only on Saturdays or Fridays will be needed.Those who fear for Tests need to be reminded that Test Cricket has survived two World wars, the decline and fall of the largest empire of all times and will survive the onslaught of limited overs cricket as well.
