Test cricket must find context in changing world

Faf du Plessis says Test cricket remains the primary form of the sport for the players. Which is nice, but is it the same for fans? Asks Stuart Hess.

A World Test Championship? Two tiers for Test cricket? Those in favour of both - and judging by reports out of the ICC’s executive meeting in Dubai recently, it appears at least six of the 10 Test playing nations were - claim it provides the best context and would engender the most excitement from fans.

Based on recent comments from Faf du Plessis, Test cricket remains the primary form of the sport for the players. Which is nice, but is it the same for fans?

That’s the ICC’s big worry and hence the need to provide what the administrators call “context,” for the longest format.

You see, no longer is history sufficient context. South Africa winning in Australia for the first time ever in 2008/09 was great, but outside of the historical significance, what did it mean?

Actually, that’s not a good example; rather South Africa drawing in Bangladesh last year after seven out of 10 playing days were washed out - what did that mean?

Test cricket’s problem is that the world has changed and Test cricket - and especially the context for the outcome of matches - has not. Football’s international fixtures - mostly qualifying games for multi-team tournaments - have context. Rugby has created events like the Rugby Championship and the Six Nations.

The Sevens events crown a champion at the end of each calendar year.

There is a Sevens World Cup and now, most marvellously of all, the chance to qualify for the Olympics.

If South Africa beats Australia in the five match One-Day International series next month, what will that mean?

Both teams should qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, both have already qualified for the next Champions Trophy, so what if they lose next month, a bit of pride dented, but it’s largely meaningless, only the World Cup matters in 50-over cricket.

The fact that so many countries are so intransigent about pulling cricket into the 21st century is mind-boggling.

You simply can’t just look at cricket in isolation any more. It exists in a world where football - already the planet’s biggest sport - is looking to expand; rugby is attempting to draw attention and has, through its successful debut at the summer Olympics while a sport like, basketball, through the NBA, is establishing a foothold in Africa.

And then you have greedy, self-centred cricket administrators, who’d prefer the sport remain the preserve of just 10 countries.

For now there appears to be support for a single division of Test cricket - involving all 10 current Test playing nations with a proposal for a single World Test championship match.

Apparently that is sufficient “context.” That is enough to satisfy fans. That should be enough to placate the players. Is it?

The Star