Future of Cricket

Not a prediction, but just observations..

ICC have chalked up plans for 4 day test matches, day-night test matches, two tier test matches to "SAVE" the longest oldest and best form of cricket..

Players like Symonds will now be a part of Deccan Chargers alone and not be playing for his country while the likes of Gayle have made it clear that he likes T20 more than the boring Test matches, the poor crowd turn out for test matches also are having a say in the future of cricket..

Where are we heading?

Test cricket is suffering because the Windies,Bangladesh,New Zealand,Zimbabwe and Pakistan are either at their lowest ebb or weakened teams. The problem lies in politics(Pak,Zim),inexperience(Bangladesh)and more lucrative sport choices(Windies).. It would not be debated if I were to say that IND-PAK test matches have lost their fervor.. Two-tier system may be the answer to this.. But it would be such a sorry state to see Windies relegated to 2nd tier., now that puts the 2nd question in our minds.- What will be the motivation for these players then ? Will there be any crowd pulling after all India, Australia, South Africa are not going to play test cricket with them? Will the teams in tier-1 be willing to tour tier-2 nations for just 5ODIs and an odd T20Is ? Will this then reduce the standard of game that Windies play and if at all they come to the tier-1 will they be found wanting ? These are some serious questions to be answered..

4 day test matches may see more tame draws one feels.. But there is a challenge for the captains here, the lost art of captaincy may be brought back to the fore un-intentionally I must add.. Its the team with a pro-active captain that is going to win matches off 4 days.. The captain's role is going to be all the more important in deciding when the team must declare their innings, when to attack and when to defend.. In all probablity, we would be witnessing the likes of the Ranatungas, the Mark Taylors, Stephen Flemings, Steve Waughs, MSD, Ganguly, Nasser Hussains, Hansie Cronje.. These were the captains who had brought a world of change for their teams with their then innovative thinkings and bowling changes.. I guess we will all go back to this era which only augers well for the game..

The T20s and the IPL have shown that the teams are now more likely to be bowled out inside 20 overs than they are inside 50 says something profoundly rotten about the state of techniques, temperaments and concentration spans, something that augurs horribly ill for the future of Test cricket.. Well, the undiminished productivity of Gilchrist, Kumble and Matthew Hayden has shown that there is life - and a vibrant life  - after international retirement. As Richie Richardson recently remarked, what on earth was Dwayne Bravo doing playing in the IPL when he should have been helping West Indies avoid humiliation in England? Tony Cozier had said that Bravo was playing for the wrong "Indians" ... How long before board contracts are torn up in admission of an unwinnable battle? How long before the notion of the freelance cricketer takes hold?

The advantage T20 has is that since the duration is so short, it brings teams of lesser quality closer to the genuinely talented teams.. ODI needs reforms.. I would suggest playing with 12-13 players, 11 at any given time.. Its not the silly substitution that was followed where the captain gives in writing as to who would be substituted for whom.. This can be dynamic, say Harbhajan has bowled poorly for 5 overs call in Ojha to bowl for some overs.. You can always call Harbhajan back at any time.. Its not a one-time substitute.. A runs for a front foot no ball, 2 runs for the subsequent no-ball in the same over.. Have a eight run hit.. Do away with leg-byes.. Let the powerplays be more dynamic that it needn't be a block of 5 overs but can be split into 2+3 and to be chosen as and when desired.. Negative runs for getting out, a -2 ! -5 to the team if a player gets out on a duck; and all these negatives to hold good only till the target is achieved.. Not that you achieve the target and still are unsure of winning or losing as you could lose a wicket and get ducked by 2 runs..

Need for innovation in ODI.. Tests shall stay as long as the teams are competitive and the pitches are responsive.. Sporting pitches as they call is the need of the hour.. An English wicket should seam around, an Australian one bounce, and an Indian one to turn square.. That would really be the essence of "TEST"..