What was the idea behind this book and how is it different from others on the history and development of Test cricket?
This idea was simple: a global, story history of test cricket. This book was not really present earlier: there were many great books about individual countries, players and chains, but it is not that in 148 years told the story of Test cricket. The book is about players, matches and politics that has shaped the game. I was blown out of the number of legends who agreed to chat and were very generous over their time.
In writing the book, I was under the leadership of the spirit of the story. So, what shaped the game really? For example, I zoom a lot on the most impressive characters and moments. For example, in an Indian context, it means that Tiger Pataudi gets much more coverage than some batsmen, who did more average, as Tiger was an important person in the story of Indian cricket.
You highlight the remarkable ability to customize and tolerate Test cricket. In your view, how important it is for the continuous relevance of the format that player growth path, rules change, and adopting modern equipment and technology develops in the changing nature of the game and step with its audience?
This is strange when people describe Test cricket as conservative games. The game has always developed as the book has been discovered. Since the first testing in 1877, matches have been determined for the last three, four, five days or six – or even ‘timeless’, which is played for a finish. Over four, five, six or eight balls. The match is played by day or day and night, played with a red ball or pink. The pitches have been covered and opened; The helmet has changed the game, as is the decision review system.
Now, we also have the World Test Championship, which can prove to be one of the most influential inventions of all – if it is given the best opportunity to flourish. But it allows teams like New Zealand and South Africa to reach the peak of Test cricket, which is fantastic.
For this book, you have interviewed mythological players like Sachin Tendulkar, Pat Cummins, Michael Holding, Michael Holding, Muthiah Muralidran, Kevin Peterson, Ian Chappell, Dell Stan and Rahul Dravid. Was there some unanimous perspectives or suggestions from these players on the development and future of Test cricket, especially in view of the rapid change of sports and the development of the more popular T20 Cricket League in many cricket playing nations, how to preserve the test format?
I had the biggest understanding of Test cricket by talking to all these legends – and how difficult it is to play cricket. He has a real understanding that his career is part of a very broad story. If it is transported to future generations, it gives a chance to continue Test cricket – as long as administrators give it better support.
You write in introduction that fear about the future of Test cricket is not wrong. How the emergence of small, more commercially attractive T20 tournament like IPL etc. has been affected.
As I show in the book, Test cricket has always felt in danger: people were worried about its future before the world war. But the emergence of T20 means that the need to provide more reference and fiction for tests is more than ever.
The World Testing Championship Test should be central for a plan to make cricket more vibrant. The number system is very misleading. I will advocate some simple tweex. While each team continues to play 6 series-3 houses and 3 away-each two-year cycle, they should play all the same game. The way to do this is to make each series 3 tests of 3 days of each series. Then you can have three points for a win, and a point for a draw – everyone can then understand the league table, and a great sense of fiction will develop.
I would like to watch more knockout test cricket. Perhaps the top team on the league table may go to the WTC final, in which teams were playing in the second and third place in the league table in the semi -finals. Or you may also have two semi-finals, and a festival of Test cricket may have a real meaning. More knockout can be the latest aspect of continuous development of testing format. Before someone asks, you can continue to play a series of five matches-but in a series only the first three tests will count to WTC.
Since BCCI has emerged as the world’s richest board, and in view of how IPL produces billions for the Indian Cricket Board every year, how do you affect the future of Test cricket beyond India beyond India? How can Test cricket be preferred in the dominated era of attractive T20 Cricket League?
Like India, Australia and England, attractive opponents are required to play against. This will draw more viewers to the field, and most importantly to watch more people on TV, to make broadcast rights more. A strong South Africa and New Zealand are also good for other countries.
To ensure that the test game is as strong as possible worldwide, revenue needs to be shared more equally. When the West Indies visit England or India, they do not get any money; Touring sides should receive 25% revenue. The distribution of cash of ICC should also be more similar.
And there should be clear windows – 3 or 4 a year says that 3 weeks – when there is no other cricket among full member nations other than tests. This will only be an amount of about 3 months in a year, but this will help nations to test with full force.
Some countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are playing less Test matches in the new World Test Championship cycle than in Australia, England or India. How to see such less fixtures for some countries affecting the global appeal of Test cricket. What steps can ICC and major boards take to overcome these concerns so that all test -playing nations can ensure a similar increase of testing cricket?
As mentioned above, I will see all the teams in the competition playing 18 Tests (which will be 4 days) every two years to WTC. This per side is a very decent part, helps to develop each country. With that minimum, then playing more for Australia, England and India will be perfectly fine.
Your book testing also touches the important role played by fast bowling in determining the results of matches. How has the changes and progress in training, technology, fitness and analytics shape rapid bowling development in the modern era? And how important is it to develop a strong and attractive domestic red ball structure to produce quality fast bowlers for Test cricket?
This is correct. My argument is that, in the whole history, fast bowling is the most important factor in winning the test match. I find out how fast the bowling has been central for the change of India as a Test Nation, which has also been able to remove the side from the house. Incredibly, Sachin Tendulkar won only one of his first 44 distance tests: India’s fast bowling was not enough to support his batting.
50 years ago, when Kapil Dev participated in India’s Under -19 coaching camp, he complained about only two dry flytches and a spoonful of vegetables for lunch, saying that it was no diet for a fast bowler. “There are no fast bowlers in India,” an officer of the camp told Kapil.
Now, there is a battery of fast bowlers in India who can thrive worldwide. MRF Paes Foundation launched in 1987: The first academy focused on fast bowling. Now, there is a series of private academies in the country, which often sponsors the best young talent. Indian Premier League teams have comprehensive scouting networks: domestic quicks are particularly in demand. Domestic pitch has also become very favorable for fast bowlers; Rahul Dravid told me that it was one of the most important changes in helping India get away from home. At all levels, there is a better idea in India how to nurture bowlers faster than ever.
How can Test cricket be made more attractive and attractive for players because many young players in many nations prefer small formats given more financial awards given by many T20 Cricket Leagues?
The concept of WTC final is fantastic. Being Lord Lord’s last week, you really realize what the match meant for both players and fans. Therefore, the path ahead should be clear windows in a year when there is no major cricket beyond the tests, so players do not have to choose between franchisees and Test cricket. Players usually want to play both. Now, administrators need to make it easier for players to earn more money in playing tests and franchise cricket.
Majid Maqbool is an independent journalist located in Kashmir.
