(IPL Credit)
Former India coach Ravi Shastri addressed the sustainability of Test cricket during an MCC symposium, highlighting its struggle to expand beyond traditional strongholds like India, England, and Australia. He emphasized the importance of maintaining competitiveness in Test cricket and suggested limiting participation to six or seven stronger teams, from the current twelve, to ensure its vitality.
Six Or Seven Teams, Start Promotion Or Relegation Systen: Ravi Shastri On Future Of Test Cricket
“When you don’t have quality, that is when the ratings drop, there are fewer people in the crowd, its meaningless cricket, which is the last thing sport wants,” Shastri said at World Cricket Connects, an event at Lord’s hosted by the MCC.
“You have 12 test match teams. Bring it down to six or seven and have a promotion and relegation system. You can have two tiers but let the top six keep playing to sustain the interest in Test cricket. You can spread the game in other formats, like T20,” added the former India coach.
Justin Langer, the former Australian cricketer and coach, expressed his appreciation for the evolution of modern T20 cricket while stressing the importance of preserving Test cricket for its profound impact on young players. Langer cited the example of Shamar Joseph’s pivotal performance in Brisbane, which ended the West Indies’ long losing streak in Australia. Notably, Langer later coached Joseph in the IPL 2024 with the Lucknow Super Giants.
“It had Australia enthralled and it brought the Caribbean to life. Last week we saw a million people turn up to see India celebrated for winning the World Cup. That is bilateral cricket and international cricket,” Langer said.
Mark Nicholas, the MCC President, emphasized the necessity of carefully considering and implementing suggestions to sustain Test cricket, highlighting the critical need for revenue to keep the format relevant and thriving.
“T20 cricket is the behemoth that everybody wants. It is where the new market is, where the fans are and where the money is. In cricket, money is seen as a dirty word but it shouldn’t be because it is the only way to sustain the game,” Nicholas said.
Following a whirlwind of ODI and T20 World Cups within six months, Test cricket returns as England prepares to host the West Indies in a three-match series. The series opener commences at Lord’s on July 10 and marks the farewell Test match for James Anderson, a stalwart of the format.
England enters the series at the bottom of the WTC 2023-25 points table after a 4-1 defeat to India away, contrasting with West Indies’ victory over Australia at the Gabba, placing them sixth in the standings.
