Really we need to ask such uncertain questions about the longest format of the game which is also termed as the red-ball cricket. Why are we even dissecting the format when it is featuring like always. In the recent times, the test cricket has been through the phase nobody have ever expected which in result matches were ended with no outcomes or even the cases matches came to an end within three days of play or even the two days like the Ahmedabad Test match between hosts (India) and Visitors (England).
To agree with this opinion the former Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has said once, “I don’t think BCCI has marketed Test cricket as well as they have done with ODIs and T20s. I remember a Test match at Eden Gardens against West Indies [in 2011]. India was batting on the first day and there were 1000 people,” “Playing with red dukes in a Test is completely different from playing white-ball cricket,” said the two-time IPL winning captain.
Even the former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has believed,
Here we go - in 10yrs the only cricket Test playing nations will be, England, SA, India, Pakistan & Australia. The rest will all be white ball cricketers! Just remember this tweet!
Let us try to look at the teams who will be having a great time in test cricket in the next coming decades. The teams like India, Australia, New Zealand and England will be the top teams to play more test cricket in the coming years without a doubt. Surprisingly, the teams like Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan may even lose their test status if they remain at the bottom of test rankings with the kind of spirit they are playing in recent times.
Apart from these the associate nations like Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have shown some quality cricket in recent times which will be a reason if they will attain higher rankings from other test playing nations that will not be a surprise. But that takes a lot of effort from the players and their boards to invest in their players.
Try to take a look why test cricket is one of the purest form of cricket –
Here is another test match from famous Ashes series rivalry –
One of the best test matches in the last one decade –
The reason for test cricket remains at the top is the uncertainty and the genuine contest between ball and bowl to test the strength of the cricketer. In this overhyped T-20 era, where cricket is only played to make the players financially secure, test cricket survival is definitely a concern to think about. Empty stadiums are the clear signs is the another reason to decline the phase of test cricket.
These days broadcasters are looking to have more revenue from sponsors either it is test cricket or ODI cricket. Other than the revenue from the test match, the broadcasters have the eye over the big players in the match or some controversy between the players to attract the audience and people to watch it.
Also Read | Most 5 wicket hauls in test cricket
