A 5 day live thriller movie - Test Matches
Cricket had its origin with a Test match in 1844 between USA and Canada. Compared with other two formats - ODI (since 1971) and T20 (since 2005), test format has its indispensable 175 years of history and contribution to cricket. Heated debates prevail over silent cornering of this important format by T20 (even ODIs face that now). Test format have long been accused since last decade of being boredom, contracting lesser audience and among all, no glamour in its essence anymore (comment of a common fan!). Is test format losing its shine really ? I dont think so !! It has been beautifully sculpted in last two to three years by players across globe. It has started breaking all the accusations. A reflection of it was ICC's plans for Test championship (A World cup in Test Matches). I believe more than to save the format, it is to acknowledge its evolution to Cricket. It has developed all in-built features and ready to compete with T20. I am here to bring out some features that added value to this format and saving it.
The analysis has to start on a flat track as tests were long accused of being a batsman's game forcing repeated draws and frustrating every 5-day audience. In a flat track, a Spinner starts hitting the rough patch created by foot marks of bowlers themselves around outside off-stump on good length. The patch offers a sharp grip-off, combined with sharp turn, it can become a deadly weapon bringing in bowler into the game on a flat track. Think about this plan's threat level on fifth day!! Panesar and Swaan's role in England's 2013 Test series victory in Indian soil had this strategy play a vital role. Lyon too has been opting this recently especially in tropical pitches. Wish our Indian Spinning Duo - Ashwin and Jadeja found such alternative plans to sustain overseas pitches. Not to miss out the top 2 bowlers of the world - Shakib and Ashwin - reading batsman's movements and getting wickets on a flat track. No doubt they crown in top positions!!
Fielding department has seen meaningful change in tests. Two very close fielders placed around short mid-on along with the fast bowler bowling along legside angle to ignite the position has kindled the conventional fielding models. Reaps are significant atleast to make batsman change his shot and ruin his mental stability. Another interesting fielding position is where a fielder in-between Mid-on and Long-on position. Kohli has been highly advocating this position recently with one of his favourite field man Jadeja !! Mind you, it can both make batsman either go through or check his shot creating a mental dilemma. The position has extracted some quick wickets when batting team tries to accelerate or removing off a set-batsman trying to go over in-field out of confidence after spending sufficient time in crease.
Batting, which has undergone massive change, has a lot to offer to a modern day test match. See the plan of run-rates with which top test teams approach a match. They stabilize during start of the innings, accelerate with careful fire power by modern day greats (Warner is an expert here) to atleast 4 runs per over at the end to put a considerable total in a decent time span of that match. Thanks to T20 !! India and Australia have been repeatedly advocating this method especially in first innings !! Contribution from tail enders has been huge now-a-days. An additional 100 odd runs can make a huge swing of result between two sides. Intent of tail enders have changed towards creating important batting contribution too for the fight of their team towards victory. Jayant yadav's maiden century or Herath/Lyon playing a long innings or Ishant defending for a draw/victory will grow and grow for good of the game.
Whats with Captaincy and coaching towards modern tests ? The approach and analysis of a match has completely shifted from holistic to decentralised session-based ones. Focus shifting, change in plans and approach all happens between sessions. Dominate maximum number of sessions, goes the mantra !! You can clearly see lower rung teams like Bangladesh lose their consistency to sustain maximum number of sessions successfully. Coaches aggressively advocate session-based approach even if captain deviates. But the most striking feature I love seeing happening in tests is the follow-on not being enforced by captains. Started by Clarke if I am right, has been followed religiously by likes of Kohli, Smith, Williamson now. They play out their second innings almost like an ODI for quick building up of lead towards 400 or 500. Logic is simple with dominant side trying to put the side face fifth day worn pitch in chasing huge target.
As with other two formats, technology has played its part here too in changing the spice of test match tasted by each fan. Review system supported by Hotspot and Hawk eye has increased both the accuracy and enthusiasm of the game. Recent request to enhance technological character of the game has been zing bails to ensure accuracy in adjudging run-outs. Of all, each player analyses (Big data is here too!) his own game as well as the opponent he will face (Starc about Kohli and Ashwin about Smith). Analytics on pitch history and check boxes needed for victory has made test matches reach new heights in quality competitiveness.
As a fan, we love watching men in white playing only if they come out with a definite result atleast after five full days of play. Disappointment eludes in us if we see no side tasting success after five days of hard fight. That gut feeling is immeasurable. Thanks to above features, disappointments of both players and viewers have been diluted !! Yes, almost every test match produce result in recent times. Test format is here to stay as it has started seeing some healthy evolution. I am confident it will change itself whenever needed and no format can replace or erase it forever !!
The analysis has to start on a flat track as tests were long accused of being a batsman's game forcing repeated draws and frustrating every 5-day audience. In a flat track, a Spinner starts hitting the rough patch created by foot marks of bowlers themselves around outside off-stump on good length. The patch offers a sharp grip-off, combined with sharp turn, it can become a deadly weapon bringing in bowler into the game on a flat track. Think about this plan's threat level on fifth day!! Panesar and Swaan's role in England's 2013 Test series victory in Indian soil had this strategy play a vital role. Lyon too has been opting this recently especially in tropical pitches. Wish our Indian Spinning Duo - Ashwin and Jadeja found such alternative plans to sustain overseas pitches. Not to miss out the top 2 bowlers of the world - Shakib and Ashwin - reading batsman's movements and getting wickets on a flat track. No doubt they crown in top positions!!
Fielding department has seen meaningful change in tests. Two very close fielders placed around short mid-on along with the fast bowler bowling along legside angle to ignite the position has kindled the conventional fielding models. Reaps are significant atleast to make batsman change his shot and ruin his mental stability. Another interesting fielding position is where a fielder in-between Mid-on and Long-on position. Kohli has been highly advocating this position recently with one of his favourite field man Jadeja !! Mind you, it can both make batsman either go through or check his shot creating a mental dilemma. The position has extracted some quick wickets when batting team tries to accelerate or removing off a set-batsman trying to go over in-field out of confidence after spending sufficient time in crease.
Batting, which has undergone massive change, has a lot to offer to a modern day test match. See the plan of run-rates with which top test teams approach a match. They stabilize during start of the innings, accelerate with careful fire power by modern day greats (Warner is an expert here) to atleast 4 runs per over at the end to put a considerable total in a decent time span of that match. Thanks to T20 !! India and Australia have been repeatedly advocating this method especially in first innings !! Contribution from tail enders has been huge now-a-days. An additional 100 odd runs can make a huge swing of result between two sides. Intent of tail enders have changed towards creating important batting contribution too for the fight of their team towards victory. Jayant yadav's maiden century or Herath/Lyon playing a long innings or Ishant defending for a draw/victory will grow and grow for good of the game.
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| So u thot I would Enforce it, No way !!! |
As with other two formats, technology has played its part here too in changing the spice of test match tasted by each fan. Review system supported by Hotspot and Hawk eye has increased both the accuracy and enthusiasm of the game. Recent request to enhance technological character of the game has been zing bails to ensure accuracy in adjudging run-outs. Of all, each player analyses (Big data is here too!) his own game as well as the opponent he will face (Starc about Kohli and Ashwin about Smith). Analytics on pitch history and check boxes needed for victory has made test matches reach new heights in quality competitiveness.
As a fan, we love watching men in white playing only if they come out with a definite result atleast after five full days of play. Disappointment eludes in us if we see no side tasting success after five days of hard fight. That gut feeling is immeasurable. Thanks to above features, disappointments of both players and viewers have been diluted !! Yes, almost every test match produce result in recent times. Test format is here to stay as it has started seeing some healthy evolution. I am confident it will change itself whenever needed and no format can replace or erase it forever !!
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