Five match Test series—The way to go forward
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We live in a world which is more inclined towards the shorter formats of cricket and these days, it has come down to T20s, which is probably the most popular format of the same. There is nothing wrong with T20s since the format provides wholesome entertainment and ensures that the spectators throng the stands.
While T20 and one-day matches will remain the more popular and entertaining formats, giving space to Test match cricket will do a world of good to the sport which is loved by all in our country.
Test matches put to test the true character of a player and at times, can be as exciting as any other format provided one enjoys a fair contest between bat and ball and understands the sport which is more like a game of chess.
Five match Test series will bring out the best in the players and also gives enough time to judge which team is better as it is played out over a prolonged period of time and demands consistency.
The England and Wales Cricket Board have agreed to host a five Test match series between India and England next year which brings an air of freshness into a format which is losing its importance as the governing body of the game, ICC is planning to reduce a Test series and cut it down to two Test matches per series which takes the essence out of playing a Test series.
England and India being one of the top Test playing nations will not only help to promote Test matches but will also ensure a tight contest between bat and ball as India have fared pretty well abroad barring the drubbing in England and Australia.
The increase in the number of Test matches will produce quality cricketers who can sustain themselves in the longer version of the game and thus help in improving the quality of cricket which is currently not at the highest level with most sides struggling to come to terms with the seaming conditions.
Gone are the days when a player like Rahul Dravid could hold one end up and play out the testing times only to gain fruitful results at the end of day's play.
Most of us do not go to a cricket field to see a lot of slogging but to see how a batsman sets himself up and constructs a good Test match innings which may mean giving the first hour to the bowler in trying conditions or leaving a few outside the off-stump. After all, leaving a cricket ball is also an art and sometimes regarded as a scoring shot in Test matches.
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