Test cricket fails popularity test

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There has been a debate on whether the GenY is passionate enough about the Test cricket or not, with even the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar reckoning that players cannot be forced into liking the longer format, there seems some real worry.

However, what exactly makes the “original cricket” lose the fan following among the budding cricketers and cricket lovers?
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra agrees with what the Little Master said, and adds that it’s not possible to make youth like the game, as love has to come from within. “Other formats of the game like T20 more appeal more to the youth for various reasons,” he says. “While we have to understand that even these formats are also cricket, but real catch lies in the glamour and money being poured into the game,” he says.
Aakash recommends that Test cricket should be made more attractive, by making it rewarding for the players in terms of money. “The onus also lies with BCCI as they must make a proper strategy to make Test cricket more popular with youngsters,” says former cricketer Mahinder Singh, adding, “Also, there is no dearth of talent, and seniors like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble should be involved in communicating to the young brigade.”
For cricket lover Aseem Sachdev, 22, who represents the fast-forward generation, long format is losing sheen, and now that he has “better” alternates. “Somehow, long format doesn’t click with me. Personally, I believe it’s do with the slow pace of the Test cricket, or may be the glam quotient associated with the IPL and T20,” he quips.