'Test cricket won't be around in time' - Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum has said that he doesn't think Test cricket will survive T20.

In an interview to the Cricket Monthly, the former New Zealand captain, who now plays in T20 leagues around the world, said: "I firmly believe that Test cricket won't be around in time, because there's only so many teams that can afford to play it."

McCullum said that he adored Test cricket and for him it was the purest form of the game, but added, "I'm also a realist that people are turning up and watching T20 not just at games but also on TV - society's changing, isn't it? People don't have four or five days to commit to Test cricket. They might watch the first session, and the last session on day five if it's tight, but they're not going to then you strip it back a level as well and you think domestically, how can teams around the world afford to even exist?"

'Test cricket won't be around in time' - McCullum - ESPNcricinfo


Kinda sad to see one of the greats in cricket talk like this

slippy888 said:

"you think domestically, how can teams around the world afford to even exist?"

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McCullum has a point. He has just seen one of the big three (Australia) cancel test matches because they can't afford it, So how are the others going to cope?

In the last year test specialists like Jeet Raval have played 4 test matches for New Zealand, and our next series is in October/November. Any sane person is asking questions about the future of the format at the moment.

Mike5181 said:

In the last year test specialists like Jeet Raval have played 4 test matches for New Zealand, and our next series is in October/November. Any sane person is asking questions about the future of the format at the moment.

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Yeah but to be fair Jeet Raval next test gig is in October, so he has time to off in between

It isn't like 4 tests a year, for him it is more like 4 tests in 18 months.

Borges said:

McCullum has a point. He has just seen one of the big three (Australia) cancel test matches because they can't afford it, So how are the others going to cope?

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Lbh, CA would cancel Test matches against Bangladesh if someone suggested that it could result in a hangnail. Would be taking their complaints about the cost with a grain of salt, particularly on the back of a huge TV rights deal.

Spark said:

Lbh, CA would cancel Test matches against Bangladesh if someone suggested that it could result in a hangnail. Would be taking their complaints about the cost with a grain of salt, particularly on the back of a huge TV rights deal.

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They've cancelled it because they probably don't want the networks to be on debut during the footy season

Well everything in the universe "won't be around in time" if you go far enough into the future, so he's technically right regardless

Golf, one of the oldest sports in the world have been around, and doesn't seem to be fading.

All that test cricket need is to remain the way it is.

Keep on chirping Kalamazoo

SillyCowCorner1 said:

Golf, one of the oldest sports in the world have been around, and doesn't seem to be fading.

All that test cricket need is to remain the way it is.

Keep on chirping Kalamazoo

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What if we took the world's best golfers and put them on a mini golf course bit with 20 holes. We could call it, uhhmm, errr, Golf Max

TheJediBrah said:

Well everything in the universe "won't be around in time" if you go far enough into the future, so he's technically right regardless

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Depressing thought. Depressing but made slightly more joyful in the knowledge that Australia won't be around either.

S.Kennedy said:

Depressing thought. Depressing but made slightly more joyful in the knowledge that Australia won't be around either.

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Yeh...

Everything goes full cycle. Plenty of people are turning away from music ********* in favour or vinyl, CD or ever cassette tape.

Maybe the hipsters will revive test cricket as a niche and a pure thing.

This is up there with when Fleming said NZ should focus on t20s as one of the darkest days of my life.

Guy's got his mind in the gutter.

Your career is over Brendan. Play your T20 and milk the cash cows around the world.

Leave test cricket out of the picture.

You are a mercenary now.

I am still waiting for the big revolt against Twenty20, a revolt which sticks Danny Morrison's head on a pike. Still waiting...

SillyCowCorner1 said:

Guy's got his mind in the gutter.

Your career is over Brendan. Play your T20 and milk the cash cows around the world.

Leave test cricket out of the picture.

You are a mercenary now.

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Dudes talking about the way things are going, not the way he believes thing should be.

Virtually every time I tune into the IPL this year, I look around the field, think "who are these **** kickers" and turn it off again

Test cricket produces the stars, T20 pays them and I don't see that changing anytime soon

social said:

Virtually every time I tune into the IPL this year, I look around the field, think "who are these **** kickers" and turn it off again

Test cricket produces the stars, T20 pays them and I don't see that changing anytime soon

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I'm not sure about this. I think the varying formats definitely create their own stars.

And while many have made the progression from test to t20, the reverse is also starting to happen now.

It's pretty clear Test cricket is struggling to be profitable in most countries and that in its current form it will probably fold eventually.
We just have to trust that the ICC is able to ensure it remains profitable for all.

Hahahahahahaha

I don't think it's up to the ICC to make Test Cricket profitable

Most cricket boards around the world are shambolically run. We already know they choose to hire former cricketers in administrative roles instead of actual competent administrators, and that a large chunk of the time spent by the leadership of these boards goes towards politics and squabbling in order to hold on to their positions of power. So already they aren't working as optimally as they can.

Furthermore we are well aware of the various money-wasting ventures these boards constantly undertake - failed tournaments, constructing/renovating grounds for a World Cup and then being unable to recoup the costs, constantly increasing how much they invest into grassroots and outreach programs (which have now become necessary to introduce kids to cricket because they can't just watch it on free TV anymore). Constant spending driven by short-term planning/greed, lacking any proper long-term vision.

On top of that, no doubt there is a degree of corruption in play too, in some boards more than others (*cough* Zimbabwe *cough*), and people finding ways to get exorbitant salaries that far outweigh the value they actually bring in.

You find me one Full-member Cricket Board that does not suffer from atleast one of the above problems, who then also cannot afford to host Test matches, and then maybe I'll believe that Test Cricket is no longer viable. But the truth is that Test Cricket is dying at the hands of those meant to protect it. People's eyes all lit up when they saw the Indian Cricket money, and back when the ICC would distribute all revenue equally, all these boards got too ambitious (greedy) and start raising up their costs on Indian Cricket money. Now they don't get that money anymore, and it's just dawning on them that they cannot cover their own costs.

And what's their solution? Admit they ****ed up and need to cut the fat from their organisations, get their **** together, and stop wasteful spending?

Nah. "Test Cricket is too expensive".

zzz