Can Test Matches Get Even Better?

[James]

Can Test Matches Get Even Better? | Cricket Web

Guest writer Tony Wadsworth has been pondering some ideas he has formed for Test matches about imposing a maximum number of overs to be received by both sides in their first innings. Here he puts these to the test, before outlining their beneficial implications for the spectating public.

To introduce Tony to those who don’t yet know him, he is a former Essex Young Amateur wicket-keeper and opening batsman who faced up to the likes of John Snow and Richard Jefferson in their respective Young Amateur sides.

Tony then went to Cambridge University, starting his cricket in 1962 when Tony Lewis was Captain and Mike Brearley was Secretary of the team. Tony played in the Freshmen’s Nets and two-day Trial Match, doing so alongside future Test all-rounder Richard Hutton, Ray White later of Gloucestershire and Transvaal, and Anthony Pearson later of Somerset.

Tony’s cricket career includes spells in England, Kenya and Argentina before settling in South Africa. He currently resides in Port Elizabeth and maintains close contact with other “cricket nuts” in that great sporting country.

 

[Coronis]

Interesting article.

Not sure that this is a solution - its essentially the beginnings of reducing tests into limited overs - and thus the end of test cricket altogether.

The big issue with tests has always been (from a casual fan’s perspective imo) draws, rather than one sided victories. In all sports there’s going to be domination by some teams, and in fact is an attraction for many. Test cricket itself is already currently at its most result oriented in history, and arguably the most entertaining - for fans of fast run scoring. I’m also doubting very much that the level of one sided victories/losses is any higher than historically.

I’m just not sure there’s that much more that can be done right now? It feels more of a sign of the times of shorter attention span and a fast paced world that the longer format might become more niche.

 

[ma1978]

I think we’ve seen more upsets in tests cricket recently than ever before

Windies in Aus
NZ in India
SL in England

 

[capt_Luffy]

Respectfully, why does it feel like something Baz might suggest??

 

[Starfighter]

If he started playing in 1962 he would have been around to see when County Cricket had such a rule, which afterwards was almost universally considered to be a disaster.