Test Cricket... dying a slow death?

medicnick83

medicnick83

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I heard a chat on the radio this morning, not sure what radio station (all I know is that it is NOT 5fm) and the people were talking about the latest test match that was a draw.

Apparently it happens more than it should at the Lords cricket ground (matches are drawn)

The conversation when onto the fact that test matches are long and boring and when drawn are just not at all worth it.

I'm a total cricket nut, I love it, but I can't stand test cricket, why players must play for 5 days is beyond me.

In those 5 days, they can play 2 games of 50 over games and it'll be more exciting and pull in more money etc.

So... what do you guys think?
 
gdi i feel the same way man

i love cricket but i dont watch test match cricket ever

the only time i might is if the aussies are batting because they play 5 day cricket like one day, the rest of the world play for draws while the aussies play for the win

test match must die, rather have 5 pro 20 games :)
 
I like cricket.. just not over many days. Ill watch a couple of overs in a 5 day, but it does not have the excitement like 20/20 does :P

In the past, games used to be 5 days long. I think a three day single innings game is more than enough.
 
I enjoyed this test enormously - we got ourselves into a huge hole and it was a tremendous fightback to get out of it.

I also like 50 over and 20 over cricket - but there are different aspects of those games that I enjoy. It's like athletics - there are different challenges in a 100m, 1500m and marathon.

Test cricket is a state of mind.
 
I love test cricket because there you can see what a batsmen/bowler is really made of...

Less Luck and more skill.

But I do think there is room for improvement in Test cricket.
 
chiskop said:
I enjoyed this test enormously - we got ourselves into a huge hole and it was a tremendous fightback to get out of it.

I also like 50 over and 20 over cricket - but there are different aspects of those games that I enjoy. It's like athletics - there are different challenges in a 100m, 1500m and marathon.

Test cricket is a state of mind.
Click to expand...

But we drew bru... we didn't win... we didn't lose... we drew!

I won't say 'how lame' or 'how pathetic'

I will say; what a waste of 5 days!

Why didn't they just play 2x 20/20 games and if we won 1 and lost one (it's a draw) but it would've been way more fun!
 
Same sentiments, i love the game but cant put myself through watching a test - unless itsd SA creaming the pants off the competition, im not particularly interested. Games that drag on and on where bowlers each have about 30 or more overs and cannot get the batsman out. Its tiring just for us sitting watching it.

More 20 - 20 and 1 days!
 
gdiza said:
But we drew bru... we didn't win... we didn't lose... we drew!

I won't say 'how lame' or 'how pathetic'

I will say; what a waste of 5 days!

Why didn't they just play 2x 20/20 games and if we won 1 and lost one (it's a draw) but it would've been way more fun!
Click to expand...

Can u play chess?
 
gdiza said:
But we drew bru... we didn't win... we didn't lose... we drew!

I won't say 'how lame' or 'how pathetic'

I will say; what a waste of 5 days!

Why didn't they just play 2x 20/20 games and if we won 1 and lost one (it's a draw) but it would've been way more fun!
Click to expand...

Lol, but we had to fight for the draw :)

Thats what made it awesome.
 
It only took how many days to fight? :)

I don't see them putting this match on a DVD for us to watch! haha, not like the 438.

:D

My main issue is that it takes too long... 5 freaking days!
 
gdiza said:
It only took how many days to fight? :)

I don't see them putting this match on a DVD for us to watch! haha, not like the 438.

:D

My main issue is that it takes too long... 5 freaking days!
Click to expand...

Prince, Mac Smith, Amla, KP and Bell will have their names up on the board in the long room, so not a complete waste.:)

And we did get to see a few shots of Mac's wifey.:cool:
 
gdiza said:
My main issue is that it takes too long... 5 freaking days!
Click to expand...

question is why are they doing it? Is it for themselves or for the public? Test cricket has been around for ages, teams a long time ago werent nearly as good as todays teams, therefor the 'tests' werent as long and drawn out and sometimes as evenly matched.
Todays society is speeding up, work, play, sport, everything is getting faster. Rugby rules have changed to speed up the game, cricket has too to an extent with the 20-20 games, but the tests are just becoming a problem.
Most people cant even watch a whole game if they tried.
If they are doing it for themselves then i guess we cant really complain..
 
When the pitch is so flat where bowlers have no chance then its boring.

But 99% of odi's and 20/20 games are boring. That IPL was soulless
 
You have respect test matches, it helps the players "find themselves"
Theres alot of pressure in ODIs and more in 20/20s.
Tests help players find their natural game. The they can improve from there.
 
Surv0 said:
question is why are they doing it? Is it for themselves or for the public? Test cricket has been around for ages, teams a long time ago werent nearly as good as todays teams, therefor the 'tests' werent as long and drawn out and sometimes as evenly matched.
Todays society is speeding up, work, play, sport, everything is getting faster. Rugby rules have changed to speed up the game, cricket has too to an extent with the 20-20 games, but the tests are just becoming a problem.
Most people cant even watch a whole game if they tried.
If they are doing it for themselves then i guess we cant really complain..
Click to expand...

Yes the game is changing.

Aus is batting at an avrg of around 4 runs/over in most tests.

I think test cricket will become more aggresive from a batsmens point of view.
 
There is so much more to TEST cricket than ODI/20-20 cricket.

I can, and do most of the time, watch every ball bowled and don't remember ever being bored watching a test. Maybe once or twice against Bangladesh.

A test match is supposed to be a test of skill, a test of will, a test of strategy, a test of determination, a test of endurance, a test of ability and talent, a test of temperament, team work and individualism. It is the ultimate form of cricket.
 
I agree with Wonderbob, test cricket is the ultimate test of a cricketers talent, stamina, powers of concentration and endurance etc etc... and possibly a spectators too!!!

It's difficult to understand the allure of test cricket unless you're a purist well versed on all the intricacies of the game and tactically it is a very intricate game. I've always maintained that to make the test more appealing to the masses games should be played under lights, starting around 2ish and ending 10pm, so that the working class can go and watch the game after work....

You talk about draws in test cricket, there been many matches where the winning run's been scored off the last over, imagine that, 5 days later and the winning runs are scored off the last couple of balls???!!, there been many matches where a team has batted out the last day to earn a draw and been 9 down at the close of play, riveting stuff!!! What about test matches won inside of 3 days, such is the brilliance and dominance of the winning team?!!

The ashes series of 2005 where England beat Australia was probably some of the greatest cricket ever seen/played...

So yes 5 days is an awful longtime to sit and watch a game unfold but sometimes it can very worth it and if you know what you watching it's seldom boring...
 
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