Test Cricket Becoming Destroyed by Greed

There have been few series as eagerly anticipated as the current one pitting England against South Africa. Domestically, the twenty/20 is down to its last few participants, and the Kiwis returned home having taken the one-day spoils once again.

I’m sure that to those now being raised on a diet of the shortened fare the three singles off the first six overs on Thursday might have appeared slow, yet to the aficionado this was Test cricket at its nerve-tingling best. The world’s best pace attack against a batting lineup short of confidence on a first day at a damp and dreary Lord’s.

I can enjoy one day cricket, but it lacks the prolonged drama, the ultimate testing of ability and the history and tradition of the longer format. I sense, though, that there is a struggle for the sport’s soul and, worryingly, it is being fought by commercial concerns rather than by fans and clubs, and this means the abridged form is in the ascendancy.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting argued last week that Test cricket isn’t in a healthy state and he was backed by Haroon Lorgat, the new ICC chief executive, who raised concerns over the future of international cricket given the growing financial attraction of the Indian Premier League.

Sri Lanka is now to replace Zimbabwe and visit England as the hors d’oeuvre for the Ashes series next summer.

The Sri Lankan Board are in financial difficulties and were glad to step in. However, in their haste to agree to the tour they hadn’t factored in their star players who could be earning a lot more money playing in the IPL.

13 cricketers from Sri Lanka took part in the Indian jamboree, including captain Mahela Jayawardene, vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, and star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan. Following the intervention of the country’s president, the board has granted the IPL priority over national Test commitments.

The ICC emphasised again last week that Test nations had unanimously agreed international cricket must take priority over club tournaments such as the IPL.

“If we don’t manage this situation we could be threatening the lifeblood of all member countries,” Lorgat said. “International cricket generates revenue that is essential to our survival”.

These funds go to the board, which in turn fund domestic and lower-level cricket, yet they can’t compete with the huge monies offered to individual players that benefit them alone.

Sri Lankan absences would surely raise the issue of English cricketers competing in the IPL.

A tournament that is set to run between April 10 and May 29, 2009 conflicts with the start of the English domestic season. Yet before the English cry foul, the reason internationals are played in May is because the English Cricket Board has a deal with Sky TV to play seven Tests and two series of one-day international competitions.

Something has to give, yet it has always been the one-day game which has been considered less important and offered the opportunities for players to take some rest.

Not any more.

The Indians begin a tour of Sri Lanka on Friday, having just played them in the final of the Asia Cup, another one-day competition. Indian wicket-keeper Mehendra Dhoni has requested a break from the tour citing fatigue.

“The board has done a good thing by saying that if someone needs rest, he can opt out”, said the one-day captain.

India’s coach Gary Kirsten has also expressed concern about packed schedules and how important it was for key players like Dhoni to take a break. I doubt if he expected him to miss a vital Test series though.

Kirsten will also be without Yuvraj Singh, who was not even selected on the grounds that he needs a rest and wouldn’t make the preferred team. A middle order including the creaking bones of Laxman, Dravid, Tendulkar, and Ganguly is surely in need of some insurance.

As the English authorities plot their reaction to the IPL’s dominance—again, it seems, at the expense of the greater good of county cricket—it is becoming evident that wrong people are stamping their imprint of the future development of this great sport.

A balance between the different forms of cricket is necessary, but I fear the balance sheets will drive changes.