Cricket's Extreme Makeover

We’ve all seen on television or heard in everyday conversation of the "Extreme Makeover." What I’m sure immediately comes to mind is someone magically loosing 20 visible years from their appearance. All with the aid of some form of Botox and a lovely new hair cut finished off with a brand spanking new wardrobe.

The latest victim of the "Extreme makeover," yes victim, however is no person. It is the sport of Cricket. Granted, Cricket is not waiting for its nails to dry or choosing which colour is best for its figure, but there is no doubting its current period of transition.

Not so long ago, to most Cricket was seen as the bitter old man sat in the corner, smoking his pipe, bemoaning the youth of today. He has now been well and truly pulled from his chair and his pipe shoved where it isn’t very sunny at all. The glitz and glamour of the other leading sports for example Football and Formula One are rapidly becoming common place where traditionally tradition ruled the realm.

It’s nothing for the man of the match to receive a motorbike and be seen lapping the outfield after the match. Furthermore a player auction last year saw the trading of players for millions of pounds, money never heard of in cricket. Test cricket was the ultimate "test" of a cricketer and the team.

Tests series were of the highest prestige, famous battles between batsman and bowler lived long in the memory, hard grafted centuries and long bowling spells made this form of the sport.

However suddenly boom; Twenty20 cricket arrived. Arguably the slippery slope was paved for Test cricket with the introduction of One day internationals; if this is the case Twenty20 has pushed it well on its way with both arms. Now I love Cricket in any form, but I’d sit and watch a Test Match over a Twenty20 every time. People rave of its unique angle, nevertheless surely Test Cricket has its own unique angles too?

All that cricket was is seriously under threat as the masses who previously had little to no interest in the sport are becoming hooked. There is no doubting that this is a good thing, but this should be curbed to draw them to how cricket is meant to be played in the Test arena.

Twenty20 is fun, fast and entertaining but will and can never offer the authenticity and prestige of a Test match. I speak on behalf of many when I state that I hope Twenty20 is not the beginning of the slow death of Test Cricket which is the base of the game we know and love.