My colleague Dr Liam Lenten has some controversial ideas on promoting Test Match cricket.
" it may be that what we need is more draws, or at least the chance of more draws...
...the modern-day version of Test cricket is characterised by quicker scoring and wicket taking, more frequent dismissals due to third umpires, a steep fall in the frequency of draws and fewer matches going into the fifth day.
...the side that struggles early in the Test and is no longer in a position to win the Test finds it harder to hold on for a draw.
Dr Lenten believes administrators need to reduce the number of overs bowled each day and consideration should be given to Tests lasting four days rather than five".
Most Tests that finish with a result in the final session of the fifth day are highly absorbing matches, and currently there are not enough Tests going into the fifth day,"
A full analysis is contained in the December Economic Papers published by the Economic Society of Australia - unfortunately not yet available online.
Friday, January 09, 2009
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5 comments:
I like it, mostly because I DON"T like twenty-twenty cricket and like others who actually enjoy cricket I don't think speeding things up has done the game any good.
They've already taken care of the problem by flattening out the WACA and the retirements of Warne and McGrath unless you thing Ponting declared 2 overs too soon.
Of course sheffield Shield matches are only four days. It does generate some interesting declarations, but mainly because of the points awarded in the competition for first-innings leads (if you're behind on the first innigs, there's little to lose by a generous declaration). Otherwise I'd suspect ii would draw even smaller crowds than it does.
More seriously, Test cricket is a better game where the pitch is bouncy. Slow pitches ruin the game by promoting defensive mindsets in both batting and fielding teams.
Speaking from my own cricket prejudices Liam is exactly right. A close game is a good game and in test cricket that means five days with more draws. Mind you, I'm not enough of a fan to prefer any team so I might be in a minority.
There's nothing wrong with Test Cricket. The main reason for its lack of popularity is that it is played when most people are at work.
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