On the 2nd day of the ongoing first Test between New Zealand and England, the spectators at Lord’s watched a magnificent day of Test cricket. However, whereas the attendance was there, ICC chairman Greg Barclay suggested that the number of games played in the longest format could be decreased in the coming days. Here in this article, we have talked about Test Cricket In Future.
Due to a large number of domestic franchise competitions, Barclay, who will finish his two-year tenure in December of this year, has expressed some uncertainty over the amount of test cricket that will be played in the years to come. The New Zealander said that it is becoming harder to fit bilateral series between those Test cricket and franchise leagues. This is something that has been an emerging burden.
“The growth of domestic leagues is forcing things from the bottom and what is getting squeezed is bilateral cricket, and so we are trying to fit everything in,” said Barclay.
“There will be some unfortunate consequences from a playing experience and a revenue point of view for some of those countries who won’t get the amount of cricket they might hope to have and they won’t get exposure, particularly against India and to a lesser extent Australia and England. So we will see a squeeze. In 10-15 years’ time, I still see Test cricket being an integral part (of the game) – it may be that there is less of it,” the ICC chief added.
Some countries may have to make room and play less Test Cricket In Future: Barclay
According to the head of the ICC, the proportion of cricket tests that are played in the lesser-known countries would most certainly decrease, while those played in the more prominent nations, such as India, England, and Australia, will largely be undisturbed.
The New Zealander also opined that the shortest layout of the play is what is attracting spectators and income to cricket and that it will be the dominant factor in the region in the coming years even with broadcasting companies more showing interest in shorter versions of the game. The New Zealander was referring to the fact that the sport is being played in its shortest feature.
“Some countries may have to make room and play less Test cricket. Some of the smaller full members will have to accept that they can’t pay the amount of Test cricket that they wanted to, so we may see a lessening of that – four or five a year – whereas England, Australia, and India, I think, will be playing Test cricket as they are now”, Barclay further added.
“If you look at strategically the way that cricket is going, there’s no doubt that white-ball cricket, short-form cricket, is the way of the future. That’s the game that’s sought after by fans, that’s where the broadcasters are putting their resource, it’s what’s driving the money,” Barclay concluded.
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