Not necessarily. If batsmen want to focus on T20 batting then this is where a strong coach/selector will have the tough conversation with the player and if needed, only pick them for the shorter formates and pick more patient and strong technical players for the test team.
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Yes.
The world seems to be leaving it behind - Test cricket. For a sport like football (soccer), all you need is two jumpers or cones and you can pretty much have a game and get into the basics of it. Rich or poor, the basics can be developed w/o the need for infrastructure or coaching by pretty much anyone. The rags to riches pull will ensure a wide net as it will be accessible and easy to develop. For cricket, especially anything beyond 20/20, it is more difficult. Even with 20/20, I wonder if the high pull is already behind us.
I disagree.
A bin/wall make cheap and easy to access stumps. A tennis ball and a block of wood for your bat and you can play some form of cricket
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Except that it’s been a while since India has produced roads in test series.
Not so many cars then but this was our cricket ground when we were growing up. We couldnt hit leg side as that would mean going to the next house.
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Back when I was a child 70s/80s - it was maybe a thing. I don’t see it anymore. Through the 90s, in Scotland it was not (/never) a thing and by the time I was in the south of England, in late 2010s, it was pretty much restricted to clubs with deep pockets and to kids of parents who could afford it.
we were having this conversation today about how everyone wants you to think test match cricket is ‘dead’ and the game needs to move with the times etc etc
everybody i know much prefers the test match formula over all other formats, and i think thats a fairly common opinion
they try and tell you the kids arent interested in the long format etc etc etc, but really, its a movement from within the game to have a more profitable product, the T20 circus is just easier to sell, easier to put on, easier to show prime time and easier for individuals to run the clubs, unlike international cricket where the state has a vested interest.
T20 is only the ‘future’ of the cricket because they want you to believe it is.
its a shite format and has zero passion in it.
Test Cricket and the appreciation of it needs to be learnt and earnt…its beyond marketing, its a love built over time.
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It’s the same argument I’ve been hearing for over a decade. That’s not to say cricket can rest on it’s laurels but interest in all formats of the game is as high as it’s ever been and cricket is being played in all age levels in all the cricketing playing nations and beyond.
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Was wondering how they would fuck up this time.
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Test cricket is arguably in a worse state than it was a decade ago. The WI are pretty much dead and buried while Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are far far reduced. India, England, Australia and New Zealand, and surprisingly, South Africa are still there for different reasons.
In the end my take is a simple one. The infrastructure and time required to support the game will become more and more difficult to justify.
Every one I know feels the same way but then that may speak more to my socio/economic/age group than anything else.
Apologies for opening this item again - we’ve danced around this pole before. It is just that I find myself in a particularly melancholic mood so failed to resist a bit of trolling.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and wish you all a Great New Year!
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thats the point though, its a learnt appreciation. the demographis IS older.
ive no doubt all the 10 year olds prefer T20, growing up i loved the one dayers more…until i learnt.
and thats the beauty of it, its NOT something you can just turn on one day and properly appreciate.
its like when you first start watching football and you cant appreciate a 1-0 win becuase theres not enough goals.
again, its people within the game trying to monetise it for personal gain that drive the narrative that test cricket is dead, when its pretty obvious to anyone with half an interest in the game that its the ultimate format.
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To be fair I think I fell in love with Teat Match first. Was that South African series in the later 90s
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Atkinson injured, Jacks drops Head. More misery for England. Pitch doesn’t look to be any better today, hard to see England getting above 100 on it this time.
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Actually feeling sorry for England now. A lot of their problems have been self inflicted, but the decimation of an already thin bowling attack through injury has been the last straw.
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England would struggle to get 200 on most surfaces.
I see Crawley had a couple of double figure knocks, that will do for a year or two.
It puts us critics in our place (trademark to Robert Key or some other wanker).
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It’s also been very let down by the batsmen.
Atkinson injury robs England of one of their better batters as well.
Might as well go full Bazball on this pitch looking at how it’s playing, dunno how Head managed to get close to 50 there.
Whatever the tactics, England won’t get the 200+ they’ll need to win.
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