Kirsten calls for World Test League

Fri, May 16 12:45 AM

INDIA COACH Gary Kirsten is the latest to join the debate surrounding the soul of Test cricket being under threat by the Twenty20 revolution in India. In his newsletter, Kirsten has provided some useful suggestions, which he believes will ensure that Test cricket remains the purest form of the game.

Test cricket, according to Kirsten, gives the players a chance to test and expose their opponent's character and find what they are made of. "There was no place to hide as players were tested in every department.

Can he play the short ball? Is he prepared to get hurt? Can he face quality spin bowling? Can he score runs in different conditions? Can he handle the pressure? Can he fight back? These were questions constantly asked of Test batsmen as they embarked on another Test match innings. Could there be anything more exhilarating than facing this ultimate test and succeeding for your country, your team-mates and yourself?" he wrote.

Calling Test cricket 'the backbone' and 'the foundation' of the game, Kirsten felt that without this version, cricket would lose its soul. He also believed that the time was ripe for the creation of a "world league system" for Test cricket and that the format of the game needed a world champion to keep the audience engaged.

He reckoned that the league system would ensure that "the top teams will play around 9-10 Tests a year and with a bonus point, the incentive to beat teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will be higher." He also felt that playing close to 14-15 Tests a year will provide Test cricket a chance to survive amidst the current landscape of cricket and entertainment.

Saying that Twenty20 was one of Test cricket's biggest competitors, Kirsten called on the cricketing fraternity to safeguard the integrity of Tests, so that they do not become a thing of the past. He concluded his piece by writing, "The soul of this great game is under threat because of an ever changing landscape.

We all know the time has come for innovative thinking to keep it alive.".

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