By Sajid Sadiq
The existence of Test cricket seems to be temporal, as if a dark void engulfs a piece of it every passing second.
It is forced into submission by the cannibalistic nature of its distant cousin, T20 cricket. But perhaps this is the way the Gods intended it to be. It serves as a reminder that nothing in this world should be taken for granted. It shows how everything we are surrounded by is temporary, and that in order for us to thrive in this world, we must conquer over the things that can threaten our entire existence. Cricket in its current climate is trying to do the same thing. The irony is that it’s a threat to itself.
Cricket is stuck between trying to reach new audiences while pleasing the subset of fans that are infatuated with the longer format. It is trying to evolve, but it is stretched too thin at the same time.
Saying that Test cricket and T20 cricket are like two sides of the same coin is extremely deceptive. On a macroscopic level, the statement holds merit. They are played under largely the same set of rules, governed by the same laws and are observed by in large by the same governing body, the ICC.
But the deeper we dig, the clearer the conflict of interest between stakeholders is evident. They all face the same conundrum, which is whether cricket should stay true to its roots and preserves the right to be called a “gentlemen’s game” and not tarnish it’s pedigree, or rather move on to the more lucrative “mickey mouse” format which has the ability to attract more stakeholders and fans, all the while having a better chance to thrive for longer periods in the future.
