Internet Desk: A two month separate window can be an option to preserve Test cricket around the world. With the growing interest for the shorter format of the game, this looks to be an option for saving the longer format of the game. The idea was floated by former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raza during the two day cricket committee meeting at the Lords which ended yesterday.
“There should be a window for that and everything else should stop for a period of two months so the best players are available to play Test cricket,” said Raza after the meeting.
He further added: “It’s got to get better. In Asia, for example, because of poor Test match scheduling, the interest is dwindling. When you go back home you are never sure if you are going to have a one-Test series, a two-Test series or whether you are going to have a Test series at all.”
The former Pakistan captain insisted that the only way to save test cricket is to plan it properly.
“It is under a lot of stress in Asia but if we have a properly planned Test match championship, that’s the way out of this, otherwise we will be struggling to put aside as much money as is available for the T20 leagues,” Raja insisted.
The world cricket committee comprising of legends such as Ricky Ponting, Brendon McCullum, Sourav Ganguly and Kumar Sangakkara, has come down heavily against reducing Tests from five days to four days after it was suggested a shorter game might be more fan-friendly.
“Last time we met, the committee was split, with some believing we should trial four-day Test matches,” said outgoing chairman Mike Brearley, the former England captain.
“This time, most of us thought, looking at the fact that over half the matches that got results last year got results in the fifth day, that we didn’t want Test cricket to become more boring. So from a cricket point of view, we believe they should stay five days.”
The committee unanimously agreed that the ICC should go all out in having cricket included for the 2024 Olympics.