Art Vandelay_
TheBrownDog
- Oct 28, 2012
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- Bushrangers - Tottenham
And what I am showing is that there are 2 things that occur in Australia over a multi-decade period of time.Nah I’m not suggesting that either - for me for me a competitive contest is more enjoyable to watch than the regular pummelling touring countries receive here over the years.
Test cricket needs that, the series in India should be a much better contest. Speaking of which, that image of Rishabh Pant’s car after his accident was frightening stuff. I’m guessing he misses the series however that’s kinda irrelevant, glad he’s okay.
1. That test crowds remain strong despite the fact that Australia routinely win series at home, and often by 2+ test margins.
2. That the Australian public and media fraternity are savage on the team when they lose. And by lose I mean a test match, let alone a series.
Combined I am asserting that the core of the Australian cricket fanbase don't seem to care if we are winning comfortably at home with little challenge, just as long as we don't lose at home.
On a more broader discussion there seem to be only 3 nations that A. Draw a regularly decent Test (and ODI for that matter) crowd and B. Financially sustain themselves off test matches.
They are England, Australia and India.
- NZ are having one of their better periods in Test Cricket having claimed the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.
- South Africa are forgoing Xmas/New Year tests this summer by playing us here (last two tours here were 3 tests prior to Boxing Day/New Year and then went home to play those fixtures). So that they can then launch their "SA20" T20 franchise league. Their focus has even shifted away from ODI's to the point that they are not automatically qualified for this years ODI World Cup and will play a knockout playoff tournament just to get in.
- Sri Lankan cricket is cash strapped and seemingly doing worse off the field than when they were known as Ceylon. Sad, as on field their test side has had a couple of decent years of late.
- Pakistan has only just resumed home test series, and they've been dull bores. Flat draw inducing wickets with barely 1000 people in attendance each day.
- Windies cricket has struggled for a while, they simply do not get the traction they once did domestically as less young people take up the sport and their talent level has declined rapidly. The lure of the T20 circuit is one that their board has trouble shielding itself from as they simply cannot pay the players enough to keep the better players away.
So broadly Test Cricket has a lot of key issues to solve, most notably making it financially viable for home associations and players, and secondly keeping fans engaged. Which will be harder in the woke millennials era that seem to only be able to concentrate long enough for a T20 hit n giggle match.