Test cricket under threat?

Christopher Martin-Jenkins makes the argument that Test cricket is under major threat from Twenty20. Link.

Is he right? Seems a bit paranoid to me. He seems to be comparing the IPL to the Packer revolution, arguing it will thoroughly disrupt, and eventually undermine, Test cricket. I, for one, will barely be checking the scores in the IPL and will continue to watch as much Test cricket as I can. Furthermore, I know that the majority on this forum will do the same. But, does this forum represent the minority view?

Will 20/20 eventually swamp the calendar and will it be all about regional teams in the future?

Thoughts.

No, just no.

No.

And like you, I won't be checking the scores either...

I will be checking the scores though. They don't have to be mutually exclusive. Actually, it is when we make them mutually exclusive that one of them has a high chance of dying a painful death coz the world will be split up into people taking one of two sides. And, as we all know, people taking opposite sides cannot all coexist in peace for long.

I don't really follow Aussie FC cricket, so can't see why u'd bother with IPL.

I'd assume Aussies would feel the same way about county cricket, apart from following a few of their teams players.

Yeah, what Lever said. Think English and Aussie doemstic cricket is being shown in India since the last year or so. Not many people, except the cricket crazy ones, watch it tbh.

HH_pink wrote:I will be checking the scores though. They don't have to be mutually exclusive. Actually, it is when we make them mutually exclusive that one of them has a high chance of dying a painful death coz the world will be split up into people taking one of two sides. And, as we all know, people taking opposite sides cannot all coexist in peace for long.

well its on setanta so ill probably watch it. unlike the icl, this actually has some decent cricketers on show.

It's easy to get all high and mighty about it but I'll watch it (when there's not anything better on) for what it is...Entertainment. Soulless, umcomplicated, whorey entertainment.

I won't get passionate about it but there is something interesting in the potential sight of seeing Lee bowl at Ponting or Gilchrist and Afridi batting together.


S'like Eastenders but with bats and balls and stuff.

Really? I'd be interested if McGrath or Warne were bowling to Ponting in Tests but in 20/20s it'll be "swish out" or "swish six". Won't tell us anything about anything.

I'll maybe watch a couple of matches. Won't care if I don't though.

It won't tell anyone about anything, i'm accepting it for the novelty that it is. I don't want anything more out of it. We're never going to see Warne or Mcgrath bowling to Ponting at Test or any sort of 'competative' level so this will do me fine.

I won't go out of my way to follow it but if it's on I'll watch it.

Don't go out of your way to explain things to dead end LLL, spangler. That's one long, winding road at the end of which you'll be dead from exhaustion or madness or both and your autopsy will reveal multiple short circuits in the brain. The stoopid chick's built that way; we're not.

Shut the f*ck up with your usual moronic rubbish, HH. There's a good lad.

Didn't I tell ya, spang?

He is winding the watch of his wit. By and by it will strike....

LLL in *prick-waving with a phantom appendage* shock.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Perhaps I should prance about the forum posting tired, obvious, platitudes with witless abandon. Seems to be your primary modus operandi.

Yes it is, unless you are a hardcore fan nobody is interested in test cricket these days, people rather watch T20 and ODI cricket which is a shame.

Was interesting to see the MCG less than half full for the first test against India, then when they returned for the T20 it was packed, maybe some Aussies can comment on this.

spangler wrote:It's easy to get all high and mighty about it but I'll watch it (when there's not anything better on) for what it is...Entertainment. Soulless, umcomplicated, whorey entertainment.

I won't get passionate about it but there is something interesting in the potential sight of seeing Lee bowl at Ponting or Gilchrist and Afridi batting together.


S'like Eastenders but with bats and balls and stuff.

Yup, agree.

LLL: You've made me go sit in a corner and cry. Hope you're happy I'm becoming you now.

Good. Stay there and think about what you've done.

I think 20 - 20 will have an impact, negatively that is on ODIs rather soon and tests over the long run.

If IPL and ICL both survive and keep pumping out the big bucks we may well get to the situation like baseball where the US domestic comp is the big event of the year. The bilateral tours may become less and less important and that focus may get concentrated on the periodic multinational events such as the t 20 WC much like where soccer, rugby etc. have ended.

In short there is a reasonable chance that Cricket as we know may change for ever.