The myth of the tough fifth day?

Is it my imagination or is it a trend that current pitches not only don't deteriorate at the rate they used to but some even seem to get better for batting?

Quite often the doom and gloom merchants predict dire things to happen to teams batting last and we hear about cracks opening up, the number of cracks, the word unplayable is bandied about and teams are expected to capitulate to the equally mythical spinner who is going to run through them.

Until the 80s? there was a rest day in test cricket which may have contributed to the pitch wearing more but surely they must have changed in nature as very few of them seem to become super difficult to bat on on the last day.

Kallis actually commented after the last test in Abu Dhabi that they could have played two tests on the strip without a result.

Surely this can't be a good thing for cricket.

Are curators too scared to even up the contest between bat and ball?

It's not curators, it's national cricket boards. They want games to go to a fifth day to get more gate money.

It's been like this for about a decade now. It is also why batting last these days is generally the way to go.

Zat wrote:It's not curators, it's national cricket boards. They want games to go to a fifth day to get more gate money.

What if we scheduled a Twenty20 match for the fifth day when Tests finish on Day Four or earlier?

I bet national boards would be falling over themselves to have Test matches finish early in that case.

JGK wrote:It's been like this for about a decade now. It is also why batting last these days is generally the way to go.

not if you are the australian captain

How about doing away with the roller between innings?

Or just ban the heavy one as in CC.

Hass wrote:

Zat wrote:It's not curators, it's national cricket boards. They want games to go to a fifth day to get more gate money.

What if we scheduled a Twenty20 match for the fifth day when Tests finish on Day Four or earlier?

I bet national boards would be falling over themselves to have Test matches finish early in that case.

That's actually a great idea, though I'm not sure the teams would like it.

Henry wrote:How about doing away with the roller between innings?

Let's have uncovered wickets during the day if it rains. By all means cover them up overnight, but bring back the sticky wicket.

vilkrang wrote:

Hass wrote:

Zat wrote:It's not curators, it's national cricket boards. They want games to go to a fifth day to get more gate money.

What if we scheduled a Twenty20 match for the fifth day when Tests finish on Day Four or earlier?

I bet national boards would be falling over themselves to have Test matches finish early in that case.

That's actually a great idea, though I'm not sure the teams would like it.

The poor babies would complain they are being overworked.

Maybe teams should have to bat with one arm tied behind their backs in the second innings, to make it interesting again.

Well, if Malcolm Marshall could do it, ....