Test Cricket to fade away in near future, tells ICC

The chief of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Greg Barclay, has talked about the fate of Test Cricket, which is likely to fade away with time. He feels the shortest format of the game is the future of cricket as there will be fewer Test matches in the coming days.

Barclay was among the spectators to witness Day 2 of the first Test match between England and New Zealand. Talking at BBC Test Match Special, he said domestic franchise and league cricket is rapidly growing across the globe, hindering the interest in Test cricket unlike before.

He further added the big three of cricket, India, England, and Australia are to stay unaffected whereas, the rest of the Test-playing nations can be badly affected. According to Barclay, the cricket boards are generating surplus revenue through franchise cricket. It is getting critical with time to schedule Test cricket in the midst of the league cricket schedule.

His statements read,

There will be some unfortunate consequences from a playing experience and a revenue point of view for some of those countries who won’t get the amount of cricket they might hope to have and they won’t get exposure, particularly against India and to a lesser extent Australia and England. So we will see a squeeze. In 10-15 years’ time, I still see Test cricket being an integral part (of the game) – it may be that there is less of it,”

Some countries may have to make room and play less Test cricket. Some of the smaller full members will have to accept that they can’t pay the amount of Test cricket that they wanted to, so we may see a lessening of that – four or five a year – whereas England, Australia, and India, I think, will be playing Test cricket as they are now.

“If you look at strategically the way that cricket is going, there’s no doubt that white-ball cricket, short-form cricket, is the way of the future. That’s the game that’s sought after by fans, that’s where the broadcasters are putting their resource, it’s what’s driving the money,” 

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