NAGPUR: It is the fear among the purists that T20s are leading to the death of Test cricket. With the shortest format increasingly becoming popular, cricket in whites has agreeably taken a hit over the last decade. Spectator interest is dwindling, while many players are choosing to turn up in various T20 leagues across the world instead of their countries. There’s even a name for them: Mercenaries.
But the counter argument is that T20s have helped make the five-day game more interesting, and played a role in a kind of rebirth of Tests, if one can use that term. More and more teams are setting out to win Test matches, resulting in lesser games being drawn.
Surely this is the impact of the 20-over game, what with batsmen becoming more fearless and fielding standards better than ever. Not to mention the supreme fitness levels of cricketers, and the added importance is given to this aspect.
Whatever be the case, players still view Tests as the ultimate format and many view performances in T20s as stepping stones to the longest format. Chris Jordan is one such example. “It’s good to be part of the T20 squad for the India series, but the ultimate goal is to get back into the Test and ODI teams as well. It was disappointing not playing India in the longer formats, but it was warranted. It’s not a snub or some kind of pointed message from the selectors.
The fact is that I haven’t been consistent enough across those formats to warrant a place, but I’ve been working hard and hopefully, the rewards will come soon,” was the Barbados-born player’s frank assessment.
R Ashwin, David Warner and Sunil Narine are some of the names to have made their names in T20, before achieving success in the longer formats. And that’s one reason Jordan has put his name back up for the IPL auction list. “It was a great experience playing for (Royal Challengers) Bangalore last year, and I got to learn a lot as well, especially the conditions here. So yes, I’ve put in my name for the auctions this time as well, and hope to get picked,” he revealed.
Whatever the arguments for and against, there is no doubt that T20s are here to stay, and it can mutually exist with Tests as well. Over to the administrators to find a suitable solution.