Cricket Opinion: Test Cricket Needs More Than the Ashes to Survive | Why the Ashes is Not Enough to Protect Test Cricket
The 2023 Ashes, arguably the best edition since the unforgettable 2005 series, had millions talking about Test cricket. If you weren’t glued to every ball, you were missing out. Australia fired the first two shots, before England made a roaring fightback to level a gripping series. It’s a spectacle that got cricket fans buzzing.
The consensus among some is that such a duel provides Test cricket with a shot in the arm—a lifeline to “save” the format. After all, any exposure that Test cricket can get is just what it needs, right? Well, not quite. The debate around Test cricket’s future goes deeper than a classic battle between two of the “big three.” There’s so much more involved, and the overall landscape of Test cricket is looking particularly bleak.
Table of Contents
- The Test Cricket Landscape Looks Worrying
- T20 Leagues vs Test Cricket
- The Issue of Red-Ball Skill
- What’s the Solution?
The Test Cricket Landscape Looks Worrying
Test cricket appears to be thriving in England, India, and Australia, but what about the rest of the cricketing world? What does Test cricket mean to them, and more importantly, is there a desire to develop young talent with red-ball cricket in mind, given the unequal distribution of funds? Where do these nations see Test cricket in the next five to ten years, given the format isn’t as profitable?
While England and Australia went head-to-head for the coveted urn, other nations like West Indies and India played in a two-match Test series that was so low-key you could be forgiven for not even knowing it was happening. Predictably, India dominated, highlighting the concerns surrounding Test cricket’s future. Currently, Test cricket is profitable for the big three, with other nations needing to turn elsewhere to boost their finances.
Countries like Cricket South Africa (CSA), which less than a decade ago fielded one of the most decorated Test teams in modern cricket, have been criticized for not scheduling more Tests. In fact, they are set to play only two-match series during the entire World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. But can you blame them? A cricket board’s financial survival is a priority, and if T20 cricket helps achieve those goals, who are we to criticize boards making the necessary moves to ensure their survival?
In fact, the launch of the SA20 league, which turned a profit in its inaugural season, is proof that T20 leagues are where the money is. Cricket boards have no choice but to chase revenue through these formats, even at the expense of Test cricket.
T20 Leagues vs Test Cricket
T20 cricket is the cash cow. Test cricket is expensive to host and doesn’t always attract large crowds due to the time commitments required. Combine this with the unequal distribution of funds, and you begin to understand the challenge Test cricket faces. The shorter format satisfies the world’s hunger for instant gratification, which has taken hold over the last two decades.
This may not sit well with traditionalists (and yes, I am one of them), but these are the cold, hard facts. CSA, for example, has heavily invested in the SA20 league to safeguard its financial future. In fact, the league was so successful in 2023 that the South African board is now focusing more on T20s than Tests. Ahead of the 2024 season, CSA has been negotiating with New Zealand to reschedule their two-match Test series, which clashes with the SA20. With the New Zealand board not agreeing to a change, CSA is in a tough spot.
Reports suggest CSA will likely prioritize the SA20 over the Test series, much like they did when they forfeited a three-match ODI series in Australia, potentially jeopardizing their World Cup qualification. CEO Pholetski Moseki was clear in stating, “The SA20 is too important,” which is entirely understandable given the massive investments involved, including IPL franchise owners who expect a return. To maximize that return, South Africa needs its top players available for the T20 league, not Test matches.
The Future of Test Cricket
It’s not just South Africa facing this dilemma. The West Indies, for instance, have been vocal about the financial struggles of Test cricket. Former Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron famously stated that Test cricket in the Caribbean doesn’t turn a profit unless it’s against the “big three” (India, England, Australia).
“I dare say the West Indies need to be invited to these geographies to play because a Test match in the West Indies today is a dead rubber unless it’s against India, England, or Australia, where we get revenues from television,” Cameron said. He added that the current generation is no longer inclined to watch five days of cricket, leading to the rise of T20 leagues.
The crux of the issue lies in revenue and the long-term sustainability of Test cricket. While the Ashes provide a rare moment of global focus, they are simply not enough to ensure the survival of the format across the cricketing world.
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