Andy Flower presses ICC to protect Test cricket

Team England’ s cricket director, Andy Flower, has recommended the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take some radical measures to preserve the future of the Test format which, he thinks, is rapidly losing fame and finances.

Flower opines that the world cricket governing body should wake up to the challenges the longer version is facing due to the sky rocketing popularity of T20 cricket. He fears that if no action is taken at the moment, the 5-day games will soon go out of sight.

The former Zimbabwean captain has aired these views with reference to the Sri Lankan pacer, Lasith Malinga’s recent retirement from Test cricket in pursuit of his cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).  He suggests the ICC to increase the quotas and funds
of Test matches so that their underway derailment can be stopped.  

Talking to the media today, Flower said, “There’s a great danger. The rewards out there for playing less cricket are obvious. The ICC have to address that as a serious problem looming in the future. They have to act very responsibly and make decisions on
what’s good for the game in the future.”

The coach cum director is of the view that the big cricket playing nations should play more Test games and the ICC should make international Test fixtures tantamount to those of ODI.

“The intent behind creating the fixture list has to be addressed. We want to find out who the best side in the world is and we want to have them competing in exciting conditions and exciting series but at the moment the intent is a financial one and that’s
why the fixture list is comprised (the way it is)."

Since the outset of 20-over format in 2007, the Test cricket has been in doldrums. As shorter version is beneficial for both the spectators and players in terms of time and money respectively, it is dominating over the longer form.

This gruesome trend has created grave reservations in the minds of the some of the cricket managers and experts who are striving hard to secure the status of Test cricket which is still considered to be the major nursery for players.

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Posted by Sharjeel Ahmad on Nov 12 2011. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry