Is Test cricket even worth it for a promising young player these days?

[bujhee kom]

If you are a budding U19 aged cricketer, is it worth trying to make a career in the longest format when you can specialize in ODIs and especially T20 and make much more money, work less and be much more of a superstar? Additionally, you can play in so many leagues and get more travel in..

If I was 18 and a promising cricketer, I would aim to develop T20 era skills (ideally big hitting, useful bowling options, athletic fielding etc) and market myself for a career in that format (with ODIs with my better skills set). Why would I want to play Test cricket in front of empty stands and small pay (missing out on leagues meaning huge opportunity cost)?

I could be a useful utility player (or better) and play T20s in England/India/Australia/WI/Pakistan etc and make serious Benjamins.

Eh?

 

[AlizeeFan]

Well if you have more opportunities in ODIs and T20s, you have more competitiors. Why do you think it's easy to be good in shorter format?

Irrespective of payouts, every cricketer want to excel and become the best. It's natural desire.

 

[bujhee kom]

Well if you have more opportunities in ODIs and T20s, you have more competitiors. Why do you think it's easy to be good in shorter format?

Irrespective of payouts, every cricketer want to excel and become the best. It's natural desire.

I dont think it is.

 

[Napa]

If you are a budding U19 aged cricketer, is it worth trying to make a career in the longest format when you can specialize in ODIs and especially T20 and make much more money, work less and be much more of a superstar? Additionally, you can play in so many leagues and get more travel in..

If I was 18 and a promising cricketer, I would aim to develop T20 era skills (ideally big hitting, useful bowling options, athletic fielding etc) and market myself for a career in that format (with ODIs with my better skills set). Why would I want to play Test cricket in front of empty stands and small pay (missing out on leagues meaning huge opportunity cost)?

I could be a useful utility player (or better) and play T20s in England/India/Australia/WI/Pakistan etc and make serious Benjamins.

Eh?

Some players like Pujara obviously will only succeed in Tests. If you are an Aus/Eng/NZ/Indian you are reasonably well by your board for playing Test cricket. Especially for Indians taking into account the cost of living in India.

 

[Chrish]

Worth it if you are Australian/ English.

 

[MenInG]

Almost every young player we have interviewed consider Test cricket as supreme test of their skills.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Cricket is not only about money , its a passion and most of the cricketers would want to succeed in test cricket more than anything else.

 

[bujhee kom]

Cricket is not only about money , its a passion and most of the cricketers would want to succeed in test cricket more than anything else.

Nice sentiment but ultimately men work for money. We are seeing guys cut short Test careers for ODI/T20 opportunities.

 

[Chrish]

Cricket is not only about money , its a passion and most of the cricketers would want to succeed in test cricket more than anything else.

Easy for us to say it when you have nothing on the line.

Why would a talented bowler want to bowl 30 overs in a single inning risking an injury and still make less money than bowling 4 overs a game in IPL?

 

[JibranAnsari]

Easy for us to say it when you have nothing on the line.

Why would a talented bowler want to bowl 30 overs in a single inning risking an injury and still make less money than bowling 4 overs a game in IPL?

Ask any cricketer , its passion first for them. Its true that everyone loves money but do you think that its enough for a fast bowler to bowl like 60 overs in 2 months time in ipl or any other league where sole purpose of having bowlers is just to get bashed by the batsmen. Its not enough for a cricketer whose true passion is cricket.

 

[hafizexpress]

As test cricket is considered to be the greatest format of the game, young players would rather play it and complete their skillset rather than not.

Money has been a huge factor for many players which is why some discard test cricket for more financial gain and fame. However, those who are passionate for the game care about test cricket more than anything else. Which is also why you see several youngsters saying it's their dream to play test cricket for their countries as it is indeed the ultimate form of the game.

And in the end, legendary status is given to those who excel in all formats of the game. Otherwise you are only legendary to one format which is definitely inferior to being legendary overall (in all formats).

 

[Napa]

Easy for us to say it when you have nothing on the line.

Why would a talented bowler want to bowl 30 overs in a single inning risking an injury and still make less money than bowling 4 overs a game in IPL?

It's also true that some cricketers simply cannot perform in Tests, just like Pujara can't perform in LOIs. Good example is Amir, who is devastating in LOIs but quite useless in Tests. You know that Amir doesn't have the body to bowl long spells, so in Tests all you need to do is to see off his first 5 overs. In LOIs that is not possible.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Ask any cricketer , its passion first for them. Its true that everyone loves money but do you think that its enough for a fast bowler to bowl like 60 overs in 2 months time in ipl or any other league where sole purpose of having bowlers is just to get bashed by the batsmen. Its not enough for a cricketer whose true passion is cricket.

Many cricketers recently have retired prematuredly from test cricket so they can prolong their LOI career. Whether we like it or not, its always about money. They arent doing any social service playing for a nation, they also have family to look after specially when they are retired and income stops.

 

[CanadianG00se]

As test cricket is considered to be the greatest format of the game, young players would rather play it and complete their skillset rather than not.

Money has been a huge factor for many players which is why some discard test cricket for more financial gain and fame. However, those who are passionate for the game care about test cricket more than anything else. Which is also why you see several youngsters saying it's their dream to play test cricket for their countries as it is indeed the ultimate form of the game.

And in the end, legendary status is given to those who excel in all formats of the game. Otherwise you are only legendary to one format which is definitely inferior to being legendary overall (in all formats).

Being ‘Legendary’ doesnt come and pay your bills or bring food to table. You need money and its mostly available in shorter formats. We fans think Cricketers are somewhat immune to today’s world of economics, and thus they shouldnt allow to take financial decision. Have you seen the cricinfo report on finances of cricketers, how less some of the bottom nations pay to their cricketers for playing test matches. No wonder why many wants to give up to make money from leagues. First ask boards to improve the pay package for test cricketers before cricitising cricketers who quits test cricket.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Many cricketers recently have retired prematuredly from test cricket so they can prolong their LOI career. Whether we like it or not, its always about money. They arent doing any social service playing for a nation, they also have family to look after specially when they are retired and income stops.

Many have but there still is a lot of competition to get into the test team , some find it really hard to succeed at test level and its not that easy really. But most cricketers still fight to get into the test team and thats paramount for them.

 

[coy0607]

Well, for Pakistani cricketer Test cricket per match still pays significantly more than T20 and ODIs
Almost 2x more than ODI, and 3x than T20's

playing Test cricket also opens up opportunity for country cricket.

so I can see why young / upcoming players may want to become regulars in test cricket for monetary reasons alone.

 

[Junaids]

It’s a matter of self-respect and pride.

T20 Specialists are viewed as circus clowns. They have no respect.

Players judge themselves by Test performances.

 

[hafizexpress]

Being ‘Legendary’ doesnt come and pay your bills or bring food to table. You need money and its mostly available in shorter formats. We fans think Cricketers are somewhat immune to today’s world of economics, and thus they shouldnt allow to take financial decision. Have you seen the cricinfo report on finances of cricketers, how less some of the bottom nations pay to their cricketers for playing test matches. No wonder why many wants to give up to make money from leagues. First ask boards to improve the pay package for test cricketers before cricitising cricketers who quits test cricket.

Never criticized anyone for choosing what they desire. But I'm pointing out the fact that sure there are players who give up to make money from leagues, but there are also many who dream of playing test because they are aware of its importance. If a player is very passionate about the sport, then he would play tests. Like the mod said earlier, most of the young players who are interviewed consider tests to be the supreme test of their skills.

To conclude, if you want to play for your passion and love for the sport, test cricket is vital. If you want to play for the money, go ahead but you can't call yourself a complete international cricketer.

And I agree with post #17 by [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

 

[CanadianG00se]

Never criticized anyone for choosing what they desire. But I'm pointing out the fact that sure there are players who give up to make money from leagues, but there are also many who dream of playing test because they are aware of its importance. If a player is very passionate about the sport, then he would play tests. Like the mod said earlier, most of the young players who are interviewed consider tests to be the supreme test of their skills.

To conclude, if you want to play for your passion and love for the sport, test cricket is vital. If you want to play for the money, go ahead but you can't call yourself a complete international cricketer.

And I agree with post #17 by [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

We are still in an era that some cricketers would be scared to come out in open to admit for them money supercedes. Give it another 10-15 years and you’ll see more and more cricketers would see cricket as an way of riches and not just some ‘Pride for country’.

Test cricket will survive but it will be stagnated, you wont see fans flocking stadium to see test cricket not atleast in Sub continent.

 

[AlizeeFan]

Nice sentiment but ultimately men work for money. We are seeing guys cut short Test careers for ODI/T20 opportunities.

Thing is most test cricketers earn more than these players who focus only on 1 format. There are exception on both sides, but normally it's the case with most of the players. Kohli, Rahane, Rohit (he is part of test team), Dhawan, Ashwin, Jadeja all are test cricketers and there are hardly any T20 specialist who earn more than them.

So, it's fairly simple. If you want to earn maximum, you try to be good in all formats.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Why don't we ask promising young players themselves what they think instead of pontificating on what we rank amateur fans think is best for them?

 

[USofA]

Whether its worth it or not is secondary. Skill set is the primary determinant. Each format requires a certain skill set. Not all have the skill set for all formats. The Cooks and Pujaras have one skill set (Tests), while the Polards (T20's) have a different one and the ABD's, Kholis have a different one (All formats).

Human nature for the major part is to gravitate towards $$. Everyone has bills to pay. Passion and pride do not put food on the table and will be (become) secondary for most. They will and should look to maximize their earning potential and the shorter format is where they will go.

 

[JibranAnsari]

So test cricketers can't pay their bills? Thats new.

 

[90MPH]

Test cricket for me will always be the main format for me.

Even though Pakistans fortunes have reversed recently as they have done so well in ODIs but now much poorer in Tests I will still mintain the 5 day format is the pinnacle game a player should strive to do well.

 

[USofA]

So test cricketers can't pay their bills? Thats new.

I think it's more to do with maximizing your earning potential. They have a limited shelf life to do so.

 

[USofA]

Test cricket for me will always be the main format for me.

Even though Pakistans fortunes have reversed recently as they have done so well in ODIs but now much poorer in Tests I will still mintain the 5 day format is the pinnacle game a player should strive to do well.

I agree, but they should also be compensated just as well as T20's to encourage more people to pursue tests. Of course that is easier said than done as test are loss makers outside the Big3.

 

[tandapanii]

You will be interested to read this:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/b...is-rotting-destroyed-icc-ecb-t20-test-matches

I think the article is a bit too extreme and it comes from a very old fashioned Englishman so no surprise there but there is a lot of truth in it also.

thing is, many young players who are not getting test opportunities give up that chance and join the world tour of t20 cricket, less work but good money. They then also carry on playing cricket for their international lo sides too. Its the modern cricketing economy.

BUT the best still gravitate towards test cricket and the adulation and rewards that brings.

 

[bujhee kom]

The logic here is EARNINGS. Most players if they play 4 t20 leagues and intl odi/t20 they will outstrip earnings lost from not playing Tests.

 

[jonestony]

Well if you have more opportunities in ODIs and T20s, you have more competitiors. Why do you think it's easy to be good in shorter format?

Irrespective of payouts, every cricketer want to excel and become the best. It's natural desire.

yes, but people nowadays are opting for shorter formats to prolong their career, especially fast bowlers.

 

[Chokli]

If I was a cricketer then I'd be aiming for PSL/IPL/CPL/BPL/PPL/APL contracts.

Then it would be ODIS and T20s.

Gotta put food on the table.