Mike Brearley worried for Test cricket's future

[hadi123]

Former England captain Mike Brearley believes Test cricket could “die” in countries such as Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa due to dwindling crowds.

Brearley, who recently stepped down from his role as chairman of the MCC World Cricket Committee, claims Test cricket is facing a looming crisis due to the popularity of the limited-overs game.

“If Test cricket declines further in places like Pakistan, and I don’t mean they’re declining as a team, they’re doing very well, but in countries like Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, where there are no crowds, then it will die in those countries,” Brearley told BBC’s Sportsweek.

“We made some of those statements at the end of our meeting two or three weeks ago in London and actually I’ve heard nothing from them (the game’s authorities).

“I hope, nevertheless, that these things infiltrate under the surface. There’s a lot of good effort and good thinking in the ICC, but I think they’ve got to grasp, get hold of Test cricket by the scruff of the neck and put all the effort into promoting and marketing it, like they already do with marketing and promoting T20 cricket.”

Brearley said Test cricket has suffered due to the rise of Twenty20 leagues in all the leading Test-playing nations.

“There is a looming crisis for Test cricket. It’s already there to some extent,” he said.

“But it’s likely to get worse unless something is done about it and the looming crisis has two facets.


“One is that there is a conflict or tension between 20-over and 50-over cricket on the one side and five-day cricket on the other.

“Secondly, there’s a tension between domestic leagues, like the Indian Premier League and also now the South African League and the Big Bash in Australia, the T20 competition that’s going to start in England, and so on.

“There’s a tremendous conflict of time and money to attract players away from Test cricket, especially if they’re near the end of their careers and have had a very long run in Test cricket, like Brendon McCullum or AB de Villiers.”

South African de Villiers has opted to take time out from Test cricket and is playing no part in the current Test series between his country and England.

“You can see the appeal to them of playing less, of earning more and of not going through the slog of overseas tours when you’ve played a hundred Tests,” Brearley added.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15442567.Mike_Brearley_worried_for_Test_cricket___s_future/

 

[ipl_fan]

Test cricket is already dead for common people. Unless it is an Ashes test. Sub continent Cricket fans don't give any time for Test Cricket.

Please don't tell me that it is the best format. I know it is. Just that it is not a sustainable one anymore.

 

[ads101]

It's dead. The time to do something about it was before the introduction of the big t20 leagues in every country. England's withdrawal of free to air cricket has been a disaster, really killed the interest of cricket (in all forms), and feel now it's pretty much Australia keeping the test cricket interest alive. Can't remember the last time there was such little hype for a SA vs Eng test match.

I think ODI cricket will become the main format (and perhaps only format), but shortened down to 5 hours or so (maybe 30/35, 40 overs) to ease allowance of being held at evening potentially and to get rid of uneventful middle orders in ODIs. T20s are too much of a coin toss still, hence I think fans will want something a bit longer so that a team can gain momentum/dominate a format, the feeling of fighting it out and potentially being bowled out.

Cricket will adapt towards the convenience of the public. I expect more matches in the evening, weekends, possibly more tournament games and less bilateral matches.

Test cricket should have been trying to be adapted. Instead they just watched it die, claiming nothing is wrong. At the moment I almost feel test cricket is something you like to know that your team does well in but you don't really have time to watch. They care more about the result than actually watching it.

I feel like they have/or had to be really radical to save test cricket. I'd have proposed getting rid of second innings entirely, cutting it to around 3 days allowing it to be held on weekends when people can watch. In most matches after the first innings, the test result for the majority of matches is usually decided/predicted. Yeah it'd be a shame to get rid of that potential second innings fightback, but the move would probably extend the longevity of test cricket. Hand on heart how many of us have not bothered to watch the second innings because it was obvious where the result was heading after the first innings. Too many times probably than we would have liked.

 

[Robert]

The BBC are getting coverage back next year, I believe.

 

[ads101]

The BBC are getting coverage back next year, I believe.

2020, not next year. Only 2 will be international matches, and will be t20s. 10 will be from the domestic T20 men's competition, 8 from the women's.

Is not much at all really, not going to help test cricket at all. Not going to help cricket in general much at all in England, don't even think it's worth it.

 

[ads101]

In some ways I think the few matches free to air is probably great for sky. Get the public interested a bit for one or two matches, and then they have to subscribe to sky to watch the rest.

 

[HitWicket]

2020, not next year. Only 2 will be international matches, and will be t20s. 10 will be from the domestic T20 men's competition, 8 from the women's.

Is not much at all really, not going to help test cricket at all. Not going to help cricket in general much at all in England, don't even think it's worth it.

Highlights of test cricket though.

 

[ads101]

Highlights of test cricket though.

They had that before? Remember there was stuff on channel 5. Plus you could always get highlights if you just search around the web.

Highlights aren't a substitute for watching the match live, the excitement is gone. It's like I said people catching up on what happened/score, when they really need to promote the passion of watching it in real time.

I think ECB made a wrong move all those years ago when England won the ashes and interest in cricket was high. It should have remained free to air. And if they show test series due to time constraints, some sort of ODIs and definitely the world cup/champion trophy matches involving England should have been free to air. Instead of thinking that cricket wouldn't be funded properly in domestic, the onus should have been trying to promote it, market it in order to achieve the funds and interest necessary to sustain it. Was basically selling out for the short term and suffering in the long term. I think ECB should have brave enough to think that they could keep cricket alive themselves via free to air rather than selling out to sky.

 

[Specialisttailender]

No one wants to watch Test match, it is time consuming and 95% of the matches are boring. Its dead.

 

[santos11]

Test Cricket is boring .Even in India nobody watches it these days, Just that the Indian Population is so huge that if even a 0.01 % Population watches it, then it will get a decent audience compared to other countries.

Who is in right mind would be enthusiastic about the ongoing Test Series between India and Sri Lanka?

 

[leatherface58]

It has actually gotten result oriented thanks to T20 encouraging players to open up. But that is too little too late. For all the elitism, test cricket does not draw. It never will either because there are no attempts made to make it exciting, accessible and watchable for casual viewers. I do not want tests to die because I find them entertaining and do make a point to watch them from time to time but no one has the time or inclination to watch a game which lasts for 5 days with each day lasting for 7 hours.

As times change, the sport has to evolve not stick to the old times just because it is what was in the "good ol' days".

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Test cricket is like the Church in England - it's facing a demographic time bomb and once the current oldies who attend die out they won't be replaced by the younger generations. Sure on a specialist cricket site like this we all appreciate and enjoy test cricket but the wider public?

 

[HitWicket]

Test cricket is like the Church in England - it's facing a demographic time bomb and once the current oldies who attend die out they won't be replaced by the younger generations. Sure on a specialist cricket site like this we all appreciate and enjoy test cricket but the wider public?

Test crowds in England are way more diverse than you seem to think.

 

[Talhah]

Test cricket can succeed but imo a key part for it to work and be appeasing to the moderd day viewer is producing pitches that have a balance between bat and ball. A recent example would be the England South Africa test series where the pitches have had something in for the bowlers as well as the batsmen if you play yourself in. Winning the toss was not an obvious choice or advantage as you have seen with Faf and Joe Root not whether to have a bat or bowl which leads to a much greater spectacle. A lot of the time now in countries for example UAE, India, Australia scores of 500 600 are being made by both teams leading to boring games. Whenever there is something in it for the bowlers whether it is seam,swing or spin test cricket is a better game.

 

[James]

Crowds at Test matches in England are as strong and diverse as ever. I can't see Test cricket dying in England and Australia.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Test cricket will never die in England and Australia, it's tradition.

For Pakistan it's no home matches and India's cowardliness which is hurting test cricket. Brearley has a point for these nations but because cricket is the major sport in Pak it will survive. I worry for NZ but they seem to produce great athletes and winning always helps the sport to flourish.

 

[USofA]

Crowds at Test matches in England are as strong and diverse as ever. I can't see Test cricket dying in England and Australia.

Test cricket will never die in England and Australia, it's tradition.

For Pakistan it's no home matches and India's cowardliness which is hurting test cricket. Brearley has a point for these nations but because cricket is the major sport in Pak it will survive. I worry for NZ but they seem to produce great athletes and winning always helps the sport to flourish.

But it will/is dying pretty much everywhere else. When no other team is playing or is any good at it, how long before people get tired of watching Eng vs. Aus all the time?

 

[Bewal Express]

The reasons test cricket is dying in many countries are numerous but they include: poor, dull pitches where fast bowlers play 2nd fiddle to average spinners, not enough disposable income, no star players( esp Windies) and the poor quality of the teams.

 

[James]

But it will/is dying pretty much everywhere else. When no other team is playing or is any good at it, how long before people get tired of watching Eng vs. Aus all the time?

Would take a very long time. English and Australian cricket fans are totally mad crazy about the sport and their children / grandchildren love it as well, so it would take some time.

 

[Xoib]

Test crowds have been dow in Pakistan since the 80's even the great Wasim,Miandad and IK type superstars struggled to attract crowds.We are just not attuned to watch 5 day game in the ground

 

[Xoib]

I remeber the Indian tour to Pak in 89 Sachin and Waqar debut series most games were played infront of empty stands still the game flourishes.

 

[shah_1]

Test cricket is dying in SC region

People simply don't have the time these days to watch test cricket for 5 days.

 

[PakLFC]

Just need to accept the facts uncle Mike. In a fast paced world slow Test Cricket with all sorts of interruptions in between is losing its appeal. People want instant and fast entertainment, one days and T 20'S are the future of Cricket. Many series are now being arranged without Tests like Pak's visit to NZ early next year. Tells us everything we need to know.

 

[Suleiman]

You can't do anything about it, this was always gonna happen. Test cricket by itself is not timeless like football, basketball, NFL. Even baseball does not generate the same hype as it did in the 1900s before the introduction and popularization of more dynamic sport lead by NBA and nfl, it only appeals to a certain type of fans. Most people think it is kind of boring, at least compared to the other big sports in the US. Test cricket in the SC is becoming like baseball in the US only it is declining much faster. It doesn't have the charm and swagger of baseball.

ODI cricket despite being ridiculed at times is still the official format of the world cup, arguably the most important prize. That and t20 leagues are the future, take that as you may.

 

[Suleiman]

The current generation take after players who bludgeon the ball like Afridi, Bmac, Gilchrist (thinking 2003 onwards here), Razzaq, Maxwell, etc etc. They don't see anything in grafters who,show grit and resilience to,get results in test cricket.

This is the netflix era, where everything needs to be fast and accessible, not having to wait 5 days for a result when you can get blockbuster action in a matter of few hours.

 

[Shutdown Corner]

Sure its dead and been dead. But it will still be played and broadcast.

Thats all that matters.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Sure its dead and been dead. But it will still be played and broadcast.

Thats all that matters.

In most countries, its making loss to play and broadcast, its LOIs that is making up for that loss. No wonder why PCB has cut down 3 test series to 2 against Sri Lanka.

Simply playing and broadcasting isn't gonna keep the game alive, you also need funds and funds are raised by fans watching it live on Tv and/or in Stadium.

Its simple economics, no fans means game will not survive long enough.

 

[Robert]

Test cricket will never die in England and Australia, it's tradition.

We will be last, as we were first.

 

[KingKhanWC]

We will be last, as we were first.

England are also very good at promoting. I hoping to see the first day/night test V Windies, tickets are very reasonable and it should be a great experience.

 

[Shutdown Corner]

In most countries, its making loss to play and broadcast, its LOIs that is making up for that loss. No wonder why PCB has cut down 3 test series to 2 against Sri Lanka.

Simply playing and broadcasting isn't gonna keep the game alive, you also need funds and funds are raised by fans watching it live on Tv and/or in Stadium.

Its simple economics, no fans means game will not survive long enough.

there plenty of things that cost money yet people persist with for a myriad reasons. Test cricket will survive through our lifetimes at least.

the planet wont be hospitable beyond 2100 AD anyways.

 

[Aman]

Yeah, I think we're not far away from most Test cricket being played by only Aus, England and India.

Simply isn't popular enough or commercially viable in other countries.

 

[Aman]

Would take a very long time. English and Australian cricket fans are totally mad crazy about the sport and their children / grandchildren love it as well, so it would take some time.

The popularity of Test cricket is irrelevant to countries outside Australia and England. You can play your Ashes series twice a year when it's you two left.

 

[AlizeeFan]

Test cricket is very difficult to market atm. You can't convince people to watch a 5 day match when all other sports finish in 3-5 hrs max. New followers of cricket won't get used to it.

Even the fast paced T20 lasts 3 hours.

Australia and England can maintain it because of history. India can keep it alive as there is very large viewer set. But apart from that it doesn't has much to survive.

Those who call themselves test cricket fan, ask yourself how many matches do you watch in a year.

 

[todfod 11]

Test cricket will never die in England and Australia, it's tradition.

For Pakistan it's no home matches and India's cowardliness which is hurting test cricket. Brearley has a point for these nations but because cricket is the major sport in Pak it will survive. I worry for NZ but they seem to produce great athletes and winning always helps the sport to flourish.

stadiums were half full when pak played australia last year except for few days.

 

[Balthazar]

Don't see Test cricket dying in India as long as it stays relevant in places like England and Australia.

 

[Adil_94]

wont die in England and Aus.

outside of that it eventually will. Tests just arent popular amongst the masses in the SC.



and Cricket is already a minority sport in NZ and SA.

in the increasingly fast paced world most people dont have the stomach or desire to watch a 5 day game bar places where Tests are a bastion of tradition and are valued by most cricket fans.

 

[KingKhanWC]

stadiums were half full when pak played australia last year except for few days.

It was a decent enough crowd for Pakistan playing in Australia. Most people watch test cricket on tv or listen to it on the radio.

 

[Haz95]

Test cricket is only followed by rich middle-classed, private education type people. LOIs are followed quite a bit by the Asian community but test cricket isn't...unless Moeen Ali is playing lol.

 

[todfod 11]

It was a decent enough crowd for Pakistan playing in Australia. Most people watch test cricket on tv or listen to it on the radio.

Again when Pak plays some one in UAE. alot of people watch the game on TV but there is hardly anyone in the stadium due to which mike brearly said test cricket is loosing its interest among pakistani crowd.
Australian summer was once the biggest market for test cricket but now even when decent team is touring stadiums seems empty especially on 3rd and 4th day it clearly suggest that this form of cricket is loosing its consumers only if hard core test match fans want deny facts thats a different story then

 

[Stewie]

Test cricket can be revived and fairly easily, the main countries just have to put aside their teams interests and introduce certain standards.

1. Pitches should be of better and sporting quality. They say a good test wicket is great for seamers for the first day and a half, good for batting for two days after that and good for spinners for the last day and a half. We don't see such pitches consistently these days.

2. Introduce and/or restore rules and regulations to bring a balance between bat and ball.

3. Enforce a league system in the shape of FTP, in home and away basis, involving all members. And a test championship.

4. Work out the kinks in the day/night test arena.


I know easier said than done, but once you get them right, you get results in majority of the tests, scheduled so people can come to stadia or watch on tv, and best of all, have something riDing on the result (test championship), I don't see how test cricket could die..

You ask players of Ireland, holland, afghanistan, etc of its importance and value and you will get it.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Test cricket can be revived and fairly easily, the main countries just have to put aside their teams interests and introduce certain standards.

1. Pitches should be of better and sporting quality. They say a good test wicket is great for seamers for the first day and a half, good for batting for two days after that and good for spinners for the last day and a half. We don't see such pitches consistently these days.

2. Introduce and/or restore rules and regulations to bring a balance between bat and ball.

3. Enforce a league system in the shape of FTP, in home and away basis, involving all members. And a test championship.

4. Work out the kinks in the day/night test arena.


I know easier said than done, but once you get them right, you get results in majority of the tests, scheduled so people can come to stadia or watch on tv, and best of all, have something riDing on the result (test championship), I don't see how test cricket could die..

You ask players of Ireland, holland, afghanistan, etc of its importance and value and you will get it.

If 'Sporting pitch' is seaming on day 1 and flat for next two days, then how is it sporting? Team winning the toss would obvioulsy field and take advantage of good bowling conditions and then bat the opposition out of match when pitch flattens out.

Tbh i would prefer a pitch spinning/seaming that behaves more or less same throughout the test.

Test championship is just not feasible and i dont see it ever happening reason is simple, most Indians just dont care about it. If ICC was serious about test championship they would've introduced by now instead of bringing back champions trophy. Lets face it, most people don't have time to watch a test match let alone watch the whole tournament that may not even yield a result.

 

[Stewie]

I did not say flat. I said good for batting. We have very few pitches these days who aid seamers after the first two sessions on day 1.

Bottom line is, mostly younger fans who have not played cricket much and are just viewers tend to value just LOI. I don't blame you. Life has become much faster and with the constraints of time it's hard for you to put up with the dull test cricket on display these days.

But trust me, when done right, it's a thing of beauty. And a true cricketer who plays the game appreciate the nuances of the longer format while following a test team.

Just my opinion. I love cricket in all formats though t 20 is my least favorite.

 

[James]

Discussions about the death of Test cricket seem to be cropping up very frequently these days, and I understand why, however I will say that your average person living in England would never know it. The Test crowds here are usually immense, and people generally know when a Test match is coming to their area because it gets very busy for a few days.

 

[ads101]

Test turnout for English cricket is still good, though I think that's to do with the older generation and the older generation convincing their younger relations to come. In terms of viewership on tv I'm sure it's down (definitely miles down if you compare to say 2005 ashes when it was free to air), and in terms of popularity amongst the younger generation it's distinctly down, hardly anyone watches. Cricket is also not played too much in schools these days either, it's mainly the public (paying) schools. And even then it's not given as much attention. Remember at my prep school it was football first term, rugby second term, then cricket/athletic/tennis etc. final term. Then at my secondary school, you chose either rugby or football (or rowing) for winter term, and then summer term again was a choice (cricket was played even less). It just doesn't have the same importance as rugby or football. Tennis has gone ahead of it. Badminton is more popular to play at least. It's just falling away as a sport both in terms of viewership and playing which is rather sad IMO.

 

[greatest]

One of the reasons why Test cricket is suffering is that the majority of the Test teams are very ordinary - West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and to some extent New Zealand is an average Test team. The top five only dominate at home and are mostly below average abroad. One can predict who will win before the start of any series.
Also the current players especially the bowlers are more one day/T20 material due to which they lack the skills and wicket taking abilities which are so important to be successful at the Test level.

Flat pitches are mentioned by a lot of people, I agree 100%, but remember it was on bowling on these flat tracks that reverse swing was discovered plus who can forget the sweat pouring shirts of a Lillee or Imran bowling overs after overs in scorching heat for their nations. Sadly, players don't have the passion and love for Test Cricket.

 

[USofA]

If 'Sporting pitch' is seaming on day 1 and flat for next two days, then how is it sporting? Team winning the toss would obvioulsy field and take advantage of good bowling conditions and then bat the opposition out of match when pitch flattens out.

Tbh i would prefer a pitch spinning/seaming that behaves more or less same throughout the test.

Test championship is just not feasible and i dont see it ever happening reason is simple, most Indians just dont care about it. If ICC was serious about test championship they would've introduced by now instead of bringing back champions trophy. Lets face it, most people don't have time to watch a test match let alone watch the whole tournament that may not even yield a result.

Spot on. ICC is just giving everyone the lip service and dragging its feet. They just don't want to do it. It just does not take this long (discussions since 2012?) to get it going. I suspect that they have done and numbers and they just don't add up. No money to be made. In fact they would lose money.

 

[Stewie]

Spot on. ICC is just giving everyone the lip service and dragging its feet. They just don't want to do it. It just does not take this long (discussions since 2012?) to get it going. I suspect that they have done and numbers and they just don't add up. No money to be made. In fact they would lose money.

no the problem is different. test championship would mean following FTP and India, Australia and England dont want to do that. Money ill be made but it wont be enough for these big board's individual coffers.

apart from those three, most other countries will actually like to see a test championship.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Spot on. ICC is just giving everyone the lip service and dragging its feet. They just don't want to do it. It just does not take this long (discussions since 2012?) to get it going. I suspect that they have done and numbers and they just don't add up. No money to be made. In fact they would lose money.

They have been planning since 2012-13 and if im not wrong ICC champions trophy 2013 was originally supposed to be Test Championship. However, the broadcaster (Star Sports?) and BCCI clearly weren't interested in it. Instead of going ahead with test championship without them, ICC delayed it perhaps even permanently cancelled it?
Test championship is not gonna be happening anytime soon or perhaps ever.

 

[CanadianG00se]

no the problem is different. test championship would mean following FTP and India, Australia and England dont want to do that. Money ill be made but it wont be enough for these big board's individual coffers.

apart from those three, most other countries will actually like to see a test championship.

Im sorry for not getting you?
How's big three were gonna make loss if test championship were to take place?

If rumours were to go by, Test championship were to play among top 4(ranking wise) countries in England in a knockout match. Winner of the that tournament would get the mace and perhaps the prize money?

However, BCCI weren't really interested and the broadcaster( star sports?) offered mere peanuts for this test championship. If ICC were serious about promoting test cricket, they would have accepted the offer from star and went ahead without Indian team. But we all know what exactly happened, Champions trophy was brought back and became instant hit, Indian team were crowned champions, and ICC made millions. In the end, test championship was put to rest.

 

[MenInG]

Happy Birthday to Mike.

==

(Reuters) - Australian bowler Rodney Hogg quipped that Mike Brearley had a “degree in people” - an apt description for a limited batsman who became one of England’s finest captains and penned arguably the best treatise on the subject.

For someone who averaged under 23 with the bat in his 66 test innings and could not manage a century, Brearley was clearly not an automatic choice for the team.

Yet he still captained England in 31 of his 39 tests with an 18-4 win-loss record, which spoke volumes for the leadership qualities of a player blessed with legendary man-management skills.

To preside over a dressing room containing, among others, a mercurial Ian Botham or a pugnacious Geoffrey Boycott would have tested any captain but Brearley knew how to blend individuals into a successful group.

The scholarly Middlesex captain studied Classical and Moral Sciences at Cambridge and brought a distinct, cerebral approach to the job.

Though not everybody was convinced of his leadership credentials.

One of his predecessors, Ray Illingworth, branded Brearley: “England’s luckiest captain”.

There were others too who felt he was fortunate to have the likes of all-rounder Botham, batsman David Gower and bowler Bob Willis simultaneously at their peak.

After his belated test debut at the age of 34, Brearley was shoehorned into the captaincy in 1977, following Tony Greig’s removal due to his involvement in the rebel World Cricket Series.

Under Brearley, England won the Ashes series at home in 1977 and 1981, and also triumphed in Australia.

Critics pointed out that quite a few of Brearley’s wins came against sides weakened by defection to the rebel series and that he never led England in a test series against the all-conquering West Indies side.

Brearley made his lasting impression in his final series in 1981, taking over the captaincy reins from Botham who resigned two matches into the Ashes series with England trailing 1-0.

Under Brearley, a remarkable turnaround unfolded with Botham as the catalyst.

With the leadership burden off his shoulders, Botham rediscovered his all-round mojo and England won three matches in a row to complete a memorable series victory.

The sight of Brearley, his collar upturned and his hair grey and tousled, marshalling his bowlers and manoeuvring the field suggested a kind of calm assuredness that few other captains conveyed.

A wicket-keeper in his early years, he was a safe catcher in the slip.

A psychoanalyst since retiring in 1983, Brearley offered deep insights into leadership in his seminal “The Art of Captaincy”.

“The good captain enables talents to flower,” he wrote.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-s...mike-brearley-english-cricketer-idUKKCN2290IK