"Test cricket is the most beautiful format of the game" : Virat Kohli

[MenInG]

Virat Kohli has never shied away from a chance to profess his love for Test cricket, and he has done so again, calling it “the most beautiful format of the game”.

Kohli, the No.1 batsman in the MRF Tyres ICC Rankings for Test batsmen, is a modern great, excelling in all formats of the game in different conditions across the world.

He is also the No.1 ranked batsman in one-day internationals, and he captains an India side that tops the charts in Tests and is No.2 in ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals.

But he has always maintained that the traditional format of the game is his favourite, and has gone to lengths to excel in it.

“I think that if you really understand the sport, if you really love the sport, you understand Test cricket and you understand how exciting it is,” Kohli told Wisden Cricket Monthly. “I cannot explain to you the job satisfaction that you get when you do well in Test cricket, because you know how demanding it is.

“It’s the most beautiful format of the game." I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere. I don’t even see it getting compressed to four days. It should not be tinkered with.”

It’s the most beautiful format of the game. I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere

In June, the ICC announced the schedule for the inaugural World Test Championship – a tournament designed to add context to bilateral Test cricket. It will run from July 2019 to April 2021, with the nine top-ranked Test teams contesting each other in a home-and-away basis with the aim of finishing in the top two, and then winning the final.

Kohli believed the initiative would give the format a boost. “I think the Test Championship is going to give a huge push to Test cricket,” he said. “It makes every series more competitive, and there’s going to be ups and downs throughout the Championship, which I really look forward to."

The India captain also stressed on the need to push and promote first-class cricket, and ensure the longest format of the game flourishes. “If you’re not going to give more importance to first-class cricket, then people are going to lose motivation to play the longest format of the game,” he said.

“And with the T20 format coming in, I think there’s a far greater responsibility on all the cricket boards across the world to treat first-class cricket really well. Because, if the facilities and the standard goes up, then the motivation always stays.

“You don’t want players to get into that mindset where they’re finding the easy way out.”

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/836838

 

[JaDed]

There was another interview as well where he spoke against 100 ball experiment of ECB but once again showed interest to play county cricket.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] may start liking him now

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

IPL fans won't like this statement.

 

[the_outsider]

IPL fans won't like this statement.

As crazy as it sounds, one can enjoy both the IPL as well as test cricket.

The two can co-exist.

 

[Mp812]

Quotes
"We've bounced back from difficult defeats before and that's the challenge for us to do it again here."
Joe Root

"England would want to come back strongly. We understand that and we will have to be even better with what we did in Nottingham to be able to get results our way."
Virat Kohli

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

As crazy as it sounds, one can enjoy both the IPL as well as test cricket.

The two can co-exist.

But there are some IPL fans who want test cricket to be stopped and also want to have IPL twice a year.

 

[the_outsider]

But there are some IPL fans who want test cricket to be stopped and also want to have IPL twice a year.

Okay that's even crazier.

 

[USofA]

But there are some IPL fans who want test cricket to be stopped and also want to have IPL twice a year.

Stopping test cricket would be utter nonsense. Let the free market make that decision. Same goes for IPL twice, three times or whatever times. Let the free market decide.

 

[pratiktc]

Lol, free market has long since decided that Test cricket is dead in India atleast. The only moneyspinners are IPL and home T20/ODIs and ICC events in timezone friendly countries. (Exclude WI, NZ

The only reason broadcasters bid for Test cricket coverage is because BCCI bundle it with ODI and T20 rights.
If rights are unbundled the economic value of Test cricket will plummet faster than falling star. Administrators are playing a major role in keeping Test cricket alive

 

[MP2011]

Lol, free market has long since decided that Test cricket is dead in India atleast.

Not in major test centres like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata etc. Only at smaller centres like Nagpur, Pune, Ranchi, Kanpur etc attract lesser crowds to test matches. Hence in my opinion it makes complete cricketing as well as business sense to hold test matches at traditional test centres.

 

[Balthazar]

Not in major test centres like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata etc. Only at smaller centres like Nagpur, Pune, Ranchi, Kanpur etc attract lesser crowds to test matches. Hence in my opinion it makes complete cricketing as well as business sense to hold test matches at traditional test centres.

I've always wondered what's BCCIs obsession with holding Test matches in smaller centres. It's not good for viewing seeing all those empty stands.

 

[cricketindiafan]

I've always wondered what's BCCIs obsession with holding Test matches in smaller centres. It's not good for viewing seeing all those empty stands.

Maybe because main centres anyways see lots of high profile cricket in the year through 6-7 IPL matches? Why should smaller centers be deprived of the chance to host Tests., why should that be a monopoly of traditional centers? That too at a time, most of our new stars are emegring from those smaller towns and cities.

One disadvantage smaller centers have is of the stadiums being some distance away from main city and lack of public transport. They also suffer from inferior infra and average facilities for the crowd. There are ways to address that problem but BCCI has ignored it happy with the TV money they receive.

 

[USofA]

Lol, free market has long since decided that Test cricket is dead in India atleast. The only moneyspinners are IPL and home T20/ODIs and ICC events in timezone friendly countries. (Exclude WI, NZ

The only reason broadcasters bid for Test cricket coverage is because BCCI bundle it with ODI and T20 rights.
If rights are unbundled the economic value of Test cricket will plummet faster than falling star. Administrators are playing a major role in keeping Test cricket alive

Very true. Test cricket has run its course on all countries except two.

I think the TV rights in all countries should be unbundled. This will show the true demand and $$ value of the tests. But I am sure the fans of the "premier" format will not want this as the truth will come out.

 

[USofA]

Not in major test centres like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata etc. Only at smaller centres like Nagpur, Pune, Ranchi, Kanpur etc attract lesser crowds to test matches. Hence in my opinion it makes complete cricketing as well as business sense to hold test matches at traditional test centres.

Holding tests in larger centers might bring crowds in. I do not believe Indian stadiums are even close to sell out for tests. Also, the $$ generated from ticket sales will barely pay the utility bills for the stadium. The key is TV audience.

So tests are a money losing cause regardless of where they are held.

 

[MP2011]

If you think so, you probably have not seen tests held in traditional Indian test venues.

 

[MenInG]

I am sure he is enjoying this as are the spectators

 

[Slog]

It really is

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

What a test match this is. Had so many ups and downs already.

 

[Hasan123]

Great test match.

 

[MenInG]

Sorry Virat - whilst this is a great format, your team (not you!) have too much IPL baggage on their minds

 

[hadi123]

This has been a great series!

 

[MenInG]

Indian captain Virat Kohli says Test cricket should not be "tinkered" with and does not see it getting compressed to four days, as the ICC mulls ways to prop up the sport's traditional format.

Kohli, who has been one of the top run-getters in Tests in recent times, plays and talks about it with equal passion.


"I cannot explain to you the job satisfaction that you get when you do well in Test cricket, because you know how demanding it is," Kohli told Wisden Cricket Monthly.

"It's the most beautiful format of the game. I don't think it's going to go anywhere. I don't even see it getting compressed to four days."

Asked if he looks at the proposed four-day Test matches as a backward step, India's batting mainstay said: "Definitely. It should not be tinkered with."

The increasing number of T20 leagues around the world has posed a threat to the traditional five-day format, with the ODIs close to facing an existential crisis.

"In a few countries, yes," Kohli said when asked if he was concerned about the future of Test cricket. "It all depends on the awareness of people who watch the game. If you take a country like South Africa or Australia or England, they have big crowds for Test matches because people understand the sport.

"It's literally living life over five days. There are so many ups and downs and even when you've done well you've got to keep coming back and doing it all over again.

"I think that if you really understand the sport, if you really love the sport, you understand Test cricket and you understand how exciting it is. I cannot explain to you the job satisfaction that you get when you do well in Test cricket, because you know how demanding it is."

The ICC will introduce a nine-team two-year Test world championship in 2019, alongside a 13-team ODI league as well as trialing four-day matches.

Kohli, who scored 593 runs from five Tests in England, is in favour of the forthcoming Test championship.

"I think that is going to give a huge push to Test cricket," he said. "It makes every series more competitive, and there's going to be ups and downs throughout the Championship, which I really look forward to. The teams that love playing Test cricket are always going to be passionate about it.

"And it also depends on the system you have back home as well. If you're not going to give more importance to first-class cricket, then people are going to lose motivation to play the longest format of the game. And with the T20 format coming in I think there's far greater responsibility on all the cricket boards across the world to treat first-class cricket really well, because if the facilities and the standard goes up, then the motivation always stays."

The Test championship could see India playing Pakistan in the format for the first time since 2007, although the two teams aren't scheduled to play in the first cycle. When asked if he would like to face the arch-rivals in Tests, Kohli remained non-committal.

"They have such a quality bowling attack that obviously as a batsman I would love to face them," he said. "It could happen but it’s not something that I have any aspirations of or something that I really want badly. I don’t pinpoint things anymore. If you asked me 10 years ago whether I would be here in my life, be having a career like I’ve had, I wouldn’t even dream of it. So I am very happy with how life is going and I’m pretty happy taking every day and series as it comes."

The prolific scorer said predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the only captain he has picked up aspects of leadership from.

"Not really anyone before MS. I was always someone who kept talking to him about the game so even when I was really young, before I was made vice-captain, I would give him my suggestions.

"I love thinking about the game and that's why I enjoy captaincy so much and I enjoy chasing totals so much I love using my brain to figure out what needs to be done during the game. I've learned the most from MS, standing so close to him at slip so many times and just observing him at close quarters."

Describing his own leadership style, Kohli said being positive is the only way he has played his cricket and expected his team to do the same too.

"I think every captain flushes in the mindset that he has himself to his team and I’ve always played my cricket with positivity. When I do well or I don’t do well, it’s not about thinking twice, only going forward," he explained. "Results are a bi-product of that mindset. I believe in giving total freedom to the guys to go out there and play the way they want to, and to be fearless. You can make mistakes by being positive, lack of execution is fine, but hesitation is something that I cannot relate to myself so I would never want the players to play that way."

"I’ve really enjoyed myself so far. I just wanted to play cricket at this level and now I’ve been given such an honour to captain my country, I cannot complain at all. It allows me to set the right example and work hard, so I can expect my teammates to work as hard. It has only helped me grow as a person and make me understand the game better and what needs to be done at different points of the game, or in life in general. You learn so many things about what are controllables, what are not controllables, respecting losses and working hard towards victory. When decision-making is on you, you need to be very aware of what you are doing and that makes you aware as a person in general."


https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...leadership-from-says-virat-kohli-1888411.html

 

[WengerOut]

Makes all the good noises but nothing to show

 

[ibykhan2020]

Test cricket is boring probably the worst format. Stadiums are empty lol

 

[MenInG]

To revive the dwindling interest in Test cricket, International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken several steps including the introduction of a World Championship apart from experimenting with day-night Tests.

Players of the likes of Virat Kohli and Joe Root have time and again reiterated the importance of Test cricket. Former England captain David Gower feels while the world championship is a positive step, the need is to prepare good pitches to produce contests that will generate interest among general public.

“There is already a move towards having World Test Championship (in 2019), which I think in the end is good. What the people want is great players doing great things. If you have good pitches, which produce good cricket, people will be interested,” Gower was quoted as saying by PTI on Sunday. “If Virat Kohli (given his extraordinary following) says Test cricket is important, then people will listen to him.”

Gower made his observations while attending a ‘public conversation’, alongside former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer and Pakistan captain Mushtaq Mohammad, organised to ponder over the future of Test cricket and its survival.

The trio felt some tweaks including condensing it to a four-day fixture rather than the traditional five-day affair could raise its appeal. ”A four-day Test match with each side batting 100 overs a day and the visiting captain having the choice to bat or field first,” Engineer said.

Gower, who played 117 Tests and 114 ODIs between 1978 and 1992, agreed saying, “Keep the spirit of the game the same. It would be possible, just, to squeeze it (a Test match) into four days without compromising the absolute nature of the game as long as you don’t make too many artificial rules to go with it.”

Mushtaq, though, isn’t a big fan of drastic changes. “As an old-timer, I don’t want to see too much fiddling around with test cricket. You don’t want to disturb Test cricket. Test cricket should be left alone. Test cricket is the mother of all cricket,” he said.

The concept of day-night Test, though, found unanimous approval with Mushtaq saying the South Asian conditions are perfect to host such games. “Start a Test match late finish late at night. In South Asia, we have the right kind of weather to introduce day-night (Test) cricket,” said Mushtaq who played 57 Tests for Pakistan.

Gower further suggested making entrance to the stadiums hosting Test cricket free to public but Engineer and Mushtaq advocated for making it more affordable. “You’ve got to go to market forces and if need be just open the gates. Because where is the money coming from? The money is coming from television,” Gower said.

Engineer, who played 46 Tests for India, said, “Why not make it affordable? Players don’t like to play in front of empty stands.”

Mushtaq echoed his views saying, “If you want Test cricket to survive, you have got to reduce the entrance fees.”

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...portant-people-will-listen-david-gower-762022

 

[WengerOut]

I like the proposition of visiting captain having the choice to bowl or bat. But 4 days tests, i don't like. It is difficult even now to bowl 90 overs with the light rule n all.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I like the proposition of visiting captain having the choice to bowl or bat. But 4 days tests, i don't like. It is difficult even now to bowl 90 overs with the light rule n all.

Most grounds have lights these days, the problem is that the umpires are too quick to call stumps when the artificial lights are turned on. Playing with the red ball under lights is challenging, but by no means dangerous.

 

[WengerOut]

Most grounds have lights these days, the problem is that the umpires are too quick to call stumps when the artificial lights are turned on. Playing with the red ball under lights is challenging, but by no means dangerous.

Yes. Might be. But light is not the only thing for not liking 4 day tests. We are still losing out on 50 overs even if everything go perfectly. That is a big factor since grinding out is also a part of tests.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Yes. Might be. But light is not the only thing for not liking 4 day tests. We are still losing out on 50 overs even if everything go perfectly. That is a big factor since grinding out is also a part of tests.

I think most tests other than those played in the UAE and Australia tend to end within 4 days as a matter of course, due to the high rates of scoring and inability of batsmen to occupy the crease. I'm not a fan of 4-day tests, but I doubt it would make a huge difference to results (with the home team winning most series as usual).

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Good to see big players making statements of support for the 5 day game. Not 4 or day/night