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What changes should be made to Test cricket to make it more interesting?

TahirFan

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We have a test match where both Pakistan and the Windies are quite happy to play for a draw and both teams batting at a strike rate of 2.

This match is s dull as dishwater

Here is my suggestion to making test cricket more exciting

Limit the number of overs per innings to 80

After both teams have batted their first innings, the team with the mosts runs should subtract the runs of the team scoring fewer runs. Example Team A score 120 runs and Team B scores 100 runs than Team A must carry their lead of 20 runs in the second innings.

If the game is interrupted by rain or bad light than the team with the highest first innings score should win the game

This is just my idea... Whats yours
 
It is fun TBH, Pakistan are under the pressure to win here. WI are doing their best.

But some improvements in the format are definitely needed.
 
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Make better pitches.
A pitch that rewards good bowling and has a fast outfield for good shots.
 
No limitation on bouncer,free hits on no balls.
The ICC must check on all the pitches being used in all series,focus on balanced pitches.
 
Make green top pitches or fast pitches, it's more fun seeing a deadly fast bowling or swinging spell than seeing sixes.. If pitches are dead and slow match would look boring
 
You guys want a dominating win. Nail bitter doesn't fancy much. :)

6 sessions still remaining. It is no way a tame draw. One more wicket today, WI will have hard time to save this match in the 5th day.
 
You guys want a dominating win. Nail bitter doesn't fancy much. :)

6 sessions still remaining. It is no way a tame draw. One more wicket today, WI will have hard time to save this match in the 5th day.


I enjoy nail biting matches like ashes 2005 not this garbage between two crappy teams..
 
You guys want a dominating win. Nail bitter doesn't fancy much. :)

6 sessions still remaining. It is no way a tame draw. One more wicket today, WI will have hard time to save this match in the 5th day.

Draws are not necessarily boring. Some of the greatest Test matches have ended in draws. Pakistan should win this convincingly, which was pretty much the expected outcome once Holder put us to bat and failed to restrict us to less than 300, but in spite of the fact that it will end in a result, this has been one of the most low-quality Test matches in a long, long time.

The last few years have had some gripping encounters in Tests which has breathed new life into this struggling format, but matches like this are nothing but bad advertisements for the format. Harsha Bhogle summed it up well in his tweet yesterday: ''the greatest opponent of test cricket is some test cricket itself". International cricket doesn't get any worse than a Pakistan vs WI Test on a pitch like this. If you or some people think it is great, well then good for you. At the end of the day, there is a market for everything.
 
1= Minimum overs to New Ball - 70

2= 1 substitute allowed after 2nd innings of Match. Also This Will balance the advantage of winning a toss.
 
We have a test match where both Pakistan and the Windies are quite happy to play for a draw and both teams batting at a strike rate of 2.

This match is s dull as dishwater

Here is my suggestion to making test cricket more exciting

Limit the number of overs per innings to 80

After both teams have batted their first innings, the team with the mosts runs should subtract the runs of the team scoring fewer runs. Example Team A score 120 runs and Team B scores 100 runs than Team A must carry their lead of 20 runs in the second innings.

If the game is interrupted by rain or bad light than the team with the highest first innings score should win the game

This is just my idea... Whats yours

It will then be a 80 Over match, not Test match.
 
Punish boards for awful pitches such as the aberration the current Test is being played on.
 
Engaladn Vs Pakistan in England last year was a blast (excluding the 2nd test). Why? Because they were close matches. First innings totals should be around 300 with teams sometimes scoring 400, this means good batsmen can score runs, and good bowlers can take wickets. This also means you're not stuck with the same team batting for 180 overs.
 
Improve the pitches, it's really simple. Yes, it would take a lot of hard work and preparation to overhaul the surfaces across a lot of regions such as Australia, West Indies and the UAE. You need to make it an even contest between bat and ball, you don't want to see scores of 500 play against 400 every week.

Indian wickets, as they have been in the past few years, may generate controversy but at least the cricket has been utterly fascinating.
 
Every draw results in a -2 point loss for both teams.......

Mark my words no body will draw a game after such a rule......
 
Test cricket is fine as it is. Just have better pitches. Also have freehits for no balls in tests
 
All is ok as it is. Just

1. Every Pitch should be made under an ICC pitch committee.
2. There should be clear specifications of types of pitches.
3. The committee should approve three or four types of pitches.
4. The committee before series can have lottery with the captains to chose which type approved pitches should be made for each match.
 
Yep other posters have got it spot on - it's all about the pitches.
Fast, true pitches where strokemakers get benefit for their shots, bowlers get a reward for bending heir backs etc.

It's why test cricket, on the whole, is more interesting in England and Australia and you know it will be dire in UAE.

Test cricket is not a format that will survive without a conscious effort by the ICC. Thy must intervene in the issue of the quality of pitches around the world.
 
The best way is to make sure get rid of Toss , the visiting captain will get the chance to decide what they want to do. This will make sure that tampered pitches hurt the host .
 
1) More sporting pitches. Pitches around the world are becoming homogeneous - slow, low pitches don't make for exciting spectacles.
2) Move to 4 day Tests
3) More D/N Tests providing the pink ball can hold up and dew factor in Asia can be controlled somewhat. You have to make Tests more accessible to fans.
4) 125 over limits for each innings.
5) Introduce a Test Championship so that every match counts.
 
Retrict maximum number of overs in the first two innings. Teams shouldn't be allowed to bat 2 days and score just three hundred. Teams should also be fined if they have a batsman scoring 1 off 51 :facepalm:
 
Test should be restricted to 1 innings per team only. There should be limit of maximum 3 days a team can bat.

In case team batting 2nd does not score more than the other one, then batting first team should be declared as winner.
 
Make some time and watch it! It's interesting already.. just that people don't have enough time to follow it.
 
What changes should be made in Test Cricket to make it more interesting?

Would it work if Test Cricket also had a maximum number of overs for each innings like 150?. I think it would make it much more interesting.
 
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The only change I would make is end the format unless it is played in Eng or Aus.
 
Ask haters to stop whining
If they don't watch it, that's completely fine but don’t keep whining abt it
 
1) No more minnows, let them earn the privilege to play Test Cricket.
2) Prepare more result oriented pitches.
3) Ensure that rain affected matches that don't last a minimum number of overs count as abandoned and not draws.
 
Ask haters to stop whining
If they don't watch it, that's completely fine but don’t keep whining abt it

Suggesting some changes does not make anyone a "hater" of Test Cricket. Sport is always evolving, years back we did not third umpire reviews and stump cams etc.
 
Suggesting some changes does not make anyone a "hater" of Test Cricket. Sport is always evolving, years back we did not third umpire reviews and stump cams etc.

No problem with anyone who suggests a change, change were and will be welcomed always. 4 day Test cricket is future, after 5 years we won't see many 5 day matches, and we might see even Test cricket being played in Colours and more day night games.

Saying stuff like it should die, should be scrapped, useless format, bekaar and all that is what i call whining.
 
Shorten it to 5 hours instead of 5 days, reduce innings to 2, each inning capped at 20 overs...
 
Sporting pitches, 125 overs cap on an innings, replace Kookaburra with Dukes, and more D/N Tests.
 
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