Legendary cricketer Brian Lara voiced concerns about Test cricket’s future due to the rise of franchise leagues.
The legendary West Indian batter, Brian Lara, has expressed concern about the future of Test cricket, the longest format of the game. Lara believes the growth of franchise-based T20 leagues around the world is overshadowing Test cricket.
The emergence of T20 cricket and the explosion of franchise leagues like the IPL and SA20 have led some fans to worry that Test cricket, considered the purest form of the game, might be fading away. The ICC introduced the World Test Championship (WTC) in an attempt to make Test matches more meaningful.
However, the initiative has not been without its problems. Earlier this year, South Africa sent a weakened team to play a Test series in New Zealand, prioritising their domestic T20 league (SA20), where many star players were competing. This incident highlighted the potential clash between international cricket and lucrative franchise leagues.
Lara, urged the ICC to take action to ensure Test cricket’s survival. “I think the ICC should put their heads together and find a way where franchise cricket takes over, but in a much more structured way and not in terms of the free fall that is going on at the moment,” Lara said, as quoted by the Times of India.
He expressed his support for the World Test Championship but stressed the importance of keeping Test cricket relevant for fans. “I hope the astute thinkers could find a way to make sure that it (the test) remains relevant. I like the Test Championship, and I think it is important to make sure that the game remains relevant,” he added.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently introduced a Test Cricket Incentive Scheme to boost player compensation and make Test matches more financially rewarding. While Lara welcomed this move, he believes attracting fans back to the stadiums is key to saving Test cricket.
“Incentivizing, or what BCCI is doing because they have the money, is one aspect of it. Of course, remuneration for the players is great to keep them interested in the game. But when you’re walking to a test match and there’s nobody at that test match, then it’s not encouraging. Try to get them (the crowd) back into the ground,” Lara concluded.
Last Updated on May 9, 2024
