Photos and interviews by Dhanash Ramroop
With the growing popularity of T20 cricket, does test cricket have a future? This is what the people said.
Natisha Mokunauth
`With the growing interest and love for T20 Cricket, Test Cricket is under the most pressure and is slowly dying. Economically, some countries find it difficult to be competitive which therefore affects the economic viability of Test series between countries. Also, the fan base of Test Cricket is decreasing significantly. While I have no problem with the short format of the game, as it is entertaining and brings people and families together, Test cricket will always be my preference. I believe it is this format that truly tests a player’s mental ability to bat for long periods or one’s consistent bowling. I think it is this format that produces our cricket legends. I don’t think there is any reason for it to be modified but with its current situation, I think the cricketing bodies will make it shorter and even try to have it played at nights to fit cricket into people’s lives, instead of people having to fit cricket into theirs’.
Vivekash Persaud
`T20 cricket has taken the game to a whole new level and has been the most talked about format around the world. The focus on T20 introduced franchise cricket and we know franchise cricket is a money making and paying league. T20 cricket, both international and domestic, are played more than Test cricket in all parts and every year more and more players are becoming involved in the shorter format of the game. With T20 being more of the focus, the question is whether Test cricket has a future and being the longer format it tests one’s mental ability to bat for long periods of time and tests one’s consistency in bowling. However, Test Cricket is losing the value it deserves. Cricketers are more focused on the T20 game which has caused some to retire from Test cricket. The future of Test cricket lies in the hands of the next generation of cricketers. As of the recent Test Series between West Indies and India, the young generation of West Indies cricketers showed the ability to play under pressure, stay calm and displayed great talent and composure with the bat and ball. The fact that they overcame the mental challenge shows me that Test cricket has a future. To me I prefer Test cricket over T20 because of the pure talent it displays. Being a fan and watching Test cricket helps one to play the sport better and have an idea of how long they can withstand the longer format. Even though people say Test Series are boring it is never boring to watch teams like Australia and England play against each other.’
Richard Henry
`Being a supporter of quality cricket I will always support Test more than T20. The top ranked teams in the world play Test Cricket very well and still excel in T20. The application needed for Test cricket is necessary for all formats but it is impossible to take a T20 batsman and ask him to chase a lead of 500 because all T20 players know is aggression. Test cricket helps to open the understanding of the game more. Test cricket is like an examination and T20 is like an exhibition. So of course I think Test cricket has a future.’
Devon Scott
`I am not a big Test cricket fan but I think there’s a future for the format. Test cricket is like the marathon of cricket and 20/20 is the 100m sprint. T20 is more heavily marketed as the ‘biggest party in sports’ hence the excitement is greater than the slower paced Test match. I prefer T20 because it’s a shorter format, greatly attended, there are relatively more boundaries and in my opinion it is less boring.’
Jomal Brandt
`I think that Test cricket still has a strong future because I believe it to still be the gold standard of cricket and is the level of cricket that any serious professional is striving to play for their respective country. I also think that T20 cricket is a good thing because of the shortness and excitement that it brings. I think it will add to all formats of crickets and also aid in increasing the popularity and broaden support for cricket, which will allow an influx of better athletes that will be more interested in playing it professionally.”
Trevin Ramdeo
`Test cricket is dying as you can tell if you’re a cricket fan. Cricket boards have been trying to attract fans to test matches especially the younger generation but it is not working. Test cricket seems to be slow for this fast-pace generation. Time is limited in an individual’s life and giving their time for five days of cricket seems to be too much. That is why I prefer T20 over Test cricket but I do still follow Test cricket by checking the scores when a match is being played.
Shemroy Barrington
`I prefer Test cricket because that’s the foundation and where it all started and yes I do think it has a future. I say it’s the foundation and there are a lot of young cricketers like myself who still want to play Test cricket. When it comes to changes in the format I do think there will be sometime in the future, not too drastic but if you look at how the game was played back in the 1980s compared to now then you will notice some things have changed and I think there will be changes in the coming future.’
Lekhraj Chatram
`I think Test Cricket has a future because there are up and coming cricketers who prefer Test matches more than the new T20 format and therefore Test cricket won’t die. As for me, I prefer the Test over the T20 format because it’s much more challenging than the shortest format. You have to get a lot of stamina and patience in playing a Test match, which a lot of players lack. For me personally, as a cricketer, I like to occupy the crease as a batsman and let the bowler work hard to get my wicket. So there is a future in Test match cricket, which I think is the best form of cricket even though many see it as boring.’
Ashwant Mohabir
`Test cricket doesn’t have a future mainly because I think it’s too long and boring. People don’t really have time to sit down and follow a Test game for five days, especially young people. The only people you could actually see following the Test series are the older folks who have time on their hands and who grew up with it. The excitement isn’t there mainly because there is less entertainment, which mainly stems from boundaries being smashed all over the area. There is less of those in test cricket than a T20 match.’
