Madanlal Cricket Academy

The Test match at Ahmedabad was such a poor advertisement for the longer version of the game. I was sad to see the deterioration in the overall standard of Test cricket but much of it was contributed by the nature of the playing surface.

How can you play a Test match on a pitch that holds nothing for the bowlers? True, cricket is more about batsmen and runs but then we must spare a thought for the bowlers. Dwindling audience and boring fare does not auger well for the future of Test cricket.

Is India really aiming to become the number one team in Test cricket? From what we saw at Ahmedabad, I doubt if India belongs to that category. India can’t become the best Test team in the world by playing on such pitches. It was clear from the Test match that India had not done their home work properly.

The Indian team management should have prepared itself against Sri Lanka but it was obvious that the team was short of ideas. If there were any, the pitch laid them low. The mountain of runs that left the bowlers in ruins presented a pitiable sight.

It is imperative that the authorities give a serious thought to improving the state of pitches in India. Look at the state of domestic cricket. The other day I watched a Ranji Trophy match and was shocked to see the crowd response. The match was being played in front of none literally. It was appalling.

To produce good cricket, we must have good pitches. I have played a lot on uncovered pitches, on surfaces that helped the bowlers. It was something to score runs in those conditions. The batsmen took great pride in making runs when the conditions were challenging. The bowlers also knew that wickets on good pitches did a lot to their reputation.

We all know that these are the most challenging times for Test cricket. With the growing popularity of the shortest version of the game, the onus is on the authorities to set the balance right and that can happen only when you get audience to come and watch Test cricket and domestic cricket.

I wonder what would happen to India’s campaign in Test cricket once the fabulous four_Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V. V. S. Laxman and Virender Sehwag_stop playing. The longevity factor may not mean much to the present generation which is more keen to play T20 but I expect the authorities to wake up.

The need of the hour is a policy to develop good pitches and we have to look into this matter without wasting time. More matches like the one we saw at Ahmedabad would mean a rapid degeneration of Test cricket. I hope Kanpur offers a decent track in the interest of Test cricket. The Indians also on their part should understand the importance of becoming the number one team in the world.

Madanlal Cricket Academy