There are 450 overs in a test match (90 x 5), wherein the one who bats on the first morning on the fresh pitch, and one who bats last on a weary pitch needs special consideration. What if overs can be allocated to each side for their respective batting stints - say 130 overs to whosoever bats first, while 115 overs to one who bats second; then 90 overs to who bats third (to set up the game), and 105 overs to one who bats last (to save, loose or win the game). This way each side gets to bat/bowl 220 overs.
However, if either fails to use up its allocated overs these overs are added to the over allocation of team batting next. If the team bowling cannot maintain the required bowling rate, the number of overs they are behind gets added to the team batting next, and deducted from their next innings. In case the innings is last, the runs equivalent to (number of overs x run rate) are deducted or added to their scores as the case may be to prod the fielding captain to maintain requisite over rate.
Further, if there are rain interruptions the overs are reallocated on a pro-rata basis to both sides, and the side that cannot be so compensated is done so in kind through addition/deletion of necessary runs as per their respective run rates. Also, the rules for wides and no balls need to be aligned with the one day format. Though rules for wides may be allowed to be relaxed for upto 20 - 25% instead of present 100% or more. And substitutions numbering 3 must also be allowed to each team. These are non-reversible substitutions, which are allowed at any state of the game. And for God's sake allow the captains to declare their 14 members after the toss, instead of a captain looking like a fool with his team selection after loosing the toss.
I believe the following advantages would result from these changes: 1. Urgency on part of each team; 2. Each team shall be forced to go for the win rather than opting for draw at slightest chance of defeat; 3. Negative tactics shall be toned down; 4. On a good pitch the one who wins the toss cannot ground the opposition under a mountain of runs, the team batting second also gets to taste the paradise; 5. Substitutions allows flexibility to captains (include fast bowlers first up, then change them for spinners and batsmen or vice versa). Also if a member is injured he can be substituted rather than the team playing handicap for the whole test match; 6. Revolutionize the game and the thinking going behind it. 7. And, of course more shots and more wickets. No place for slow pokes anymore.
If you don't like Test Cricket the way it is, for God's sake don't meddle with the rules and spoil it for everyone else. Here's what will happen if your stupid rules are implemented -BOOM- no more declarations -BOOM- no more follow-ons -BOOM- no more draws (Yes this is bad) -BOOM- no more test cricket.
Test cricket is all about bowling a side out twice -testing the skills of your opponents to see if they can outlast your bowling attack, and if they're good enough to outscore you and dismiss your side twice, they win. If you want some dumb stretched out ODI played over four innings then go ahead and make those recommendations... just don't say its revolutionize test cricket, because all it will do is kill it. Substitutions? Geez I thought the failure of the ODI subs, oops thats SUPERSUBS, would be enough to show that it just doesn't suit the game.
Posted by: fromefrog at November 4, 2008 5:15 PM
good grief
Posted by: Sarath Chandra at November 4, 2008 8:12 PM
Very interesting. It would certainly make the game very interesting and once implemented people will think how could we have thought of playing the game in any other way :)
Posted by: redneck at November 5, 2008 5:41 AM
no way mate! test cricket is all about taking 20 wickets! turning it into a ODI drawn out over 5 days wont work! test cricket is great the way it is! its worked for over 100 years! if you want to watch smash and bash cricket go to a 20/20 but leave test cricket alone for people who have longer attention spans and enjoy the game for what it is!!!
Posted by: Gerard at November 5, 2008 9:37 AM
With all (or possibly more than) due respect, I am yet to hear a more ridiculous suggestion.
One of the best things about test cricket is that the captains have an almost limitless range of strategies for trying to win the match, and there are uncontrollable variables (such as weather) that test their ability to adapt to new situations. What you are suggesting is that test cricket be made as formulaic and boring as a one day game.
Posted by: Barath at November 6, 2008 8:26 PM
Alex - I commend you for thinking out of the box, though I don't necessarily agree! For example, giving more overs to the side batting first on an Indian track might itself decide the result!
AJAX - There's nothing wrong in someone putting forth his opinion. You can disagree without labelling someone's piece 'stupid'. People might mistake such individual uncivil responses as typifying an entire culture - which would be sad.
Posted by: waterbuffalo at November 7, 2008 7:25 AM
Personally speaking, I wish there were more slow pokes around who know when to leave a ball and when to play it. That skill has almost entirely disappeared from One Day Cricket. Some of the best Test Cricket I have seen is when middle order and tail end batsmen fight to save a Test Match. Especially when the pitch is unplayable and fielders are crowding the bat. What you suggest will mean the death of spin, the most attacking form of bowling in Cricket. You think Pace and medium pace is exciting to watch? When was the last time you saw 4 slips and two gullies in a Test? Look at what Sehwag has done to Ponting and the Australians, they set defensive fields with 4 guys on the boundary in the first session itself. That is not cricket, my friend.
And why would you want to reward mediocrity? You also will never see India chasing 400 to win a Test ever again with your system. Or anybody else for that matter.
Posted by: Pratyush at November 8, 2008 4:39 PM
Well , interesting and thats the only positive thing I have to say about that, you seem to intent on a win or a loss in every test, and hence make sure test is converted into a set of ODI's !
I have yet to come across a more stupid and ridiculous idea yet. We all love aggressive play but a team saving a test is a result as well, as it was for India in the Bangalore test !
The only thing I would ask the administrators to do is to encourage the bowlers more by preparing tracks which assist them rather than dead as dodo pitches.
Please let test cricket remain in its form, it is THE MOST beautiful form of cricket and it would be a shameful day when even some of these stupid ideas are implemented.
Posted by: Vignesh at November 22, 2008 6:42 AM
The dumbest sugesstion. You are killing the very essence of test cricket. Try to realise the each test match has its own script. If your suggestions are test cricket would become as boring as ODI. (I personally dont like ODIs when compared to test cricket and T20s.)
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