Drop T20Is, market Test cricket smartly: Graeme Smith

[Switchblade]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/drop-t20is-market-test-cricket-smartly-graeme-smith/articleshow/64395019.cms

"I am a big believer that T20 cricket shouldn't be played at international level. Maybe have a World Cup every couple of years but it should be largely a domestic-based format," the former South African captain was quoted as saying at an event in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"Test cricket needs some context, how they get there I don't know. They need to invest in marketing that game a little bit better. So much money nowadays go into marketing the T20 game and rightly so because it's an amazing concept.

Smith, his country’s most-capped Test captain and second-highest run-getter after Jacques Kallis, also suggested that the ICC consider splitting the year cricket calendar into two halves."The ICC needs to sit down and work on a way forward for cricket. Maybe there should be six months a year that's just domestic T20 cricket and six months is international cricket. These things need to be debated because I don't think in the current system everything can survive,” said the 37-year-old former opener, who played 117 Tests.

Highlighting the amount of money spent on promoting T20 cricket across the globe, Smith spoke of the need for Test cricket to be similarly invested in.

 

"There needs to be investment. Maybe spend more money marketing Test cricket. So much money is spent in marketing the T20 format. Maybe there can be money marketing the stories and histories in Test cricket,” he said.

 

"What's great for the game is someone like Virat Kohli who wants to do well in Test cricket and be successful and set standard for everyone else. As long as people like him consider Test cricket valuable, it's important for the rest of the world."

[chewy]

Definetly, T20 shouldn’t be played at international level

 

[Lala2790]

I agree with Smith here. Domestic tournaments are far more entertaining. 

 

Plus I prefer 5 days to lol at Ishant as opposed to 4 overs 

[Khota]

Let the market forces decide it. Do they not understand when people dont show for the games they dont like it. This is not a difficult concept.

[Austin 3:!6]

55 minutes ago, Pace90 said:

Absolutely, Tamasha cricket should not be played at international level, only serious cricket, ODI and tests .

So you are saying Pakistan is rank 1 team in Tamasha cricket?

[MechEng]

Test cricket is an acquired taste and something not meant to be marketed. Just like tea drinking,  you will not see mild flavoured Darjeeling teas which is drunk without milk and sugar to be popular among common people (partly due to taste and cost), whereas the most popular ones are the masala teas loaded with ginger/cardamom/cloves, lots of milk and sugar, the kind of tea disliked by the sophisticated tea drinkers.

Edited June 2, 2018 by MechEng

[Khota]

If you like test that is good for you. I like T 20 and I would appreciate if you dont tell me what to like or not. I am not telling you anything so learnn to mind your own business. I have no interests in Tests. Go screw yourself Graeme Smith.

[Lala]

T20 is best entertaining format in international level and we are the no1 T20 side. India is yet to be there, that's why they are jealous about t20. Fantasy leagues like IPL kill the spirit of international T20 cricket by buying players for $. Moreover how much t20 games indians play domestic level they couldn't perform well in international level t20 cricket except one hell of a first win of world cup t20 where it was a new tournament for everybody and they sneaked to finals somehow. 

[Lala]

Even graeme smith knows SA can never win a T20 world cup  and they just wanted to be at high on test rankings .

He needs to understand t20 is growing and what the market requires. Today people are very busy and they dont have time to watch test cricket continuously for 8 hours per day, obviously they choose more entertaining fast game like t20 to save time as well as get some joy.

[jf1gp_1]

8 minutes ago, Lala said:

T20 is best entertaining format in international level and we are the no1 T20 side. India is yet to be there, that's why they are jealous about t20. Fantasy leagues like IPL kill the spirit of international T20 cricket by buying players for $. Moreover how much t20 games indians play domestic level they couldn't perform well in international level t20 cricket except one hell of a first win of world cup t20 where it was a new tournament for everybody and they sneaked to finals somehow. 

I get it, for you as a pakistani finding ways to mock India is your only agenda but atleast try and understand what Smith is saying. 

[The Dark Horse]

Can't force people to sit through a 5 day test match. I'm all with test cricket and all, but practicality is something else.

[Params7]

Totally agreed with Graeme. T20 is like light beer or diet pepsi, you know its not the real thing (sorry kiddos). Keep it to 5 ODIs with 3 tests.

[Vilander]

On 6/1/2018 at 11:33 PM, Lala said:

T20 is best entertaining format in international level and we are the no1 T20 side. India is yet to be there

Factually incorrect and statement made by Smith. 

[Vilander]

14 hours ago, Params7 said:

Totally agreed with Graeme. T20 is like light beer or diet pepsi, you know its not the real thing (sorry kiddos). Keep it to 5 ODIs with 3 tests.

3 Odis and 5 tests. 

[cowboysfan]

the horse has bolted the stable,We may be the last generation to enjoy the privilege of watching test cricket.

[Khota]

On 6/2/2018 at 10:26 AM, Params7 said:

Totally agreed with Graeme. T20 is like light beer or diet pepsi, you know its not the real thing (sorry kiddos). Keep it to 5 ODIs with 3 tests.

Can you kindly tell us what is the real thing?

[Clarke]

Domestic leagues are a standard below International cricket (T20 included) since they reward mediocre talent instead of filtering it out. Six months of the former would be insane, Unadkat & Pandey will probably build their own towers besides Ambani's and still suck at the sport. 

Edited June 3, 2018 by Clarke

[Stuge]

Hmm I would take International T20 match over domestic matches.....Test Cricket stil lives among. core cricktet fans ,but for new generation who prefer fatafat cricket over slow cricket  drives broads to play more t20  cricket as money plays an important role .