Infuse Test cricket with T20 buzz: Kevin Pietersen

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/infuse-test-cricket-with-t20-buzz-kevin-pietersen/story-yLSMoIYAaNYtTsqcNCa15N.html

“Let’s throw equal marketing clout behind the Test game before we succumb to the lazy assumption that 20-20 rules,” Pietersen said while delivering the fifth Tiger Pataudi lecture in Bangalore organised by the Indian cricket Board.

“To those who hear this and remain cynical. Who question the entertainment value of Tests. Who believe that I am wistful about something that will soon be associated with black and white television, fax machines and telegrams.

“I say, let’s create a fair comparison. Let’s not compromise entertainment. Let’s put the Test fans first. Let’s make Test cricket a spectacle. Garnish it with colour and fireworks. Fill the grounds. Play in the evenings. Give the umpires microphones to broadcast to the spectators. Allow sledging – as long as it remains on the right side of the line. Communicate better with the fans.

“How can we ensure that for our children’s children ‘cricket’ will not simply be a game that takes 40 overs – or less – after work? I’m afraid the answer isn’t in the hands of cricketers at all. It’s in a word that makes many shudder. Commerce.

 

“We may dream that cricketers will choose to play five-day cricket because of its history and tradition, because it develops character, and because we seek to emulate the feats of Bradman, Hutton and Gavaskar. But that would be no different to asking a Bollywood star to give up the screen for work in the theatre. It may be a more classical form of acting but it offers a fraction of the rewards.

“If we wish cricketers to commit to five-day cricket, we have to pay them. How do we pay them? Simply by throwing the same commercial nous and innovation at the Test game.

“Five days of action. They provide so many opportunities. Day-night games have demonstrated the enormous leaps that are possible. The IPL doesn’t play its biggest fixtures when many of its staunchest, wealthiest fans are at work. Neither should Test cricket.

“It will only be by pushing the marketing dial to a maximum that we will see if the Test game has true potential. Let’s make every game count. Push the profile of the world Test championship. Develop marketing opportunities. Offer cheaper seats in the ground to provide a better spectacle for TV viewers. Is there a game anywhere quite like Test cricket in which so many people are passionate despite rarely attending a game in person?”

“Give the players a voice during play. Entertainment isn’t just about hitting the ball hard or bowling bouncers. It’s about creating an experience.

“And to every player thinking of sacrificing a career with the red ball to play white ball cricket, I plead with you to think again. Don’t sacrifice the opportunity to really challenge yourself. Don’t restrict yourself to a form of cricket that, however brilliant, doesn’t require mastery of every skill. Only Test cricket can do that.”

Pietersen delivered the lecture in the presence of Sharmila Tagore, wife of Pataudi. Hailing Pataudi’s contribution to the spirit of cricket, he said: “(He is) a man whose passion, leadership and love of the game have crossed borders time zones and oceans.”

 

[UrmiSinhaRay]

Dude , nobody has time to watch 5 days cricket nowadays.
I feel even T20 will feel boring by 2050

Sent from my CPH1609 using Tapatalk

[mancalledsting]

what an excellent speech by KP. Finally some players speaking up. I've always felt test cricket has been marketed so lazily and poorly. BCCI must be really upset that they hired KP for this lecture.

[Vilander]

Nice testamemt coming from a t20 sellsword gives a perspective on test cricket.

[MechEng]

The day someone talks about marketing test cricket, it clearly means the format is inevitably going to end. Like classical music, test cricket is not meant to be marketed.

 

For example trying to market Indian classical music or Beethoven to the modern generation of EDM/auto tune music fans may work, but then they will get a very perverted form of classical music to suit their taste. 

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8 hours ago, mancalledsting said:

what an excellent speech by KP. Finally some players speaking up. I've always felt test cricket has been marketed so lazily and poorly. BCCI must be really upset that they hired KP for this lecture.

They were unhappy from the very begining due to COA I think he was chosen to deliver the speech.

[jf1gp_1]

how do you market Ind-Afg test match ?

[Soorma_Bhopali]

I always wondered why can't they sell test cricket seats on 3-hour basis for as low as Rs. 100 /-  and offer free tickets for schools so that they can take the students out . That should fill the grounds ,create buzz and introduce new generation to test cricket and love for the game.

[Khota]

Petersen is stupid if he thinks poor marketing is the issue behind test cricket. This product was there for 100 years and people have moved on. I  enjoyed reading newspapers but sorry I am getting my news from internet now.