IPL exposes that we Indians ( and actually the whole world ) are utter hypocrites.

[Jay]

Nothing wrong in flexing our muscle. Deserve to. Earned it. Other teams can beg for attention. Love it. 

 

Anyway we need make sure tests are prioritised. Tests should always take precedence. Pay package has increased for ranji over the years but i feel it should match IPL in the future otherwise it's hard to keep players motivated and happy. 

 

Ofocurse first 11 A grade test players earn the big bucks. Getting there will be tough considering many players may opt for the easier route via t20. 

[goose]

9 hours ago, sandeep said:

Don't think you can blame the IPL for giving them that choice.  Players were discarding test cricket even without IPL - take for example, that Zafar kid that England brought to India for a test tour as a "spinner" - he was never going to get IPL contracts and decided to 'discard' test cricket to pursue accounting or whatever.  

 

In pre-IPL days, Brian Lara led a players strike against the West Indies Board and threatened to 'discard' a test tour.  If anything, these days, players are more willing to play international cricket for their boards, from a position of financial security - or maybe to audition themselves for the "big show".  But whatever.  

 

It all depends on how you want to look at it.   If not for the IPL $$$ many more cricket boards would be struggling to pay their cricketers enough compensation to satisfy them.  That's just fact.  

 

So overall, taking the big picture into account, it is misleading to say IPL 'hurts' test cricket, when there's plenty of evidence pointing to the contrary.

the evidence is that test cricket has thrived before IPL existed. the 90s was a golden age for test cricket, 8 sides all able to compete including a very strong Zimbabwe. we shall see how far the footballisation of cricket goes.