Interest in Test cricket is very high now and the 2 Test series vs the WI and SA can be converted to 3 Test series

[BacktoCricaddict]

10 hours ago, ShoonyaSifar said:

A section of fans has moved to discussing Hundred despite no Indian players, primarily because IPL franchises own some teams.

And also because the betting market is driving interest in these leagues.

[BacktoCricaddict]

14 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

2-3 month IPL which will get longer with addition of 2 more teams in a couple of years

They really need to trim the IPL down to no more than 60 league matches plus 3-5 knockout matches. 70+ matches plus knockouts is a total drag.

 

I'd love to see 2 groups of 6 teams each. Top 2 from each group go to knockouts. Have them play a SF, then best-of-3 finals (better-record team gets home-ground advantage) 

[goose]

the question for the administrators - do we want test cricket to consist solely of the big three because that's where we are at and very close to.

[express bowling]

1 )   People complaining about workload management, if 2 more tests are played, need to check our schedule for the next one year.

 

....  Just 4 tests are scheduled in the next 12 months.

....  No game in the 5 weeks following India England Tests series.

.... India has mostly T20Is scheduled in the next 1 year plus a few ODIs. And we play a complete new set of players for bilateral T20Is. So, playing 2 tests more tests,won't tire our test players or affect our T20 players.

 

 

 

2)  Test series vs South Africa ... Freedom Trophy ... used to be a 3 test series not too long back

 

21/22 .. in SA

19/20 .. in India 

17/18 .. in SA

15/16 .. in India 

 

All 3 test series in the T20 era only 

 

Now, with South Africa as the reigning WTC Champions, the stage is set for going back to a 3 test series if the series is properly marketed. 

 

3 test series or higher, can tell a story with ups and downs and comebacks. A 2 test series won't.

 

Keep the T20I series vs SA with 5 matches, as that is a very popular format. Convert the ODIs series into the 3rd test.

 

 

3)  The reason why I ask for a 3 test series vs the WI on sporting tracks is to get ready young Indian pacers. We always complain that we don't have young pacers ready when we tour SENA. Here is our chance to show some foresight.

 

Play pacers like Harshit Rana and pace allrounders like Yudhvir Singh and Raj Bawa and get them match ready. Prasidh can do with a few test matches too.

Edited August 7, 2025 by express bowling

[ShoonyaSifar]

9 hours ago, Lone Wolf said:

This is a needless 1 month break.  Pretty sure Ireland would have been happy to play an odd test against India.

Dublin would have had a packed house and they are a reasonable test team in their own conditions.

 

I don't understand monetary reasons for scheduling only 2 tests vs SA.

South African board was pretty happy to play 2 tests in Zimbabwe outside of WTC along with a T20 tri series.

 

It's a case of too much greediness as simple as that.

Why would they schedule a test vs Ireland after a grueling 5 test series vs England? Players like Jaiswal, Rahul, Gill, Jadeja have been playing non stop since November last year - Aus series, Champions Trophy, IPL, and this series. A month long break (hopefully longer with no Asia Cup) is not just reasonable but much needed as well. 

 

With BCCI asking players to play domestic cricket, I would much rather have our test regulars (except Bumrah, Siraj, Pant and Jadeja) play upcoming Duleep trophy than a test vs Ireland. I don't know what SA gained by thrashing Zim, that series seemed more to address political scenarios than for any other reason.

[Ultimate_Game]

52 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

They really need to trim the IPL down to no more than 60 league matches plus 3-5 knockout matches. 70+ matches plus knockouts is a total drag.

 

I'd love to see 2 groups of 6 teams each. Top 2 from each group go to knockouts. Have them play a SF, then best-of-3 finals (better-record team gets home-ground advantage) 

 

I think they're moving towards a 3-4 month IPL, 1 ICC tourney, and one or two marquee series (Eng/Aus + one other) every year. Don't think they'll reduce IPL as that's their cash cow and generates brand loyalty.

 

TBH I'm ok with this model. You get to follow a league, get to see one ICC tourney, 2 series every year, and probably 1 or 2 minor tourneys like Asia Cup. That's a pretty decent calendar.

[Lone Wolf]

16 minutes ago, ShoonyaSifar said:

Why would they schedule a test vs Ireland after a grueling 5 test series vs England?

Lol to develop bench strength??

SA basically did that in Zimbabwe.

 

Even NZ is doing right now with a even smaller talent pool.

 

Folks like Easwaran Jurel Sai Su even Karun Nair Arshdeep and others on bench won't complain & we can always add guys like Tilak Kishan Jagdeesan who are already in England.

 

Pick your fast bowlers from reserves back home.

 

Pretty sure we could field a reasonable 13-14 man squad for a lone test.

[ShoonyaSifar]

4 minutes ago, express bowling said:

1 )   People complaining about workload management, if 2 more tests are played, need to check our schedule for the next one year.

 

....  Just 4 tests are scheduled in the next 12 months.

....  No game in the 5 weeks following India England Tests series.

.... India has mostly T20Is scheduled in the next 1 year plus a few ODIs. And we play a complete new set of players for bilateral T20Is. So, playing 2 tests more tests,won't tire our test players or affect our T20 players.

 

 

 

2)  Test series vs South Africa ... Freedom Trophy ... used to be a 3 test series not too long back

 

21/22 .. in SA

19/20 .. in India 

17/18 .. in SA

15/16 .. in India 

 

All 3 test series in the T20 era only 

 

Now, with South Africa as the reigning WTC Champions, the stage is set for going back to a 3 test series if the series is properly marketed. 

 

3 test series or higher, can tell a story with ups and downs and comebacks. A 2 test series won't.

 

Keep the T20I series vs SA with 5 matches, as that is a very popular format. Convert the ODIs series into the 3rd test.

 

 

3)  The reason why I ask for a 3 test series vs the WI on sporting tracks is to get ready young Indian pacers. We always complain that we don't have young pacers ready when we tour SENA. Here is our chance to show some foresight.

Why would a team that is aiming to win a ODI WC cut down from the list of a handful of ODIs that are there before the 2027 ODI WC?

 

As for 4 tests in next 12 months, add another few last weeks, and that same number becomes 9, that's a good enough number of tests in a 13 month period. 

 

In current WTC cycle (June '25 to June 27), we will end up playing 19 tests (We played 17, 19 and 20  tests in last three WTC cycles) respectively. 

 

5 vs Eng (A)

2 vs WI (H)

2 vs SA (A)

2 vs NZ (A)

1 vs Afg (H)

2 vs SL (A)

5 vs Aus (H)

 

Unlike the earlier cycles, this time we would play every team (Pak doesn't count).

 

With the WTC, there is absolutely no chance we will pick only young pacers vs WI. Will be two/ three out of Siraj, Akashdeep, Prasidh and Arshdeep. I do however agree on the part about sporting wickets. The dustbowls work against us and make ordinary opposition spinners look better than they are. Better to play only on fair wickets that can go 4-5 days, not aim for 200 vs 200 kind of shootouts. Doesn't help our team one bit.

 

 

 

 

[express bowling]

2 minutes ago, ShoonyaSifar said:

Why would a team that is aiming to win a ODI WC cut down from the list of a handful of ODIs that are there before the 2027 ODI WC?

 

As for 4 tests in next 12 months, add another few last weeks, and that same number becomes 9, that's a good enough number of tests in a 13 month period. 

 

In current WTC cycle (June '25 to June 27), we will end up playing 19 tests (We played 17, 19 and 20  tests in last three WTC cycles) respectively. 

 

5 vs Eng (A)

2 vs WI (H)

2 vs SA (A)

2 vs NZ (A)

1 vs Afg (H)

2 vs SL (A)

5 vs Aus (H)

 

Unlike the earlier cycles, this time we would play every team (Pak doesn't count).

 

With the WTC, there is absolutely no chance we will pick only young pacers vs WI. Will be two/ three out of Siraj, Akashdeep, Prasidh and Arshdeep. I do however agree on the part about sporting wickets. The dustbowls work against us and make ordinary opposition spinners look better than they are. Better to play only on fair wickets that can go 4-5 days, not aim for 200 vs 200 kind of shootouts. Doesn't help our team one bit.

 

 

No need to cut down ODIs overall.

 

Lots of free time and a 3 nation ODI tournament or a 5 match ODI series can be scheduled in 2026 in place of these 3 ODIs in 2025.

 

Need lots of ODIs in the 12 months preceeding the WC 2027.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Interest was high because India managed to get out of a Big 3 tour unscathed. 

 

West Indies and South Africa won't generate anywhere near that kind of attention. 

 

 

[Gollum]

1 minute ago, Nikhil_cric said:

Interest was high because India managed to get out of a Big 3 tour unscathed. 

 

West Indies and South Africa won't generate anywhere near that kind of attention. 

India-RSA will. WTC champs, recognizable names like Rabada, Bavuma, Markram, Jansen. 

 

After 0-3 humiliation, people will tune in to watch us take on a strong opponent at home.

 

But venues are bad, Decembet tests in Eden and Guwahati....play won't go on beyond 3:30 pm in Guwahati that time of the year. 

[express bowling]

5 minutes ago, Nikhil_cric said:

Interest was high because India managed to get out of a Big 3 tour unscathed. 

 

SA Test series can be big. They won the WTC and have big names.

 

[BacktoCricaddict]

1 hour ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

I think they're moving towards a 3-4 month IPL, 1 ICC tourney, and one or two marquee series (Eng/Aus + one other) every year. Don't think they'll reduce IPL as that's their cash cow and generates brand loyalty.

 

TBH I'm ok with this model. You get to follow a league, get to see one ICC tourney, 2 series every year, and probably 1 or 2 minor tourneys like Asia Cup. That's a pretty decent calendar.

Unless you have at least 16-20 teams, 3-4 month IPL is a drag.