Downfall of Indian Test Cricket

[badguy]

Why Indian Test Cricket is on the Downfall? When the England cricket team landed on Indian shores early last month, not many expected them to put up a decent fight let alone win. After the first test in Ahmedabad, it all but seemed that way. In the second innings of that match, the way Cook batted for 176 followed by the 91 by Prior seemed to turn things around for England as they started to really believe that they can bat on Indian pitches having been bundled out for 191 in the first innings. Little did India know of what was to follow in the next two tests. All of a sudden, England, a team which has a knack of playing extremely poorly in Indian and Sri Lankan pitches started to dominate the Indians on their own grounds. It was as if England were playing India in home conditions. None of the Indians looked dominant or fierce and their firepower were comparable to the Bangladesh side. Many cricket lovers around the world were shocked to find out England had clinched the series 2-1. Clinched would seem to be an understatement, England had soundly thrashed India in there own backyard. That statement alone is something someone would envision in their dreams, more likely English dreams. So what happened? Why did a side who had so much success recently, falter against sides like England, Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa but seem to do moderately well against sides like Pakistan and Sri Lanka? Firstly, as a non-Indian, I would probably say I'm not surprised. With a country celebrating the shorter format of the game, it's no wonder that they have 'forgotten' how to play test cricket. Looking at the Indian captain, regarding highly of T20 cricket and always making sure to state its importance and how much the next generation should embrace T20. Talk to him about Test cricket or even One-Dayers and one wouldn't be surprised to see him yawn. One could ask him, "So what do you think of the DRS?", and his response would be "Who it is? Oh yea, nah it shouldn't be there, k, bye." Not only the Indian captain, but just look at the attitude of the players themselves. They get kicked out early in the 2007 WC, result? Disappointment. They lose a big test match, result? Disappointment. They get kicked out of the T20 WC, result? Crying like little girls, *cough* Virat Kolhi-flower *cough*. Not only the Indian players, but just look at Indian media. I'll admit I watch streaming cricket videos on the net live from some Indian channel, and looking at their ads, it's always some dude or some kid saying something in Hindi with T20 clearly said a number of times, not Test matches but T20. The Indian cricketers in the ads are always in T20 uniform, the kids in beaches are playing T20 (or T10?) cricket, never see em in the baggy whites looking to bat long innings, it's always bat hard. Then theres one ad of Rajinikanth lookalike I assume, hitting 6 or 7 bowlers at once for a sixer which lands somewhere in space and so on... I literally had a friendly chat to a regular Indian on the street and told him "India just lost a test match" and had the response "Yea, don't care, k, stop stalking me dude". I then told him "India just lost some T20 match" and his response "WAT? No WAy!!! But seriously dude, you're not a journalist, leave me alone you piece of -"So clearly, Indian people themselves are regarding T20 as greater than Test matches. Test matches are fast on the decline and India, with its powerful BCCI, seem to be keen on destroying Test cricket not embracing it. The Indians need to be sent a message that Test cricket can be just as exciting and enthralling, if not more than T20 or ODI. Look at the recent Australia vs South Africa series and learn from the way those guys composed themselves. Also look at the current Australia vs Sri Lanka series and see how they turned a pitch that wouldn't last 3 days and took the game right to the last half-hour of the 5th day. In T20, you will cherish your win for 2 days, whereas in Test cricket, you will cherish your win for 2 years. If you lose, well um...it makes you stronger? Remember fellow Indian dudes, To fight the pen with the sword is to sword with the...um.. I dunno, I'm not wise enough yet. India's next tour is scheduled with West Indies and Sri Lanka. If there is a test match in that series, do not expect to challenge the likes of the number 1 Test batsmen (Sangakkara), the Prince of Galle (Jayawardene), the Six King (Gayleforce) and Fiercely scary batsmen (Tharanga Paranavitana), without changing your mindset about Test cricket. Upul Tharanga, Correspondent of a Newspaper.

[Tiger80]

I literally had a friendly chat to a regular Indian on the street and told him "India just lost a test match" and had the response "Yea, don't care, k, stop stalking me dude". I then told him "India just lost some T20 match" and his response "WAT? No WAy!!! But seriously dude, you're not a journalist, leave me alone you piece of -"So clearly, Indian people themselves are regarding T20 as greater than Test matches. Test matches are fast on the decline and India, with its powerful BCCI, seem to be keen on destroying Test cricket not embracing it. The Indians need to be sent a message that Test cricket can be just as exciting and enthralling, if not more than T20 or ODI. Look at the recent Australia vs South Africa series and learn from the way those guys composed themselves. Also look at the current Australia vs Sri Lanka series and see how they turned a pitch that wouldn't last 3 days and took the game right to the last half-hour of the 5th day.

:banghead: test cricket fanatics are behaving like religious fundamentalists .Why can't they just allow people what they like play and watch.Lets make a country test cricketistan where it is mandatory for person to play and watch test cricket.Some of the harshest punishments will be given if you play or watch T20

[badguy]

LOL @ Mr Tiger, they can "allow" people to play whatever they like, the point is that you will find a very small minority in India are interested or slightly interested in Test cricket and hence its downfall. IF india wants to be a test nation, they need to encourage test cricket more... So yea, the harshest punishments should be given to BCCI not the people.

[superstar]

:banghead: test cricket fanatics are behaving like religious fundamentalists .Why can't they just allow people what they like play and watch.Lets make a country test cricketistan where it is mandatory for person to play and watch test cricket.Some of the harshest punishments will be given if you play or watch T20

+1. Nothing more stupid than "real"/"pure" cricket. Cricket in real form had no time limits and was played only by the rich people a.k.a gentlemen. For the fools who fall into this Cricket is gentlmans game crap... Gentlemen acc. to British history used to have the following meaning. 5. (Historical Terms) Brit History a man of gentle birth, who was entitled to bear arms, ranking above a yeoman in social position

[Old guy]

its not about real form... test cricket is hardest u play for 5 days a test series is special and hard to win we still have not won in australia or south africa... and many teams have not won in india skill wise its toughest forget it origin but its different game from odis and t20 we have today test is about getting 20 wickets even session where runs are scored at 2 rpo can be interesting cos its not just abt runs...u just dont get those things in shorter formats... imo good team will be good in all formats (t20 aside cos no one takes it serious other then world t20 ) people think we have been crap only in tests...but we lost in odis in england and australia at home we played against crap teams let south africa,australia come over in india and i think we will lose even against them for gods sake we lost to bangladesh!

[mr cricket]

T20 is the future of cricket. No one these days has time or patience to watch Test cricket. Didn't you see all the empty seats in England vs India Test series.

[Utalk]

So Indian test team does well against Pak and struggles v BD? WTF.

[Clarke]

its not about real form... test cricket is hardest u play for 5 days a test series is special and hard to win we still have not won in australia or south africa... and many teams have not won in india

True. Its not that hard to understand, when the nation loves one sport, it is expected that excellence at the highest level should be the order. What's more, I cannot understand why it has to be either T20 or tests. Can't we excel in both ? Is the talent pool so limited that the same set has two excel in two very contrasting formats ? With careful planning & management, we can achieve success in all formats. Even the English were #1 in tests & T20s briefly & #2 in ODIs.

[NareshK]

Sri Lanka lost a test series against New Zealand at home recently which is considered a poor team. Why dont you write a bit more about that and why Sri Lanka has never won a test match in India, Australia or South Africa ? Your team is made up of flat track bullies and mediocre players who will never be worth anything outside Sri Lanka. Even if we were to talk about ODIs, Sri Lanka lost to India 4-1 at home and lost to Bangladesh, Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup. Wow what a performance by the Loins. :hehe:

[Texy]

Thank you Mr. Upul Tharanga for this masterpiece article. You have truly opened my eyes. I wasn't aware that you have taken up journalism after retiring from your exemplary cricketing career. This is a joyous occasion for all of Sri Lanka. I congratulate you on your new career path as a sports journalist/ unpaid unofficial Indian test team performance analyst. I must admit, I felt goosebumps replying to you as you're one of my idols and I'm a big fan. Whether it's on the pitch or in bed, whenever my off stump goes flying, I prefer to call it pulling a Tharanga. My wife thinks it's kinky. I even named my 7th born Warushavithana but people had difficulty pronouncing his name here in America so now everyone calls him Hagu. Regardless, I'm a big fan and would give you my daughter's hand in marriage if you can sign the blank paper I'm attaching. Please feel free to print it out, sign it, scan it and then msging it back to me. Yours truly, Alejandro Eduardo Gonzalez Morales Vasquez Lopez P.S. Don't forget the autograph...my daughter has mahela's eyes & Dillu's facial hair. She'll be a good wife.

[jairamesh]

Thank you Mr. Upul Tharanga for this masterpiece article. You have truly opened my eyes. I wasn't aware that you have taken up journalism after retiring from your exemplary cricketing career. This is a joyous occasion for all of Sri Lanka. I congratulate you on your new career path as a sports journalist/ unpaid unofficial Indian test team performance analyst. I must admit, I felt goosebumps replying to you as you're one of my idols and I'm a big fan. Whether it's on the pitch or in bed, whenever my off stump goes flying, I prefer to call it pulling a Tharanga nanga. My wife thinks it's kinky. I even named my 7th born Warushavithana but people had difficulty pronouncing his name here in America so now everyone calls him Hagu(inspired by your abt2do#2 batting stance). Regardless, I'm a big fan and would give you my daughter's hand in marriage if you can sign the blank paper I'm attaching. Please feel free to print it out, sign it, scan it and then msging it back to me. Yours truly, Alejandro Eduardo Gonzalez Morales Vasquez Lopez P.S. Don't forget the autograph...my daughter has mahela's eyes & Dillu's facial hair. She'll be a good wife.

The more pertinent question is, does she have Mahela's boobies?

[badguy]

Thank you Mr. Upul Tharanga for this masterpiece article. You have truly opened my eyes. I wasn't aware that you have taken up journalism after retiring from your exemplary cricketing career. This is a joyous occasion for all of Sri Lanka. I congratulate you on your new career path as a sports journalist/ unpaid unofficial Indian test team performance analyst. I must admit, I felt goosebumps replying to you as you're one of my idols and I'm a big fan. Whether it's on the pitch or in bed, whenever my off stump goes flying, I prefer to call it pulling a Tharanga. My wife thinks it's kinky. I even named my 7th born Warushavithana but people had difficulty pronouncing his name here in America so now everyone calls him Hagu. Regardless, I'm a big fan and would give you my daughter's hand in marriage if you can sign the blank paper I'm attaching. Please feel free to print it out, sign it, scan it and then msging it back to me. Yours truly, Alejandro Eduardo Gonzalez Morales Vasquez Lopez P.S. Don't forget the autograph...my daughter has mahela's eyes & Dillu's facial hair. She'll be a good wife.

Dear Mr Alejandro Eduardo Gonzalez Morales Vasquez Lopez, Thank you for your words of support and I just wanted you to know that I highly appreciate all my fans wherever they are. Back in Sri Lanka, me fans call me "Sexy Edges" coz I produce the sexiest edges than any other player in the world. I would love to personally meet you in Austin, Texas whenever I get a chance to go to America but due to my busy career doing important stuff that I can't mention on a website, I can't really tell when. Although if I do get a chance to act in a Hollywood film with Tom Cruise as my captain, Rebecca Black as my wicketkeeper and Justin Bieber as my boundary fielder, I will definitely not miss up that opportunity to come to America. I have to mention though that I am greatly honored that one of my fans would name their own child after me and so I had to reply. I apologise if I gave you further goosebumps and thanks for the daughter offer but I'll pass for reasons I can't, once again, mention why (although if your son was older...). Your daughter does sound attractive, does she have Malinga's hair too? She could easily win that Miss Universe thing they have in America!!! P.S. I would sign your paper but I ran out of typing ink.. Kindest of regards, Warushavithana Upul Tharanga SL's most dangerous opener since Sanath Jayasuriya

[DarthSimian]

LOL @ Mr Tiger, they can "allow" people to play whatever they like, the point is that you will find a very small minority in India are interested or slightly interested in Test cricket and hence its downfall. IF india wants to be a test nation, they need to encourage test cricket more... So yea, the harshest punishments should be given to BCCI not the people.

Are you saying that people should force themselves to watch test cricket, irrespective of whether it is boring or not, in order for their team to perform better in a form they have forced themselves into? :nervous:

[Old guy]

True. Its not that hard to understand, when the nation loves one sport, it is expected that excellence at the highest level should be the order. What's more, I cannot understand why it has to be either T20 or tests. Can't we excel in both ? Is the talent pool so limited that the same set has two excel in two very contrasting formats ? With careful planning & management, we can achieve success in all formats. Even the English were #1 in tests & T20s briefly & #2 in ODIs.

yes,actually its important to have different squads cos of sheer number of games being played ... btw on topic which is the last odi u all remember ? sri lanka game? pakistan probably? cos after world cup these odis and t20's have been so boring for me :cantstop: dont think many people take them seriously

[DarthSimian]

its not about real form... test cricket is hardest u play for 5 days a test series is special and hard to win

Hey, I have to make my students write an exam. Shall I ask them to solve 20 questions in 30 minutes or ask them to sit 24 hrs to answer them. Of course, it is harder for them to sit 24 hours, so it must be the better way!

[Old guy]

Hey' date=' I have to make my students write an exam. Shall I ask them to solve 20 questions in 30 minutes or ask them to sit 24 hrs to answer them. Of course, it is harder for them to sit 24 hours, so it must be a better way to administer it ![/quote'] no bad analogy ... if u just want result just toss the coin and get done with it :cantstop: its more about thrill for me i have seen sessions of play with bowler working over batsmen..bbatsmen counter attacking at right time like amla and smith did vs australia and taking game away best part it has to be done in every game otherwise u cannot win u have to stay intense through out game to win if u cannot understand or like it no problem but dont tell people who like it that it is stupid and waste of time that is real immature thing to do imo!

[superstar]

no bad analogy ... if u just want result just toss the coin and get done with it :cantstop: its more about thrill for me i have seen sessions of play with bowler working over batsmen..bbatsmen counter attacking at right time like amla and smith did vs australia and taking game away best part it has to be done in every game otherwise u cannot win u have to stay intense through out game to win if u cannot understand or like it no problem but dont tell people who like it that it is stupid and waste of time that is real immature thing to do imo!

This is what happens in IPL. Need to be consistent when it matters and stay fit...16 games in less than 6 weeks..media pressure, owner pressure, physical pressure, psychological pressure.

[Old guy]

This is what happens in IPL. Need to be consistent when it matters and stay fit...16 games in less than 6 weeks..media pressure' date=' owner pressure, physical pressure, psychological pressure.[/quote'] lol its different thing! what i was talking about skill and pressure created by bowlers being consistent disciplined in ipl ur considered disciplined if u come back form party near 2 am :beee:

[Crookbond]

Hey' date=' I have to make my students write an exam. Shall I ask them to solve 20 questions in 30 minutes or ask them to sit 24 hrs to answer them. Of course, it is harder for them to sit 24 hours, so it must be the better way![/quote'] Who is grading the exam?

[superstar]

lol its different thing! what i was talking about skill and pressure created by bowlers being consistent disciplined in ipl ur considered disciplined if u come back form party near 2 am :beee:

What kind of pressure are you talking about?? Constantly bowling outside the stumps and all of a sudden make batsman play....It is a game of patience..nothing else. In T20 batsmen try to hit bowlers in every possible way and bowlers try to limit this...there is the real challenge. Test match is like cold war...pile up the weapons and technology and see who loses first. T20 is like an actual war ...:hitler: