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Totally agree Oliver. What is also great is that after nearly five months (since India-South Africa), we finally have a competitive test match where the outcome isn't obvious at the start to get excited about. Certainly, we are saying "Welcome back Test Cricket, you've been sorely missed" .

On another point, do you agree with our ratings for the England team from the Bangaladesh series and our assessment as to who is already on the plane for the World Cup? England's marks out of 10 for Bangladesh ODI series And what about Craig Kieswetter? Stick or twist?

The MCC have taken a bold and justifiable step in staging this Test in support of Pakistan.

The Test match calendar needs revamping though so that the balance between the formats is clear for all to see maybe even with a league table. A 'Test' series should be a minimum of 3 matches so there is more chance of a clear winner.

One-off tests could be part of a test match championship between the top sides if the calendar allows.

I was one of the 15,000 there yesterday ,and thoroughly enjoyed a competitive day's cricket . It was odd that there seemed to be so few Pakistani supporters present , and the noise level was low ( especially when compared to when the Indians play ) .
Test cricket remains popular here and long may that continue . The ebb and flow of a 5 day game gives enormous pleasure , and certainly more than a one sided T20 or 50 over game .
Lords of course is always a wonderful place to watch any game , and this one is no exception.

oliver sadly you missed out 1 detail, MSD is in Sri lanka preparing for a "test series" to keep India's ranking at No. 1 in ICC test ranking system.

Will you be complaining is Swann was signing this deal?

Tests are a three course meal with an aperitif, good wine and an espresso at the end. They demand attention and time and are absorbing.
One day games are a portion of fish and chips and a can of beer. They麓re quick and easy.
So each to his own, me, I麓ll take a test match every time and the fact that they麓re well visited in England is a matter of some pride to me.

Few things in sport are as exciting as a closely contested test match. I find it very sad that the old format for the true test of cricketing ability has lost its shine in other parts of the world. If I had been in London yesterday there was only one place I'd have headed for and that would have been Lords.

When at football, a Championship or a League1 side lose to Manchester United or Chelsea, nobody is surprised by the result. Similarly, when the Bangladesh cricket team lose to Australia, South Africa or England nobody should be surprised either. Bangladesh have now replaced Zimbabwe as the whipping boys of test cricket.



There are two schools of thought here. One, is that should Bangladesh continue to play the big sides to gain test experience or should there be two divisions in test cricket. I solidly advocate the latter idea because in my view it would make test cricket a lot stronger and a spectacle to watch for the fans. We have all seen the excitement that the play offs give each year in football and if cricket is to excite fans around the world, then surely promotion and demotion will do so equally.



Only Australia, South Africa and England currently genuinely merit a top division place. Possibly India and Sri Lanka would take two other places in a five team top division. But India鈥檚 performances at test cricket can be very patchy. Mercurial at times and culpable at others. Currently on performance alone, none of Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies nor Bangladesh deserve a top table billing. There are others vying to play test cricket too such as Zimbabwe, Ireland, Netherlands and Kenya who need to be encouraged to enter the fold and the possibility of a third division beckons. It鈥檚 a damned if you do and damned if you don鈥檛 situation. Newer countries should be encouraged to raise their profiles in test cricket and maybe firstly by playing three days matches and then four day matches later to a full five days when progress should have been made. I do not believe some test playing nations are ready yet for the full five days of test cricket. England and Australia have had a head start here with solid county and state leagues. A lower division 鈥渁cademy鈥� league will also enable time development of newer nations to raise their profiles for test playing grounds etc.

barkonk do I detect some paranoia in your post? There is no complaint about Dhoni's endorsement deal, just a pointing out of the 'tug of war between commercialism and tradition'. You seem to be looking for enemies where none appear.

Only Australia, South Africa and England currently genuinely merit a top division place. Possibly India and Sri Lanka would take two other places in a five team top division.

----

India are the current no.1 ranked test team according to the ICC, and England are fifth (having played more tests than those above them). So how can you credit this ridiculous proposition?

Your blog sounds very encouraging re the Lords test but it would seem that advance tickets for Headingley are dismal. Not many Aussie expats here in Leeds and not sure how many of the local Pakistani community are bothered by test cricket. Will the drunken stag parties in fancy dress fill the ground on Wed/Thurs/Fri?

Big losses ahead for MCC and Yorkshire CCC?

The Paks are folding like a cheap deck of dominoes.

#7, I think the idea of a 2 division system is a good idea but I would make one slight change.

I'd follow the Future Tours Plan cycle of every 4-5 years but in this period teams in the same division play each other twice - home & away with a minimum of 3 tests per series and play the teams in the other division once - either home or away with a minimum of 2 tests per series. Obviously there would be a relegation/promotion system in place.

This means that the newer teams and those going through what is normally politely referred to as a transitional period still get to play the best teams, which means if they were to get promoted they stand a chance of being competitive in the higher division.

In addition, there are far more competitive test series and, as England's crowds demonstrate, more people are likely to turn up if there is competitive cricket.

It's a shame that Pakistan's batsmen appear to be treating this like a one day game, and have failed to build an innings. Last time I looked Butt was still there, hopefully he can guide the tail for a few more and get them passed 200.

I too am proud that this country can still command decent test match crowds. Had the game been held at Bristol I would definitely have attended (perhaps even Cardiff).

The worry with a two tier test championship is what do you do if England (or Australia) fall down the rankings so much that they don't warrant a seat at the top table. How do you then explain to the cricket lovers in both countries that they will not be seeing the Ashes contested?

To say India do not deserve a place when they currently top the ICC's rankings is absolutely ludicrous, and any country that finds themselves in a second tier may have difficulty with making the sport attractive to their public.

I think there should me more scheduling to the calendar, with designated time periods where tests should be played with each team playing 3 times in each series and playing every other team once home and once away in a four/five year period and not in consecutive periods.

If in addition to this teams wish to extend the series this would be fine however only the first three tests would count towards league placings.

Looks like I spoke too soon with Butt, maybe I cursed him. Shame.

i hope pakistan lose they are a dreadful side

MSD's signing a multimillion pound contract is not anti-Test cricket. I think Brett is only citing extremes to highlight the contrast in the two aspects of the game viz commercial and the devoted fanbase. The two need not be mutually exclusive either.

Commerce deal is simply the market's way of endorsing Dhoni's stature in the game. Footballers, Golfers, Tennis players have been raking in mega bucks for years without these in any way diminishing their devotion to their respective pursuits. We do not need to create an impression that commercialism in cricket is something to be disdainful of. It could possibly be imputed that it is a stigmatic direction the game is taking, whereas it ought to be seen as a welcome development for the beautiful game and a just reward for its aficionados.

I hope that there is a good turn-out at Headingley (I expect to go) but if there isn't it'll not be difficult to beat the crowds they would have had in Pakistan - or the Middle East - had they hosted there.

Sad, as for me Test and First Class cricket IS cricket.

Whether Yorkshire County Cricket Club's finances can take many more disasters remains to be seen; there's the real worry. How long can counties like Yorkshire, Kent and others keep their heads above water?

I was at yesterdays game, thanks to the umpires and groundstaff for getting things moving.
This series is the way things should be in the sprirt of the game and as a neutral I found it enthralling. The cricket was an ebb and flow, both sides looked enthusiastic and fired up, Pakistan's bowlers used the helpful conditions well and Ponting and Clarke looked a class above. The weather played its part of course and Australia did well to get 200+.

Also, 15000 there, good for the game. I want to watch the play when I go, in relative peace too so the no flags, fancy dress, noise, phones etc rules are great. Having been to Edgebaston etc where there is a constant background buzz that gets louder and is a pain after a few hours, I now won't pay to listen to shouting, phone calls, singing yobs, screaming children etc. I can go to my local shopping mall for that.
Oh, and to the two public school lads in row 5 of the Compton Stand, no one wanted to hear your debates on the sound GN bats make, especially when Ricky Clarke and Katich were rolling along, English arrogance starts early then.

they would of sold the match out if they hadn't charged stupid prices, 拢30 for the cheap seats!

when will England get a one 'super stadium with about 40,000 capacity and then charge cheaper tickets for the Tests?

Castanha, actually almost everything that you request is already in place. There is a formal 2nd and even 3rd division to Test cricket over 4 days. This is the Intercontinental Cup for the strongest Associates and the International Shield for the next tier of Associates. This season Zimbabwe A - actually not far from a full Test side - has been added. ostensibly to give them some international experience; there is no reason why additional A sides could not be considered in the future.

There is also a de facto differentiation in Test cricket, as India does not host series with Bangladesh and other sides such as Australia have only hosted Bangladesh once in 10 years. Similarly, Zimbabwe may well find some difficulties getting regular, meaningful tours and the unofficial boycott of playing New Zealand is well documented (hint: look how many Tests and series New Zealand have played in the last 3 years) - there is a Futire Tours Programme, but it is optional for some of the more powerful sides.

I have always advocated the New Zealand solution for Bangladesh and, when the start playing Tests again next year, Zimbabwe: 4 day Tests and mostly home series. For their first 20 years of Test cricket New Zealand only played 3-day matches, hence their relatively respectable loss percentage in their early years of Test cricket. If a side learns to play to avoid defeat, they will slowly develop the tools to become more ambitious and win the odd match.

Mr Brett,

What is your fascination and obsession about IPL and Indian cricket, do some research before you post anything on your blog.You are grossly giving your readers misinformation.

Do you think Dhoni has become popular due to T-20 world and IPL, he is best wicket keeper batsman in world in all formats and also the Captain of Indian team which bye the way is the only team in world which has won test matches in every country since 2006.His popularity is more due to his performances in all formats not just T-20 or IPL.

What is Dhoni signing endorsement deal got to do with popularity of Test cricket at lords, have you seen last match which India played at eden garden which has not ticket sales due to renovation and still 35000 people showed up for all five days.Your are creating a impression as if Test cricket has been given a new lease by MCC at lords.


@7Castanha check your facts before you write,Srilanka is not some run thru side they are far better test side than England.And India test form is not ptach they leading side in world.

Comment of the day has to be from Spesh1. Highly intelligent that one. Castanha do you actually follow current cricket rankings or just make them up?

"It was hard to judge scientifically, but on the first day the crowd was probably split along the lines of 50% "neutral" fans (many privately supporting Australia), 30% Australians (a figure aided by the 400,000 ex-pats based in London) and 20% London-based Pakistan fans."

Oliver,

I wish to challenge your assertion that "many privately supporting Australia".

You clearly have no evidence to suggest anything of the sort as your 91热爆 job role will not have included asking even a minority, never mind many of the attendees the team they were backing.

Therefore, how do you reach your conclusion, that many of the 50% "neutral fans" were "privately supporting Australia" ?

message posted by spesh1: "i hope pakistan lose they are a dreadful side"

spesh1,

Pakistan are one of the toughest teams to beat in World Twenty20 cricket. If there was a World league table in this form of cricket, Pakistan would be leading it by a huge margin.

Pakistan have one of the most talented teams in One-Day cricket. Pakistan have won both the 50-over World Cup and the 20-over World Cup.

Due to very little test cricket in the past few years, they have struggled admittedly in this form of the game. With the talented youngsters they possess, don't bet against them to climb up the test rankings very quickly in months/years to come.

I can't see Pakistan digging themselves out of this one but you never know (this neutral is definitely supporting them). Hats off to the MCC for sponsoring this series in the first place, I suspect that unfortunately the situation in Pakistan isn't going to change for quite a while so England may be Pakistan's "home" for quite some time. Whilst it's not ideal this does have quite a few benefits: extra tests in England will hopefully provide additional cash for clubs like mine (Yorks) who have gambled on spending vast sums upgrading their grounds, Pakistani players may base themselves here for much of the summer getting themselves county contracts and helping them improve as cricketers (particularly the more inexperienced ones) and improving the Pakistani team as a whole - this may also encourage Pakistani fans to go to a few more county games as well, it'll allow more people to watch / listen to test match cricket without increasing the number of England tests and it may give a bit of stability to Pakistani cricket after what's been a pretty horrendous few years for them (excluding of course the T20 win). As a lover of cricket and particularly test cricket it saddens me to see any team to go through the doldrums (barring possibly the old enemy the Aussies!) the more strong test teams there are the better as it makes for more exciting matches and games being played to a higher standard.

As much as people on here seem to love test cricket, If cricket is to survive and grow as a sport we need more T20. I am from Canada and saddened to see that there is little to no interest here in Cricket even with growing amounts of immigration from Asian countries. ICC and other countries need to get cricket into Canada. Canadians love their ice hockey but are not huge on base ball like the Americans. Therefore, with continuing immigration from cricketing nations, the ICC needs to make a real effort to promote cricket here. They need to hold some international series here and lobby governments to create grounds and leagues for cricket.

Castanha

I think you have a really bad perception of test cricket. Your idea of having divisions at an interantional level sounds very senseless. As far as England and South africa being in the first division go, all I would say is that thatll be quite unfair. England invented cricket yet they are still to win the 50 over wolrdcup. They have been one of the biggest failures in international cricket by far. If you dont trust me just go look at their stats, the biggest example has been the ashes. South africa are pretty much the same, they have lost their might which they possesed about a decade ago.


Spesh

I think you are an indian and that says it all. Pakistan has dominated India in all forms of the game. Test cricket:pakistan lead by 16 to 9, 50 over: pakistan lead by 70 to 46, T20:I dont think i need numbers cz Pakistan has been the most successful T20 team in the world up till now.

thereversesweep


I agree with you but its quite clear that England are employing unfair tactics to go up the rankings. I mean 2 series with Bangladesh..... Not being nasty but that is the only way England can go up the rankings...

I agree with JA cz Pakistan have clearly been one of the most sucessful teams in world cricket throughout history. There have been times when they were invincible and were tired of beating England in England. They have clearly defined the modern game. Sarfraz,Imran,Wasim and Waqar invented swing. The English then called it Tampering and now call it Reverse swing... Abdul Qadir invented most leg spin variations while saqlain mushtaq invented most off spin variations. No one can deny that if there would have been overall rankings of all games played(I mean historical) then Pakistan would have been at the top.....

Yorkshireplant(#27), I pretty much agree with that.

(....and the thought of Australia occupying the home dressing-room at Lord's would be too much to stomach :)

How nice, after months and months of monotonous one-day nonsense to return to some Test cricket - Pakistan vs Australia on home soil ! And it feels me with sadness observing the current state of the Pakistan national Test team. Not a household name to be had in their current mediocre batting line-up. Salman Butt aside, undone in both innings by the part-time bowling exploits of Shane Watson and Marcus North. After the one-sided back-to-back Bangladesh series, hoping for competitive Test cricket when Pakistan take on England this summer. I am not filled with confidence.

Top scorer Salman Butt has shown skill and patience in the two knocks of the first cricket Test. His contibution as player and leader will be vital for his team in the remaining encounters. Best wishes to the new skipper and his boys.


Dr. Cajetan Coelho

I was in the crowd on day one and found the whole experience very sureal.
The vast majority of the crowd that I could see were neutral and I hardly saw any Pakistan supporters at all.
Lords willl always attract a half decent crowd purely because of the venue however i expect that a very low attendance at Headingley will give a clearer indication of the general lack of interest this "series" has generated.

Test match cricket is still what it is all about. One day formats will come & go but test matches will be here in another century. And a big well done to the MCC for promoting Pakistan v Australia in England. It shows the cricket community can pull together when it needs to.

Maybe low numbers at lords are to do with the ridiculous ticket prices for testnot involving home country.MCG prices alot cheaper in australia for hoome test match

22. Oliver, I fear that you've fallen into the trap of repeating a common misunderstanding. Tickets at Covent Garden start at 拢10 with lots of other seats at 拢15. Check their website if you don't believe me. The Ballet is even cheaper! Neither are rain affected, of course. I'm always suprised at how much cheaper this is than football and cricket. That said, my happiest cricket watching memory is an afternoon spent at Lords watching a school criket match....Don't think that cost much, but I din't pay!

I mean No.22 as well!

Sadly this is the inexorable march towards Cricket ceasing to be a sport and becoming show business.
Why should players like Dhoni and Alfridi ,who are at best limited players ,hone their skill set for the rigours of test cricket ,when they can earn a fortune playing meaningless hit and giggle ?

The reality is that the standard of the majority of test match teams now reflects the priority of both players and governing bodies.Consequently ,Test Cricket is no longer seen as the pinnacle of a players career.

Entertaining opening day of the England vs Pakistan Test series. The tourist's exciting swing bowlers on top, can count themselves a little unlucky before Morgan and Collingwood's partnership rescued the situation for England.

Continuing the Test-Match cricket theme (and giving it a bad name)... Sri Lanka v India

Sri Lanka 1st Innings
642 for 4 (159.4 overs)
India 1st Innings
707 all out (225.2 overs)

Somebody dig up that pitch ....
Only 14 wickets falling in FIVE days, pity the poor spectators watching this match.
These kind of ridiculous scores are becoming all too common in Sri Lanka.
Sanction the pitch curator and temporarily ban this venue from holding any future matches until they can produce more bowler-friendly wickets.

Cricket is only kept alive by ex-public schoolboys who have been given jobs by their friends on newspapers, in the media, and in banks and so on who sponsor cricket. Without them, cricket would die. Take for example the Daily Telegraph that often devotes pages to cricket and only a column to Formula 1 and compare the F1 and cricket coverage on 91热爆 Sport to see the bias.