T20 cricket making Test cricket extinct?

The orthodox fans of cricket believe that Test cricket is the best and the purest form of the game. But with the advent of T20 cricket, the longest format of the game is slowly losing its popularity. To make Test cricket more appealing and interesting for the new generation of cricket fans, the governing body of international cricket has tried to re-invent different aspects of the game. But as of now, T20 cricket is getting the better of the purest form of the game.

The chairperson of the international cricketing authority Greg Barclay has said that there will be fewer men’s Test cricket during the next Future Tours Programme between 2023-27. According to Barclay, Test cricket is making way for Twenty 20 leagues and global international tournaments.

Barclay told Test Match Special – “Some countries may have to make room and play less Test cricket. Some of the smaller full members will have to accept that they can’t play the amount of Test cricket that they wanted to so we may see a lessening of that- four or five a year whereas England, Australia, India I think will be playing Test cricket as they are now.”

But when asked whether Barclay is concerned about the extinction of Test cricket, he said that the World Test Championship has made the format more relevant to the countries that lack marquee series. “The test Championship has driven some relevancy into it. In 10- or 15-years time I still see Test cricket being an integral part- it may be that there is less of it.”

Barclay also spoke about women’s cricket and said that the limited-overs format is the core in the same case. He accepted that Test cricket plays a minimal role in Women’s games.

“If you look strategically at the way cricket is going there is no doubt that white ball is the way of the future. I don’t really see (Tests) as a part of the landscape moving forward to any real extent,”- said Barclay. He also endorsed Women’s Test cricket moving to five days, after the thrilling draw between Australia and England in Canberra in January.

While talking about Cricket being a part of the Olympic games, Barclay said –“It is something we are pushing for. It would almost certainly be T20.” Due to restrictions on the number of athletes, the most probable format would involve either eight or ten countries.