With many T20 and T10 leagues mushrooming across the globe, top cricketers and countries are not giving any importance to Test cricket any more. Under the circumstance, experts are predicting that the longest and purest format of cricket is facing an imminent death in near future.
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has raised concerns over the future of Test cricket after South Africa named a second-string squad for their upcoming Test tour of New Zealand.
The main reason behind the development is that most of the top South African cricketers are contracted to play in the second season of the SA20, the T20 league launched by CSA and Indian Premier League investors, which clashes with the tour. As per CSA ruling, no player contracted to SA20 franchises is eligible for selection for the Tests.
Legendary cricketer Waugh took to Instagram to slam the International Cricket Council (ICC) and top cricket boards, including the BCCI, for not caring about Test cricket.
Waugh vouched for equal match fee for all Test players as a step towards securing the future of the longest format of the game.
“Is this a defining moment in the death of test cricket. Surely the ICC along the cricket boards of India, England and Australia must step in to protect the purest form of the game,” said Waugh.
A premium, equal match fee for all Test players might be a good starting point that history and tradition must count for something. If we stand by and allow profits to be the defining criteria the legacy of Bradman, Grace and Sobers will be irrelevant,” the 1999 World Cup-winning Australian captain added.