How much-frowned T20s is breathing life back into Test cricket

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The Indian team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, displayed remarkable aggression in the Kanpur Test match against Bangladesh in September 2024. Despite two full days being washed out due to rain, Rohit’s side managed to chase down Bangladesh and win the Test match with more than one and a half sessions remaining on the final day.

To put things into context, all four innings of the match were played, and a total of 173 overs were bowled—less than two days’ worth of bowling in Test cricket. And no, India did not scrape through; they won in the most dominant manner, finishing the game well before its scheduled closure.

The win was set up by an unprecedented batting display from the Indian team. Rohit Sharma and his men unleashed a boundary-hitting barrage against Bangladesh, scoring runs at a rate of over 8 runs per over. Their style of play resembled modern-day T20 cricket more than traditional Tests, a tactic that purists might scoff at.

IND vs BAN, Kanpur Test: Match Report

With the ball, India was equally aggressive. There were barely any long spells handed to bowlers. Mohammed Siraj bowled just 4 overs on the final day and was never brought back. Rohit Sharma consistently searched for wicket-taking options, engineering breakthroughs rather than waiting for mistakes from the opposition—again, a tactic more typical of T20 cricket than Tests.

T20 Approach Entertains

It was quite ironic that a T20 approach once dubbed the death of Test cricket during the mid-2000s, would produce one of the most entertaining red-ball matches in recent times. This trend is not isolated to the India vs. Bangladesh Test; several teams worldwide have recently adopted fast, aggressive cricket in a bid to bring excitement back to the red-ball format.

In the first Ashes Test of 2023, Ben Stokes’ England declared on Day 1 after batting just 78 overs, scoring 393 runs—an extraordinary feat in Test cricket. Although England lost that match, it undoubtedly thrilled fans.

England’s much-fabled “Bazball” approach, under the coaching of Brendon McCullum, exemplifies how modern-day Test cricket has merged with an aggressive T20 mindset. Since taking over the English side, McCullum and Stokes have aimed to inject a fresh attitude into red-ball cricket. Rather than defending for three days, England has sought to play attacking cricket, regardless of the risks.

“…Let’s think that we’re in the entertainment business rather than the sporting business. There’s a reason why 20,000 people came out to watch us at Trent Bridge, so I set a challenge to the team to be even more fearless, positive, and aggressive than that,” Stokes told The Guardian back in 2022 after their first Test series under McCullum.

Tests Become Aggressive After 2007

T20 cricket became a household name after the inaugural 2007 World Cup in South Africa. With India winning the tournament, the 20-over format captured the fans’ imagination. Following the World Cup, the Indian Premier League emerged, fundamentally changing the sport.

However, the World Cup also significantly impacted Test cricket. Players who grew up watching or playing T20 began adopting a more aggressive approach. As a result, Tests—once at risk of becoming drab due to the prevalence of draws—became more result-oriented.

Historically, teams have drawn 1 match in every 2 Tests. This trend placed the format in jeopardy, as teams were increasingly unwilling to pursue victories and were content with sharing the spoils after five days of play.

Since the T20 World Cup, that figure has dropped significantly. After 2007, only 1 in 5 Tests ended in a draw. This trend became even more pronounced after the introduction of the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2019. Following the WTC’s establishment, only 1 in 11 Tests have ended in draws.

  • Overall Tests: 2,864 matches, 1,201 draws
  • Since 2007 World Cup: 1,420 matches, 278 draws
  • Since WTC: 303 matches, 26 draws

Back in 2010, former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi predicted that T20 cricket would ultimately enhance Test cricket.

“I would say T20 cricket has introduced a more positive attitude in players and led to Tests being played more aggressively and being more result-oriented. What we need to do is strike the right balance in our teams for all three formats of the sport,” Afridi said in an interview.

It has taken time, but the new generation of batters has brought a significant change in the approach to Test cricket.

Test matches after 2007 T20 World Cup.

The Rishabh Pant Era

Aggressive batting isn’t a new element in Tests. Players like Viv Richards, Virender Sehwag, Adam Gilchrist, and Kapil Dev have dominated with their batting in different eras. However, these were isolated instances, not indicative of overall team strategies.

This changed significantly with the World Test Championship. Players like Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley—openers for England—have taken the attack to the opposition, batting at a strike rate of over 70 runs per 100 balls. Similarly, Indian duo Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal embody this fearless approach, often starting their innings with boundaries.

Pant, in particular, is a prime example of how mindsets have evolved in Test cricket. In 2021, during the Gabba Test against Australia, Pant single-handedly won a match that many thought should end in a draw. His heroics at Gabba instilled a sense of confidence in the Indian team—a push for result-oriented play that reached its peak in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh.

Batters with highest strike-rate in WTC (min. 1000 runs).

Changing Times

The combination of T20 cricket and the World Test Championship format has ushered in a much-needed change in Test cricket. Gone are the days of lifeless pitches where teams would bat for nearly 300 overs and score 900+ runs. Test cricket now rewards teams that actively pursue results.

Currently, the Test matches in Pakistan, which often end in boring draws due to unresponsive pitches, have started to evolve. In 2024, Pakistan introduced pitches that favoured bowlers in their series against Bangladesh. While they lost that home series 0-2, it at least revitalised Test cricket in the country.

Tests are undoubtedly the pinnacle of cricketing excellence. However, there’s no denying that the shorter formats, with their modern outlook, have played a crucial role in revitalizing a format that was in limbo for a long time.

Fans now eagerly await the Test season in their countries, and with continued support, this format may just regain its status as the most sought-after form of cricket once again.

Published By:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published On:

Oct 2, 2024

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