Test Cricket-The Real Deal

TEST CRICKET- THE REAL DEAL

11 fielders, 2 batsmen and 2 umpires, all in white, with a red ball walking into a packed stadium. That is Cricket. That is Test Cricket. The heart and Soul of the game, the forgotten and unfavored form of the game these days. This article is an attempt to enlighten those who feel otherwise.

Test cricket derived its name from being called the form of game which puts all the skills of a player under the scanner. Only those few fans who follow cricket with such passion can develop that undiluted interest in this form of the game. Personally I’d give up 100 T20 games to watch one test match. The emotion the game carries, 5 days of struggle, to achieve supremacy, victory and greatness, is no equivalent to 20 overs of insane swinging and baseball style slogs. For me, a batsman scoring 70 odd in swinging and seaming conditions is far better than a 100 off 33 balls. It tells you about the technical skill and the mental conditioning of the batsman to play and survive in such hostile conditions.

Every test match, irrespective of the result has a story to tell. A story about a lanky young fast bowler proving himself, or a newbie finding his feet in the international arena, the resilience of a team or the inspiration one can provide for a whole team. Test cricket is all about stories that pans out in the 5 long testing days.

One another reason why I love Test cricket more is the fact that, it is the only form of the game where the bowlers are generally on top. Let alone, the placid and dead surfaces of the sub continent, elsewhere, it the bowlers, the swing bowlers who are in contention. Often, the game has favored the batsmen and seeing the bowlers being on top gives us that little pleasure.

A fast bowler steaming in, moving the ball sharply both ways with a packed slip cauldron and almost no fielders in the other positions is a sight to watch. It is also about surviving the difficult phases, going through phases when you know the bowler is on top.

Here are some of my interesting stat compilations on test matches played till date.

719 drawn games out of 2102 which is almost 34%

29 games – Team won by 1 or 2 wickets which is 1.4%

16 games – Team won by < 15 runs which is 0.8%

20 games – Team won with a margin of over 200 which is 0.1%

188 games – Team won by 9 or 10 wickets which is almost 8.9%

363 games – Team won by an innings which is 17.3%

From the above stats, I have elucidated the content in a more presentable form for easy comprehension.

No. of drawn games         -1 per 2.9 matches

No. of fair games             -1 per 2.7 matches

No. of one sided games    -1 per 3.8 matches

No. of close games           -1 per 45.5 matches

No. of tied games             -1 per 1052 matches

Now that we know that a draw is one of the most likely events, why should we watch it? It is often said that a wicket is not taken in a single ball. In test cricket, it is often setup for the complete over or spell where the bowler tends the set the batsman up and bowls his variation. Similar to it, test matches should not be considered in single. It is often about the complete series, how a team fares throughout the season.

The close games are more interesting than those of the ODIs or the T20s. Often with a lot of deliveries left, it is about how the last pair survives to score the remaining runs. Michael Bevan, who played very well with the tail in the ODIs, had a contemporary in VVS Laxman who more often than not did it for India. It is sometimes also about picking up the last or two wickets with a meagre runs to spare. Moments like these have tremendous pressure on the players since 1 mistake or brilliance can turn around all the events of the 4 long strenuous days. Now tell me, which is the pressure cooker situation, a 3 hour T20 or a 5 day test match?

 

THE ASHES

The historically famous Ashes series was born from an infamous test match for England. It was an English loss at Oval in 1882 which instigated the ‘The Sporting times’ to write an obituary stating that the English cricket was dead.

Ivo Bligh, the English captain promised the people than he would regain the Ashes by winning the away tour which had to come. In a controversial tour then, England won it 2-1 and regained the Ashes. Thus, the culture spread and now as a result, we call the series ‘The Ashes’ which was then not called so. It is believed that the small Ashes cup, presented to the English captain by a group of Melbourne women had the charred remnants of a cricket bail inside it.

Such rich history, test cricket had, which seems to be forgotten today. It is always special to see Australia and England battle it out who save their best for each other. Though I am an Indian, I love the Ashes. It, as of now, is the most competitive and hyped test match series. The other famous series played all around the world are,

   ·       The Aus Africa series between Australia and South Africa

   ·         The Border Gavaskar series between India and Australia

   ·         The NatWest series between England and the touring country

What about test draws? People usually deem a drawn game as a boring one. Well, if you think so, you are in for a surprise. The following is a collection of close drawn games. Look at the margin by which a result was avoided.

 

Runs remaining	Team	Score	Target	Opposition	Venue	Season
1	England	204/6	205	v Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	1996-97
1	India	242/9	243	v West Indies	Mumbai WS	2011-12
6	India	355/8	361	v West Indies	Mumbai BS	1948-49
6	England	228/9	234	v West Indies	Lord's	1963
8	Australia	238/8	246	v England	Melbourne	1974-75
9	India	429/8	438	v England	The Oval	1979
10	New Zealand	274/6	284	v Australia	Brisbane	2001-02

Here are some of the closest test match finishes. This is no ranking but a mere collection.

Ind vs. Aus, 2001, Eden Gardens

India followed on after being all out 171 in reply to Australia’s 445. India was forced to follow on by Steve Waugh when a miracle happened. Dravid and Laxman put on a 376 run stand to take India to 657. It was then left to Tendulkar’s 3 wickets in the final session to wrap up the Aussies for 212, thereby winning from an almost improbable position.

Match Highlights 

Scorecard

Eng vs. Aus, 1882, The Oval

This was the infamous test match were England lost to Australia by 7 runs. The media wrote the famous obituary to English cricket and from then on, the rivalry between England and Australia became one of the most celebrated and most awaited clashes by the name of ‘The Ashes series’.

Scorecard

Eng vs. Aus, 1981, Headingly

This was the 3^rd test of the 1981 Ashes at England. Australia were put into bat and scored a mammoth 401. In reply, England were bowled out for 174. The English 2^nd innings began dismally until Ian Botham smashed 149 off 148 deliveries and the rest was history. England then went on to wrap Australia for nelson, thereby winning the match by 18 runs. This was one of the most famous test matches simply for the fact that the team following on had managed to win it.

Scorecard

Eng vs. Aus, 2005, Edgbaston

This was another Ashes test match. Australia began the final day with another 107 more to win the game but had only 2 wickets in hand. With 62 more to win, Australia lost Share Warne. The English win seemed the most probable result, but Brett Lee though differently. He smashed the English attack to all corners of the park until 3 runs were required. Steven Harmison bolwed on down the chest of Kasprowicz who had edged it and the edge was gladly collected by G Jones. England had won the game, but then Kasprowicz had never edged it. Umpire Billy Bowden did not think so either.

Last moments

Scorecard

Ind vs Aus, 2010, Mohali

This match would stay fresh in most Indians’ minds. India were 8 down with 92 more runs required. Ishant and Laxman guided India through until Ishant got out with India still needing another 11 runs. Ojha, the last man walked in. India survived through the nervous times to seal a historic 1 wicket win. Incidentally 2 balls before the winnings runs were hit by Ojha, an LBW decision was turned down by umpire, which looked pretty plumb in front. Australia’s bad luck with close finishes continued.

Highlights of Day 5
Scorecard

A swinging ball, cloudy overhead conditions, players in their jumpers, batsmen struggling to keep terms with swing. That is the real fun. Legends were made by test cricket. Sir. Don, Sir. Ian Botham, Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, all these players were products of test cricket. It is the dream of every cricket player to do well for their country in the white kit, unfortunately, it is not the though process of their fans these days. 

LIVE LONG TEST CRICKET