Pitches Like That At SSC Give Rise to Talk of Twenty20, Day and Night Tests, and What Not

Sreelata YellamrazuJul 29 2010

That is the sum and substance of what were to learn from a match like this.

sachin tendulkar against sri lanka 2

Not Sachin Tendulkar's double century. Not Suresh Rain's debut. The second Test, in particular, will be remembered for the dodo pitches that have hampered Test cricket's stature as the premier cricket format.

Gathering by the number of runs scored, the number of century makers, and record breakers, it would be tempting to think this must have been an exciting run fest. It has been an interesting one. However, in the context of the match and Test cricket, it has done nothing to enhance the viewing.

With the result looking more ominous too early in the Test, the Indian fightback has not been surprising. Although the pitch was a gift, it still needed perseverance, if only from the boredom, and India did that with some aplomb. But it still does not change the fact that Test cricket is not done any justice when such placid pitches are prepared and cricketers are forced to go through a senseless grind for five days in succession.

And it does not do anything for a career in bowling, given that they are doing a tiring, rewardless service in the context of the match in which the batsmen are walking away with all the headlines and the accolades.

With the lack of tease between bat and ball, Test cricket is not what it is. And this kind of shoddy approach to the game only fuels speculation that revolve around bringing the circus home, whether it is through the Twenty20 tamasha or the proposition to make Test cricket a day and night affair.

Perhaps ther eis a case for getting right what is on offer first before contemplating more revolutionary approaches that involve even more factors. However, what Test cricket like the one being witnessed at the SSC in Colombo does is undermine the game's pristine stature.

Unless it was deliberately intended, this has been one Test match people are not going to scream from the rooftops to talk about, even with Sachin Tendulkar's double ton. Says something, doesn't it?

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