Sachin Tendulkar feels interesting tracks can revive Test cricket
Test cricket is being challenged every day with the aura for T20s gaining a stronghold. The ICC has therefore introduced the World Test Championship to revive the longest format. It remains to be seen how Tests find a way in modern-day cricket. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar has revealed one way for Tests to prosper. Here's what the legend opined.
Tendulkar played 200 Tests for India in his career and amassed 15,921 runs. He was a true legend of the game. Tendulkar highlighted that interesting tracks need to be prepared largely to make Test cricket interesting. This should be the norm for the ICC and the organizers. He also cited an example of The Ashes 2019 to present his case.
"I think Test cricket is going to revive if we produce interesting tracks, but if the tracks are flat and dead then Test cricket is going to find its challenges," said the legendary cricketer.
"The heart of Test cricket is the kind of surface that you play on. If you provide good pitches, cricket cannot be boring, cricket cannot be damp, and (there will always) be those exciting moments, exciting bowling spells, great batting and that is what people want to see," Tendulkar added.
The Ashes 2019 series in England has seen some brilliant tracks being produced that made things easier to relate to. The Edgbaston Test swung one way and the other to keep fans hooked. The second Test at Lord's was a delight to watch the battle between Jofra Archer and Steve Smith. The ongoing third Test at Headingley is also set for a grand finish.
In Test cricket, it's essential to see plenty of things happening. The Ashes has presented the same. There have been low scores on offer, besides batsmen batting sensibly getting those substantial big scores. The battle between bat and ball has livened up the scene. Tendulkar highlighted the Archer-Smith duel that got viewers hooked. Archer, in particular, got things moving against the unstoppable Smith.
"Smith got injured unfortunately, that was a big blow to him but Test cricket was exciting when Archer challenged him, it suddenly became exciting and the focus shifted to Tests," said Tendulkar. He also highlighted the final day of the match at Lord's. "England picked those wickets and Australia had to survive. Test cricket suddenly became exciting and that is how it should be."
"I know this Test World Championship has been announced but even to have this World Championship, you got to make cricket interesting, just by having another championship, cricket is not going to get interesting," he said.
