Cricket: England’s fast-forward style enhances case for four-day tests - Michael Vaughan

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips is bowled on the third day of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday, December 8, 2024. Photo / Photosport

THREE KEY FACTS

• England defeated the Black Caps inside three days at the Basin Reserve
• Fewer tests than ever are played out over the traditional five days
• Concentration on shorter formats has resulted in the game speeding up in test cricket

This is the most entertaining era of test cricket. It is not the best in terms of quality, for sure, but for the last two years test cricket has entertained me more than ever.

In cricket circles, we love to eulogise about legendary teams and players. Quite right, too. But we should also celebrate what we are watching right now because it is so exciting.

Whatever happens over the next year or so against India and Australia, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have created an energy and buzz not many teams have matched in the history of the game.

I cannot wait for the next 12 months. India will arrive in England and try to take them on at their own game. They are geared to that style of cricket but at home, I have England as favourites. Away from home against Australia, it is very close. Tickets for next year’s Ashes will be the most prized in sport. It promises to be a terrific clash.

Batting key to Bazball’s success

As much as England’s batting has been revelatory over the past two years, the reason I think they are a very good team is because of their bowling. They have an attack now that can take 20 wickets with a Kookaburra ball and they have a captain who knows how to create the opportunities to take those wickets. Not that long ago, England had no idea. It gives them a great chance to do something very special in a year’s time.

Brydon Carse celebrates the wicket of Daryl Mitchell on day one of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England. Photo / Photosport

Stokes and McCullum have good selection headaches

Jacob Bethell just makes the game look so easy. He has a lovely method, bat swing, balance and poise. I liked his comments after the first test. They were so mature and confident. He just backs himself. He knows he is a good player and tells everyone he is.

When you are running the England set-up, you want selection problems. England will be in a situation where they are going to have to leave good players out of the team. That is a good sign. The strength of a team is how good your bench is. When you look at the players not in the team for the second test in Wellington – Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone and Jack Leach – you see real quality. That is a great thing for England.

There will be a lot of disgruntled county players out there, upset by how England select teams. But they are getting more calls right than wrong. Bethell making 96 in Wellington without ever having scored a first-class 100 just shows you it is not all about churning out runs in the county game. If you have skill and good movement at the crease, you have got a chance of playing for England.

My only warning is they have twice got themselves out of trouble against New Zealand. Getting four down very quickly is a worrying sign. A genius innings will not save you every time, but that is what they got in the first innings from Harry Brook.

Players like him are making the modern game so watchable. In Adelaide, where I am commentating on Australia’s second test against India, Rishabh Pant and Travis Head have come out and counterpunched like Brook.

Pant danced down the first ball and whacked Scott Boland over extra cover. We have seen Joe Root bringing up a century with a ramp, Pant ramping balls over the slips when his team were under pressure batting under lights with pink ball and 50,000 fans roaring the Aussies on.

We have seen unpredictable results and scenarios within games that are just remarkable. Pakistan came back against England, New Zealand went to India and won 3-0. India hammered Australia in Perth, a place where they never lose. England have dismantled a strong New Zealand on home soil.

I want to be entertained, and we have to ensure test cricket is a great product to watch because there is so much else people can do with their time. We have some good pitches at the moment, the balance between bat and ball is just right and there’s a generation of batsmen who will not allow the ball to swing around.

Aggression has come from T20

These modern players are so attuned to looking to score, be aggressive and put bowlers under pressure. It has come from playing T20 cricket. Test match cricket over the next few years is going to be so fascinating to watch. Anything seems to be possible, from individuals and teams. It is very difficult to predict what is going to happen in the test arena.

The game is played on fast-forward, which is why I advocate for four-day tests. The fifth day is costing the game too much money, in my opinion. It costs broadcasters and grounds huge fees to stage day five, when very few fans tune in or turn up.

When people point to slow over rates, I just ask: How many games go into day five these days? The keyboard brigade in cricket always attacks change. But it is just a reality of where life is now. Make test cricket a four-day game and it will quicken it even more. If it rains for a day, these players can now find a way to win. You just do not see teams batting for draws these days. Stokes has had one draw in 31 tests, and that is because it rained in Manchester. It is great entertainment.