Kumar Sangakkara is congratulated by Brendon McCullum on reaching 12000 test runs. First day, second test, ANZ Cricket Test series, New Zealand Black Caps v Sri Lanka. Photo / John Cowpland
Kumar Sangakkara is congratulated by Brendon McCullum on reaching 12000 test runs. First day, second test, ANZ Cricket Test series, New Zealand Black Caps v Sri Lanka. Photo / John Cowpland
To open with a philosophical question: Does test cricket actually need to become more attractive to the masses? The answer to that probably depends on which side of the commercial imperative divide you stand on.
The recent crowds for the England-New Zealand test series and the anticipated crowds for theupcoming Ashes suggest the long-form is in rude health in Blighty, but it is not the case everywhere.
Take away one-off events, such as Brendon McCullum approaching a triple century or tests returning to Christchurch after a long, earthquake-enforced absence, and it remains a struggle to get more than a couple of thousand folk through the gates of a test match here.
So maybe it's worth having a wee look-see at how a day-night test could alter the test experience. If the Adelaide experiment - the wet dream of Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland - is a success, then NZC could look at doing something here, as long as dew is not too much of an issue.
Test cricket really is an anachronism. If somebody was now to approach a sports marketing firm to suggest a game that took 35 hours to complete over five days without the guarantee of a winner and loser, they'd be laughed out of the room by people wearing skateboarding sneakers and caps on backwards.
So the reinvigoration of tests should not be seen as a light-and-dark issue. Already the style and attitude of the players has changed. Test cricket is so-o-o-o much more attractive than it was last century. What the players now need is a set of playing conditions to maximise the new-found aggression.
Here are some suggestions:
• Reduce tests to four 100-over days. That would reduce the length of tests by 50 overs but, crucially, 24 hours.
• Have four 25-over sessions per day with three 20-minute breaks. Honestly, there is no bigger mood killer in cricket than the 40-minute 'lunch' break. You talk about anachronisms, well that's one that can disappear immediately. Some would argue that puts bowlers who bowl long spells in danger of injury if they haven't time to properly recover over lunch, but it will be up to captains and coaches to manage loads.
• Put in genuine penalties for slow over rates, like the loss of a fielder for a session. The match referee could determine whether the fault is that of the fielding team. This would further encourage the use of spinners.
• Have a 30m circle that comes into play after the loss of the eighth wicket and legislate that only five fielders can be outside the circle. There is nothing more boring in tests right now than the sight of fields spreading for the recognised batsman as fielding captains try to force the tailenders on strike.
Now, I have to tell you I've run a few of these ideas past Sir Richard Hadlee and his enthusiasm for my game-changers would best be described as tepid. Over the course of our illustrious cricket careers, Hadlee accrued 431 more test wickets than I, and 3124 more runs. So I bow to his superior onfield talent, but I'm prepared to debate him on this.
Hadlee feels the spreading of fields when the tail comes in is an important part of the tactics of cricket. I feel it has become an anti-tactic; the default position of lazy captains. Under my proposal, tactics will be just as much to the fore, except they will be positive.
There might even be scope for different batting order paradigms, with genuine hard-hitting allrounders being played at No 10 to make use of the fielding restrictions. The players have given test cricket a shot in the arm by the way they approach the game. I don't blame administrators for trying to keep pace, but they should look beyond merely trying to shed a little more artificial light on the situation.
GIVE 'EM A TASTE OF KIWI...
To stay with the cricket theme, the Sunday just gone marked the 66th anniversary of Martin Donnelly's 206 at Lord's, the first time a New Zealander scored a test double-century. Here's some great footage of that historic occasion.
It is unlikely one man's stock has ever risen quite so sharply following a crushing selection rejection, but Savea's response in the Super Rugby semifinal to his non-selection in the All Blacks initial 173-man World Cup squad was captivating.
It's one of those curious situations where Savea might not be considered one of the best three No 7s in the country, yet he might just be in the Top 10 most exciting players on the planet.
There must be a couple of French billionaires salivating over their chequebooks but Savea should at least see what happens to the euro in the wake of the Grexit before committing to Toulon.
In all seriousness, though, the guy is going to be an All Black sooner rather than later and he's probably better off playing a Super Rugby final than a couple of minutes off the bench in Apia, but geez it seems cruel.
I'm selling... Phil Mickelson
Old Lefty, eh? The man who spent the majority of his playing career trying to break free of the shadow of Tiger Woods, now looks like he might even have a scandal to match.
While the Woods' peccadillo included a cocktail waitress, a fire hydrant, a five-iron and a very angry wife, Mickelson's only involves a few million dollars, an illegal gambling ring and money laundering. To be fair to the man once known as FIGJAM - Flip I'm Good, Just Ask Me - he was only the bettor, or customer, and not a ringleader, so under federal law he will not be charged. The fact he can spend so much on illegal gambling, however, is in itself obscene.
Lefty's game has not imploded to the extent that Woods' has in recent years, and he's still an outside chance to add to his five majors... but I wouldn't bet on it.
Every week I will make one $10 bet. The goal is to get to December 31 with more money than I would have had if I had put it in the bank.
This week: $10 on Highlanders +5.5 at $1.90. I was scarred badly by backing against the southerners last week and have come to the realisation, in the nick of time, that Jamie Joseph's men are actually pretty good. Good enough for a points start win at the very least.
Last week: Lost $10 on the Waratahs beating the Highlanders in the Super Rugby semifinal. Spent: $30 Collected: $15
OVER TO YOU This is your chance to highlight a terrific grassroots sports performance, promote an upcoming sports reunion, or just send me crazy ideas. It's also not a bad spot for giveaways, if you're that way inclined. Email me at dylan.cleaver@nzherald.co.nz.
