March 15 1877: a highly significant day in cricketing history. It is the day the first ever official test match commenced, the first time the great rivals Australia and England battled for supremacy on the field. Only 94 years later, in 1971, was the ODI format introduced between the same contemporaries, yet it has become significantly more popular, shunning the original form to the background.
The purist fans still appreciate the longer format of the game and enjoy the thrills that come with five day cricket. The sheer excitement of watching a team bat out numerous sessions to save a dying match is unparalleled in ODI cricket. Seeing the battle between bat and ball unfold into a far more equal contest and watching a batsman’s intense determination to endure the fiery spells aimed at them are experiences usually associated with the Test format.
Viewers have never had the opportunity to view these enthralling clashes on the world’s biggest stage, namely in a global tournament. Therefore when the Test Championship idea was announced, it was met with much enthusiasm from most of the Test-loving world. The format seemed a rather intriguing prospec; the ten test-playing nations all afforded the chance to qualify for the tournament by virtue of league matches played over a four year period. The top four teams, as calculated after the league had concluded, would qualify for the play-offs in the official tournament and the final would decide the test cricket world champions.
Finally, there would be a title to fit alongside that of the ODI and T20 showpieces and there would be a reigning title holder for each form of cricket. Test cricket would finally get the recognition and status it deserved instead of being pushed aside as an old-fashioned, fading form of cricket. The replacement of the Champions Trophy made complete sense as there was no need to have two major ODI tournaments, belittling the importance of the main World Cup event every four years.
In 2013, when viewers watched what they believed to be the Champions Trophy’s final edition, they eagerly anticipated the inaugural Test Championship in 2017: a perfect way to revive interest in the oldest form of the game. To the disappointment of Test enthusiasts, news emerged in January 2014 that the project had been shelved and the Champions Trophy would continue as it had since 1998, leaving test cricket without a global event yet again.
Financial problems have often been cited as the issue which continuously delays the start of the tournament. However, with the top four teams currently consisting of South Africa, Australia, England and Pakistan respectively, if the tournament were to take place now, each match-up would garner massive interest in whichever country the event took place in. Witnessing the Ashes rivalry or the contest between the long standing foes South Africa and Australia would be a treat for most cricket supporters, especially if there were something as symbolic as a trophy and a title on the line.
For South Africa, with all their test prowess and long standing dominance, it probably represents their greatest chance of getting their hands on one of those elusive ICC prizes. Their almost yearly retaining of the test rankings mace is certainly an achievement to be proud of, but so much more recognition awaits those who hold an official title.
As of 2015, Test Cricket has been around for 138 years. It took only four years after the development of ODI Cricket for a tournament to be instated and two years in the case of T20 cricket. Isn’t it about time the same courtesy is extended to the most prestigious form of the game?
It is understandable that the logistics involved in the planning of this event are difficult and fears about the viewing figures are to be expected. However, one must keep in mind that if contained within a two week time frame, it promises to capture the interest of the public. With only three matches being played (two semis and a final), it will be far shorter and more captivating than the highly-extended ODI World Cup and will allow the world to view only the world’s best in battle. The hope is that this will result in less one-sided dominance and more closely-fought games, the likes of which are not always seen in the World Cup.
Unfortunately, though, this tournament remains but a dream. With its recent shelving, it is looking less likely that the ICC will ever implement it. We can only hope that one day we will have the pleasure of witnessing a team become the first ever Test Champions.
