Scheduling T20 cricket in middle of Test season could be killer blow, opines Harsha Bhogle

While T20 cricket and shorter formats of cricket are thriving, Test cricket, the very origin point of the sport, is drawing its last breath as its rapidly losing its popularity among the masses. A major reason for that has been one-sided matches that are now abundance in Test cricket as most of the nations now focus on limited over cricket.

Assessing the situation, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle pointed out that the decrease in quality of Test cricket is due to an “increased emphasis on white-ball cricket.” Bhogle opined that shorter formats are taking out the resilience in players which is the very essence of the longest format.

“Why is it happening? Maybe we are starting to see the signs of increased emphasis on white-ball cricket. When was the last time you saw players hanging in there, batting for a day and a half? You will get two or three instances here and there, the ball goes soft, you can hang in there for a little longer. But that is going out of the game, the resolute defence, the resilience, the defiance, that’s starting to go out of the game,” Bhogle told Cricbuzz.

Bhogle also pointed out that scheduling of T20 leagues in the middle of the peak season of Test cricket is clearly drawing the attention of players and forcing Test cricket to a dark corner. He put forward the example of Australia which struggled to find a “perfect top-order player” last year as the Big Bash was scheduled parallel with the Test series.

“Then see what’s happening to the scheduling. In Australia last year, when they were looking for a batsman to replace someone in the Test side they couldn't find someone as the Big Bash is on. 

“Now from next year, in the very home of Test match cricket and in the peak season, England will be playing the Hundred, there is a T20 blast happening alongside, there is one day cricket happening alongside. No wonder they cannot find proper top-order batsman anywhere,” the veteran commentator added.

“The administrators are starting to schedule T20 cricket bang in the middle of the season and that could well be the killer blow.”