Test cricket has been gradually losing its shine since the inception of T20 cricket – the format attracts the modern generation more to make a career in the white-ball cricket, as it has brought glitz, glamour, money and a fast-track way for the young players to earn recognition in a short time.
However, some of the finest cricketers around the world have been continually gracing to the traditional format of the cricket and making their name, but Test cricket is still losing interest and fans.
Given that, the International Cricket Council (ICC) came up with World Test Championship to keep the format alive and give a boost to the format in the white-ball dominated era, but Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara feels it will never work if it is inspired by the cash making motive.
Sangakkara, former Sri Lanka captain, and current Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) President believe that the Test cricket shouldn't be treated like a cash cow while suggesting all the cricket boards continue to invest in the format irrespective of whether it is generating revenue or not.
He further claimed that not every format can have an iconic series like the Ashes, urging people to change their view about Test cricket as it is more about rivalries than money-making.
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Sangakkara said on Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel: “If you are going to treat Test cricket as a cash cow, I don't think it is ever going to work. It's not going to make financial sense.”
The legendary batsman further explained, “Sometimes Test cricket isn't going to make sporting sense if you are going to market it to an American or someone who has not been involved in the game. Rather than trying to change their sense of Test cricket maybe, we need to change how we look at Test cricket. Not everyone is going to have an iconic series like the Ashes with a full crowd.”
He signed off by saying, “Talk about how to build up the rivalries. Then what about Afghanistan and Zimbabwe and Ireland now... and Bangladesh who are the team on the rise but in the shorter formats. So, what are we going to do about that? Are we going to forget about that? Two-tier Test cricket... Test Championships... just do whatever it takes but it that doesn't work, sustain it. Put in the money.”
(With IANS Inputs)
