A blog by Â(c)hinaman

I have had this uneasiness,
almost a fear that Test Cricket may be on the verge of becoming obsolete.

Lara’s views almost confirms it.

IPL and ICL will break monopolies – Lara

Cricinfo staff ||| March 13, 2008

Brian Lara has said that the Indian Cricket League and the Indian Premier League are proving to be wake-up calls for cricket boards as well as the ICC.
“The boards are being challenged in different areas and now they have to be on their toes and have to mind their Ps and Qs,” Lara told the Hindustan Times.

“Three to four years ago in India and other places you had problems between the boards and the players when it came to player rights and contracts. Now you have a different situation with the franchising of teams and private entities getting directly involved with cricket.”

Lara said the leagues had given players options to explore.

Further, Lara believed the gap between international and first-class cricket had to be bridged and that the leagues would help with that. “That’s when cricket will become strong. And leagues like this will help that.
LINK: TO FULL ARTICLE

Brian Lara: “I’m very happy to have played as many Tests as I have because I don’t think it’s ever going to be the same in the future” Â(c) AFP

I agree Mr Lara.
And many thanks for giving us some scintillating batting to remember.

The change is now inevitable and is snowballing.
It will certainly be good as a ‘profession’ for the players; their pay, contracts and employment rights.

It will not be so good for cricket, the traditional sport as we once knew.
The day Test Matches becomes obsolete, may not be too far off.

Cricket, in the biggest arenas will be played primarily to earn,
while the village brown/green and the backstreets on the subcontinent,
is where it will be played…
for the joys of cricket.

Is this the beginning of the end for Test Matches?