Gayle Force

By Gulu Ezekiel

West Indies captain Chris Gayle was probably speaking out on behalf of the majority of today‘s international cricketers when he said he would not be bothered if Test cricket was to die out and that 20/20 cricket was the future.
After the drubbing in the first Test at Lord’s and Gayle’s own failure, team morale would have taken a plunge once the team got to know their captain’s heart was not in the series.
One can just picture cricketers around the world huddling around in groups over a drink and nodding their heads in agreement with his assessment.
Fans and TV viewers around the world have already shown their preference for 20/20 games and now that the players themselves have opened the Pandora’s Box, it seems Test cricket will die out within a few years.
A major portion of the blame for this lies at the doorstep of cricket’s blindingly inept administrators.
In India at least it is painfully obvious that the BCCI is no longer bothered with staging Test series with the IPL having emerged as their primary cash cows.
But England is one country where Test matches still attract full houses and it is the ECB’s poor planning which has brought about the current scenario.
They signed a deal with Sky TV for seven years from 2006 (pre-IPL) that they would stage seven Test matches during the summer. That means two nations touring every year.
Zimbabwe were originally slotted in for two Tests, only to be replaced by Sri Lanka. When their players rebelled due to their IPL contacts, they were replaced by a reluctant West Indies.
Gayle had to be dragged kicking and screaming from South Africa and landed in London just 48 hours before the start of the Lord’s Test. There could have only been one result after that.
Gayle has hinted he will soon quit Test cricket and there is sure to be an exodus of players following suit.
Why travel the year round playing strenuous international cricket when you can earn much, much more playing three hour games staged in one country?
It’s the money, honey!

www.sportshero.com (15/5/09)