AAL is WELL - with test cricket

This winter (summer in the southern hemisphere) was great for test cricket. We had two captivating test series, one in South Africa and the other in Australia. It was heartening to see the Indian cricket team play the way they did after the humiliation of the 1^st test which I am sure would have been a closer contest had India played a practice game before. None the less it was a great series and although the series was tied 1-1, India managed to hold on to the number one spot. This might just be the beginning of a new rivalry like the Border – Gavasker trophy. Dare I suggest the name for it, Azhar – Cronje trophy!

The Ashes on the other hand was a one sided affair, still for an Indian cricket fan, seeing Australia loose is probably as satisfactory as witnessing an Indian win. Australian greats like Ponting, Clarke looked nothing more than club cricketers and had no answers to the swing and pace of 6 foot something Englishmen. After years of havoc caused by Glen Mcgrath and Shane Warne, the Australians tasted their own bitter medicine. England were in immaculate form throughout the series and were wonderful to watch even while celebrating. England’s footballers should probably learn some humility from their county’s cricketers.

The next 12 months promises some exhilarating test cricket with India, South Africa and England wrestling for the top spot.

The future of One Day cricket on the other hand might be in danger. T20 has proved to be more entertaining. It also has a world cup which has been a success and gets over in 3 to 4 weeks. Compare that to the one day world cup which starts on the 19^th of February and does not finish until the 2^nd of April. If India does not make it to at least the semifinals, the WC might feel like riding a luna on a highway. One day cricket is becoming pointless as is being proved in Australia now. England are just going through the motions and seem desperate to return home. However, the circus has to go round the cricketing centres of Australia one last time until their next trip in 4 years time. In the India – South Africa series, the difference between the players who had stayed on after tests and the ones who had arrived for the one - dayers was quite apparent.

This world cup will be a success because it is being held in the Sub continent and India seems to be one of the favorites to win it. How relevant the subsequent World Cups will be, remains to be seen. I will not be surprised if the 50 over game is ousted by T20 in the near future. Test cricket on the other hand is going nowhere.