After the heady excitement of the World Cup, India’s ensuing tour of the West Indies may appear limp and uninspiring. But in fact, it has huge significance as it signals the start of the World Championship of Test cricket.
The ICC and members boards have been debating the feasibility of the World Championship for the better part of this decade. With interest in the 5-day format waning everywhere, there was an urgent need to make it more competitive and result-oriented.
A World Championship ensures that to a great degree. Though it obviously couldn’t be reduced to a tournament played through in a fixed period of time, there will be a title winner at the end of the cycle, which in turn means that all Test matches played everywhere have a bearing on the final outcome.
This was sorely needed, as many former and current players who cherish Test cricket, have repeatedly pointed out. Bilateral matches without context were tending to become meaningless, apart also from skewing the matrix of which country plays whom, where and how often.
For instance, Bangladesh have been playing international cricket for over two decades, but have had Test tours to Australia (2003) and India (2016-17) only once each, and for a total of just 3 Tests! A bulk of their overseas Tests have come in New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies and the most in Zimbabwe.
Such imbalance does not help in either assessing the real strength of a Test playing country, nor does it help in promoting the five-day format wherever cricket is played. A World Test Championship will go a long way in correcting the situation, as well as incentivising the five-day game.
Limited overs matches outnumber the two Tests that will be played on India’s tour of the West Indies and will remain the major attraction for fans. The bigger danger for India too comes in these formats. The West Indies are a major force in T20, and capable of unpredictable brilliance in ODIs.
Yet the longest format should hold equal if not more attention of the players now that every Test has become consequential.
In India’s case, this is particularly pertinent. Virat Kohli’s team has been top of the pops for a fair while, losing the no.1 ranking only intermittently. Maintaining consistency and excellence now becomes paramount.
Even playing a low-ranked team like the West Indies can’t be taken lightly. In the recently concluded Test at Lord’s for instance, newbies Ireland had favourites England on the mat for three-quarters of the match. Their lack of experience allowed England to wriggle out from a near-hopeless situation and win.
But this Test showed, however, that the gap between teams, especially if conditions are not loaded heavily in favour of batsmen, is narrowing. India have a powerful Test side compared to West Indies, but it would be folly for the team to be complacent.
The two Tests come towards the end of the tour, and Kohli’s task will be to ensure that his players don’t lose focus, whatever the outcome of the limited overs matches. There is a lot at stake for several players too, what with the severe competition for places. Rohit Sharma for instance, who was in brilliant form in the World Cup, would want a Test spot for keeps. And with Saha’s return, does Pant still hold his Test place?
This situation is further riled with Pandya absent. Getting the composition of the playing XI right will be fretful for the team management. How many bowlers should be played, and who these will be, will occupy the minds of Kohli and Shastri right through the first leg of the tour.
The limited overs fixtures too throw up challenges. With Dhoni not around, Pant has the opportunity to make the impact that could make the wicket-keeper’s place his own. In the batting, the recall of Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer should strengthen the middle order, but only if they do well. Difficult as it may have been, the selectors would have done well to include Shubhman Gill. Youngsters with prodigious talent must be blooded before they lose motivation. But overall, there is not much to complain. Now, for the players to deliver.
