Why One-Sided Series Are Not Good For Cricket

    • ET
    • Publish Date: Aug 16 2017 7:50PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Aug 16 2017 7:52PM
Why One-Sided Series Are Not Good For Cricket

There is no way Test cricket can survive and thrive if a sport played by handful of nations is riddled with one-sided series

Virat Kohli was adamant that he had no issues with one-sided series. “It's good for us. If it goes against us, we'll think about it. But we're winning, the momentum is with the team,“ said Kohli. “When playing, we don't think where Test cricket is headed and what the future will be. We've great pride in the intensity with which we play the game. We consider it a privilege that we are able to play for the country.“

The point however, is that Kohli and friends might be No. 1 in the world thanks to their skill and performances, but if they do want to play Test cricket, they need opposition to do so against. While England is robust, South Africa are losing players each month and Australia are a pale shadow of the great teams of the past.Pakistan are perpetually Pakistan while West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are fast losing the ability to be competitive.

Cricket won't survive 
There is no way Test cricket will survive and thrive if a game played by 10-ish nations is riddled with one-sided series. The calls for both four-day Tests and a two-tier system are growing with every passing day, and the day is not far when broadcasters will put their foot down. For the moment, the momentum may carry these one-sided series commercially, but how long before audiences grow tired of a few teams bullying the rest?

If cricket is to stay healthy, players, the most important stakeholders after fans, must do more to protect their game. When he is playing, Kohli need not expend energy wondering where the game is going but when he is not, a man of his stature and power in Indian cricket will do well to apply his mind to this. After all, it is far too important a matter to be left solely in the hands of self-serving administrators, vindictive judges and moneyminded bean counters.

Kohli has built a culture within the team environment that gives it the best chance of succeeding. “Culture can only be built when everyone buys into it," Kohli said. “The way that can happen is when you don't have any judgements, people coming in and if you don't look at them with a critical eye, watching everything they are doing and trying to pick on small things. I think that is something that we have gotten rid of totally." 

While this is more than enough to take care of bat and ball business — and one can only hope Kohli was being genuine and not taking a jibe at Anil Kumble, India's last coach — it won't be enough to save Test cricket.

Don’t be complacent
The great Imran Khan pushed his cricket board to line-up tougher opposition for his team when they were at their peak. Kohli must likewise not rest on sweeping Sri Lanka twice: there is little chance of avoiding a 3-0 repeat when the return series happens in India in December. Kohli will do well to ensure that India play at least four Tests in South Africa, but that seems unlikely and impractical given India's schedule. If beating this Sri Lankan team 3-0 made Kohli happy, he should imagine just how good it will feel to overcome South Africa in South Africa. Or even fail when trying their hardest. Now that will go a long way in keeping Test cricket alive.

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Comments

Ayushi Pandey LILAVATI BAI PODAR (A)-SCRUZ

The way Sri Lanka played in the Test series, allowing India to take full advantage of them wasn''t sportsmanship, I think. After the departure of greats like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane, Sri Lanka has been unable to produce star cricketers. Why is it so? Hence, Sri Lanka lost to Zimbabwe and now to the mighty Indian team. Yes, the sport will become boring if the upcoming series promise to become one-sided. C''mon, we do not want to lose the zeal for our favourite sport!

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