Test cricket is becoming less important in the modern world until it is part of the ICC World Test Championship.
With all of the franchise-based T20 events being played around the world, Test cricket was having a hard time staying alive before the WTC came along.
Bangladesh probably isn’t a good example, since they finished last in both Test Championship cycles, but their head coach Chandika Hathurusingha seemed excited about their one-off whites game against Afghanistan, which is not part of WTC.
“You are representing your country. Test Championship is a thing of the past. How long ago was that? Hathurusingha said this before the game against Afghanistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday. “Two years, three years, or four years ago,” he said.
“Before that, you’re playing for your country in Test cricket. When we start playing at 11, 9, or 10 years old, that’s what we want to do: play for our country. I don’t have to convince anyone of this. “I think he’s in the wrong place if there’s a problem,” he said.
“In my mind, and I think in the minds of the players, just playing for your country in a Test match is enough to get them going. So, it’s an honor to play for your country in any match. So, I don’t think we look further than that,” he said.
“Test cricket is the best part of the game, if you ask me. Even if other forms become more popular in the future. As a cricket player, you know that Test cricket was a test of your skills. As a bowler, a batter, or a fielder, it has tried everything about you: your skills, your mind, your strength, etc. So, if a player really wants to be proud of representing his or her country, there’s no better format than Tests,” he said, adding that they won’t have trouble changing their minds like the Indians did against Australia in the WTC final after playing in the Indian Premier League.
“When preparing for this game, we put red-ball cricket first for a while, which is how we train. I don’t see why that would be hard. But in response to your question about the Test Championship, he said, “I think it’s hard for cricketers to switch from T20 cricket to Test cricket if they don’t have a little bit of time to prepare.”
“So, I get that India didn’t have much time to prepare because they went straight from the IPL and the conditions are different. So, I don’t think that will be the case for us.”
Hathurusingha added that there is a green top, but that doesn’t mean spinners won’t play their part, especially since the heat at one point made BCB think about taking a longer break.
“The rain over the last few days has made the grass green. So, I have seen green tracks here before. We played Ireland on a pitch that was green. We have fast spinners, which goes back to the last question. So, we need to put them in a situation that matches how strong they are. We also have people who can spin well. So, this game is just beginning, and the track is still green. You know that it will get worse quickly in this heat, which will help the spinners later in the game. So, I think this pitch is good for the hitter, the bowlers (both fast and spin), and the fielders. He said, “So, I’d like to see a good contest.”
The Bangladesh coach said that the team will wait to hear from Tamim Iqbal, who is hurt in the back, before making any decisions.
“I think he’s going to work out today and see how he feels. He had practiced the day before, and when he was catching and hitting, he was in some pain. So, he’s going to train today, and we’ll figure out how good he is after that,” he said.
