Steve Smith said he is “slightly worried” about the future of Test cricket because franchise-based leagues are growing around the world. He asked the cricket boards to keep the format in the spotlight.
In the days before the World Test Championship final, which is the highlight of red-ball cricket every two years, the Australian batter said that he still thought Test cricket was in a “good place” but that he hoped the format would stay alive and well in the future.
Smith said, “Yeah, I’m a little worried.” “But yeah, I hope Test Cricket will still be going strong. I think it is going well right now. Some of the games we’ve seen in the past few months have been pretty amazing. So, yes, as a traditionalist who loves Test cricket, I hope it stays at the top of all the boards’ thoughts and stays alive and well for a long time.
Smith also talked about how important this WTC final is to him and his team, and how it adds a bit of “relevance” to the formula.
“Oh, I mean, it’s a big deal. I think it’s great that the two best teams in the World Test Championship now play in the final. I guess it makes Test cricket a little bit more important. So that’s what we’ve all been working toward for a few years. This week should be exciting, and the guys are definitely looking forward to it.”
But how does the buildup to a WTC final compare to that of the ODI and T20 World Cups, which Smith has played in?
“Yeah, I don’t know for sure. I haven’t given it much thought in that way. It’s clear that the last few years of Test cricket have been good, and to play in the final of the World Test Championship is a big deal. But yeah, I don’t know how it’ll feel until we sort of go out there and get started. But the last few days have been good for building up. We’ve had some good training days down in Beckenham, and today and tomorrow we get to play at the Oval. So, we’re excited about that. But yeah, I think it’s going to be a great week,” Smith said.
India has won the last four Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. The most recent one was back in India, where spin played a big role. But in the WTC final in the UK, Australia will also have to think about how India’s seam bowling attack is very strong, which Smith also said.
“I think they have a good mix of good fast bowlers, which is clear. Shami and Siraj are probably their two best players, and I think the Dukes ball is a good fit for them. And, of course, they have spin bowlers who are very good in all circumstances. I think they have a good attack, so we’ll have to play well this week to beat them.”
On June 7, the WTC final will start at the Oval.
