WITH the adverse weather conditions that have prevailed over the past week very little uninterrupted cricket has been played.

This certainly includes the Test match up in Durham which, despite an England win, was by in large meaningless. The West Indies looked apathetic and uninterested, not to mention the one man and his dog that were seen to brave the elements. Chris Gayle last week stated his dislike for Test Cricket in favour of the shorter format of the game and specifically the 20/20 competitions that are increasing in regularity. He did not mention the much higher remuneration packages available for 20/20 but I’m sure this may have something to do with his favouritism!

With the two Test matches that have just been played then I too would be inclined to condemn it to the ashes of history. Scheduling Test matches for May in the hope that it might create some interest for the main event, The Ashes, was surely an administrative blunder by the ECB. Their only motive could have been money and the pressure to fulfil television contracts by providing X amount of cricket per year. If bums on seats are anything to go by then surely this must not be allowed to happen in the future.

With Test match cricket under increasing pressure from the razzmatazz of 20/20 and one-day cricket then it is important not to devalue it further by hosting such Test matches as these. A Test Match should be an event to be savoured. It should be the ultimate test of a player’s skill, temperament and fitness. Test match cricket is the ‘Snooker’ and 20/20 the ‘Pool’. Two great games in their own rights but vastly different in their formats. There is a place for both to thrive. Perhaps there needs to be less Test match cricket so that when it does occur it creates greater interest.

It is also a shame that cricket is no longer covered on terrestrial television apart from a brief resume of the day’s play. Sky does a fantastic job with their coverage but some free to view cricket would surely help to promote the game further.

The powers that be need to take a serious look at the long term future of Test match cricket and ways in which to raise its profile and marketability. Test matches such as that in Durham need to be avoided.

In the meantime we wait for better weather this weekend so that local cricket can get back on track. It is also perhaps apt to offer Mark Hardinges congratulations on his signing for Essex in the 20/20 which he can use as practice for the serious stuff at Frocester.