It is in this very context that former Indian cricketer and ex-coach Ravi Shastri made the suggestion that Test cricket should be restricted only to matches involving six or seven nations in order to retain both quality and interest in the format. If Test cricket can give riveting drama as it did in Brisbane then its popularity has taken a serious dent due to the proliferation of T20 leagues all around the world, which suck in the young audiences far more easily.
"When you lack quality, ratings drop, crowds diminish and it becomes meaningless cricket, which is detrimental to the sport," Shastri said, demanding a cut in the number of Test-playing nations to make the game more competitive. He called for two tiers with promotion and relegation to keep Test cricket interesting and the top six teams playing consistently.
While addressing the MCC World Cricket Connects event at Lord's, Shastri said T20 cricket was a superb way to take the game around the world without robbing Test cricket of its allure among the established teams.
According to Mark Nicholas, the President of MCC, T20 was a financial imperative for the survival of the sport since "T20 cricket is where new market, fans, and revenue lie. Money with cricket comes with negative connotations, but it is very important for the survival of the game," said Nicholas.
Former Australian opening batsman and coach Justin Langer wanted to fight for the preservation of international cricket because this was the level which inspired him as a young player. He used the example of the emotional Test debut of West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph in Australia to highlight how cricket could enthral fans and bring nations together:.
It is said that Lord's Cricket Ground keeps a legend ready for each deadline, so for this time too, they have one—the England vs West Indies Test series from July 10, which would be the last game for veteran pacer James Anderson.
On the importance of the upcoming series, Johnny Grave, chief executive of Cricket West Indies, has said it would be an important measure of the progress the team was making. "It's one of the premier Test series we participate in, and it reflects our team's development," he said.
He pointed out the maiden appearance at Lord's, that too for the Richards-Botham Trophy, which epitomizes the great friendship between England and West Indies. "It's a special occasion for our players to introduce themselves to the English audience through a Test series at Lord's," Grave concluded.
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