Test cricket must change

I’m frustrated.

It is universally accepted that those who truly love the game of cricket for what it is consider that test cricket is the bedrock of the game and therefore the most intriguing. Rightly so, a fascinating test has been compared with the page turning involved when engrossed in a compelling novel as it hurtles towards a satisfying conclusion.

I have never read a novel that did not have finality. A best seller would obviously not be such without a rivetting ending. In fact not one copy would move from the shelf. It would not sell at all. Any author worth his salt knows that the final chapter is the most important part. Upon completing that final page the reader must be totally fulfilled yet eager for more. That is why sequels and trilogy laden shelves are found in bookstores.

The second test in Barbados between the West Indies and India ended in a farce. Watching it wrap up left a very frustrating and empty feeling. The umpires, in their wisdom, deemed that bad light had made conditions too dangerous to continue after five days of protracted action. Rain intervened on days two and three and hampered progression, but just when a fascinating climax was beckoning the blokes in black pants controlling the game amazingly decided to abruptly end proceedings.

Minutes later the post-match presentation was conducted in bright sunshine. What a shambles. What a disgrace.

Test cricket is lagging behind most other sports in the entertainment stakes. Many of the playing conditions are archaic and need revisiting. They were put in place during another era and this particular format has not evolved with the times. All aspects need to be looked at to modernise the game. All is fine when the sun is smiling. When the weather gods are cantankerous is when the spectacle of test cricket is compromised.

For starters they must make all breaks flexible. What garbage it is that lunch cannot be moved. It should in fact be forfeited if need be, to allow more activity following a sodden morning. The same must apply to tea breaks. Also, why should play not be permitted to carry on 'til sunset to get in 90 overs if rain has robbed play earlier in the day?

Lights should be used wherever possible as well. Umpires must also be more proactive following rain delays and ignore lingering outfield moisture that is occupying irrelevant areas that will almost certainly not contribute to injury. Only the state of the pitch and its immediate surrounds should be of intense interest following a rain delay.

Competing for eyeballs in this modern world is tough at the best of times. Test cricket needs a serious wake up call to freshen endeavours.

The conclusion that was pending in Barbados was a rarity. It is so unique when a test match goes down to the wire. When the umpires incorrectly sabotaged the game 11 overs were still to be bowled and the West Indies had a mere three wickets in hand. It was white-knuckle stuff.

As it turned out it was pathetically disappointing white-flag stuff.

We was robbed.