Test cricket moves to 2020
What a wonderful 30 days of Test Cricket, the fans were treated to.
Two aspiring World No.1s, namely, India & South Africa battled it out on the field and played some of the finest cricket that showcased the individual brilliance and collective power of the three teams on show.
Out of the total five test matches played, in which three top teams were involved (Australia, South Africa and India), in two different parts of the world, four matches ended with a result.
Only the Mohali test between India and England ended in a draw partly because of curtailed play due to bad light for most parts and partly due to “play it safe than sorry” approach of the Indian Captain Dhoni.
But, the four matches that ended with a result, saw absorbing contests. The matches were decided not by which team dominated the proceedings. Rather the matches were decided by which team maintained the fighting spirit for long. All matches had fantastic and memorable 100s. Three out of these four matches went to the wire.
Which one will I pick as the best?
Even though, the Indian victory in Chennai is special for me as an Indian and enjoyed the two South African victories that enabled SA win a series in Australia, the best I liked was the one that the Australians won.
The match went to the wire. A thrilling and almost match saving innings was played by the penultimate pair of Ntini and Steyn (till such time Smith emerged on the scene, they were actually the last pair in the middle for South Africa). What an innings these two played, they kept Australia at bay for almost 22 overs.
Smith came and I thought he was making the statement “I can score runs with two hands or stave off defeat with one!”. But, fortune was not on the side of the brave on that occasion. Smith got out with just 10 balls remaining in the match. Just the previous ball he was looking for a single and Ntini didn’t respond. Would the match result been different if that single was taken and Ntini came to strike? No one can say, for there are no ifs and buts in cricket.
Seeing such engaing and interesting matches, I could not but think that “Test cricket has moved to 2020″
If we get to see more such test matches, Test Cricket will give 20/20 a run for its money.
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