Are Tests And One-Day Internationals Dying a Slow Death?

If you grew up anytime before the advent of T20 cricket, chances are you still remember the thrill of watching an ODI match. There is an equal chance that you can't sit through an entire 50 over a side match now. Don't worry, you haven't changed, the times have.

T20 cricket started small, grew in size and popularity and then exploded, obliterating everything in its path. From the time the first T20 international was played in 2005 to now, the shortest format of the game has changed every dynamic of the gentleman's game. The Indian Premier League managed to get many housewives to give up Saas-Bahu serials (temporarily of course) and watch the likes of Dhoni, Gayle and Virat smash the ball to all corners of the park.

Astronomical amounts of money were spent to buy the hottest players from across the world. Across the world other T20 leagues, the Big Bash and the Caribbean Premier League also attracted a lot of eyeballs and players earned far more for a 3 and a half hour extravaganza than they ever did, often for a whole Test series. What most people didn't realise was that in the middle of all this, Tests and ODIs were dying a slow death.

A recent survey conducted by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) has found that a mind-boggling 52% of cricketers polled would want to become T20 free agents rather than having a National contract. This survey included as many as 111 international cricketers.

Executive Chairman of FICA Tony Irish told NDTV, "It is a staggering figure. We have been projecting that this trend will happen for quite some time now because of the disparity between what players get paid to play in T20 leagues and what players, especially in the smaller countries earn to play international cricket. This a a trend that is on the increase. I would expect that if we survey the players again in the future, that percentage is going to grow."

In other words there could well be an exodus on the cards. More cricketers could go the West Indies way and opt to become almost T20 freelancers. But can you really blame the cricketers? After all, just look at the money on offer. Consider this, in 2008, for the first season of the IPL, Ishant Sharma was bought for $950,000. He bowled a total of 259 deliveries or 43.1 overs. In other words he earned $3668 for every ball he bowled. Going by 2008 conversion rates that was about Rs 1 lakh per delivery.

Indian cricketers have no qualms as such about international cricket, but not every Board pays its cricketers as much as the BCCI. Which is why almost all foreign cricketers want to be a part of the IPL. Year after year, even players who are almost always overlooked in the auctions come back to try their luck. And every now and then some cricketer will call for a dedicated window for domestic T20 leagues. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra told NDTV, "Eventually it boils down to how much you are paid. A team like South Africa, who were the Number 1 Test team not too long ago, their Test players earn $3000-4000 a game. They can earn 100 times more in one season of the IPL . An AB de Villiers might be earning about 200 times more. A cricketer comes with a small shelf-life and he has to make the most of the time he has at the top." Another former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan said, "I don't blame any cricketer who is opting out of tough cricket to make easy money."

Would the survey results have been different if Indian cricketers were also part of it? Cricketers from India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe were not polled, since these countries don't have player associations. But Mr. Irish made it clear, " It (the survey) is reflective of most cricketers. This trend will continue until they (ICC) address the structure of international cricket."

So what does the ICC do? How can Tests and ODIs be safeguarded? Can it be done at all? Maybe we are heading for a time when one of the 3 formats will fall. And by the looks of it, it might just be the 50 over format. Aakash Chopra in fact told NTDV, "ODIs are losing context. One day cricket doesn't have a character of its own anymore. There are 20-25 innings of predictable play in every innings, let alone every match, so I won't be surprised if ODIs get the boot."

But what about Test cricket? Is it in the same intensive care unit as ODIs or is it for now just an OPD patient, in need of a strong tonic and some bandages to get going again? According to Tony Irish, "There is a future for Test cricket. A lot of people still love Test cricket and players still value Test cricket."

For any cricket lover, the demise of any format will be a tragedy. But like everything else in the world, cricket too will have to change with the times. A clear blue-print and a massive shake-up perhaps is the need of the hour. Domestic T20 leagues will continue to entertain, but the heart and soul of cricket will somehow have to be saved.