Bipin Dani
The first Test match between India and Australia in the ongoing bilateral series ended in under three days. Ditto the second Test. In the last five years, 20 Test matches have been played in India and only three of them have lasted five days.
Since 2018, two Test matches on India soil ended inside two days, 10 Test matches got over inside three days and five Tests have seen the four days. This has not surprised former India curator, Venkat Sunderam.
“I am not surprised. All over the world except Pakistan, we don’t see the Tests lasting five days. As far as people are enjoying themselves, no complaints are made. In the last Delhi Test also, the spectators came in large numbers to witness the five-day Test”, he said.
“In my view, the match-referee should be given a power to give points to both teams depending upon their play. Even the losing team should get a point if they fought hard but lost the match. In the present system, only the winning team is getting the points. In a bar of 1 to 10, both teams should be awarded the points and the World Test Championship should be played on the basis of points each team gets. The ICC should consider this”.
Venkat Sunderam also believes that a panel of neutral curators should be formed. “If ICC can send neutral umpires and a neutral match referee for the matches, why can’t there be neutral curators”, he said.
India’s another former chief curator Dhiraja Parsana believes that early finish of the Test matches is because the pitches are made to suit the home team.
Speaking exclusively, he said, “My observation and view is : last few years Test matches finished in two to three days because home advantage pitches are prepared as per the team strength. And it is accepted by the match referee, media, captains of the visiting teams, their coaches, and administrators too. When the India team is touring abroad, they prepare as per their team strength and we don’t complain about it either”.
