D'Arcy Waldegrave: Drink it up cricket fans

Drink it up test cricket fans. Not the current test between the Aussies and the Indians, the upcoming series right here in our backyard. Besides the slim chance of qualifying for the World Test Championship final, a reason enough to watch in itself, this is it for home test cricket this season. No more. Fill your boots.  

I get it, the ICC are intent on squeezing every drop out of their enormous global audience with endless World Cups across their formats, so in order to make the most of these hardly rare opportunities, national bodies are building their schedules around whatever pinnacle event is on the immediate horizon.  

We also know that short form cricket is a quicker way into the pockets of the fans, who over time have collapsed their attention spans like every other segment of society – the sugar-hit generation if you will.   

Frankly, test cricket is lucky to still be standing, particularly on a cost-per-wear basis. An insanely long format with a huge drain on resources across numerous metrics.  

It’s understandable why most organisations outside of the ‘big three’ avoid test cricket wherever they can, whilst simultaneously basking in the glory of days gone by and extolling the virtues of why it’s called a test. A test of skill, a test of concentration, a test of blah blah. If I hear that again, it’ll be too soon. Explanations of why a test is called a test are right up there with the most tired lines in cricket along with “how do you feel” and “they really need a wicket now”.   

So, the drive behind the execution of test cricket over our summer is easily explained away, but that doesn’t mean we have to toe the line and accept it. It sucks, it’s a punch in the face for real cricket fans and we don't have to like it. So, cherish the pre-Christmas tour, cradle it for all it’s worth, then brace yourself for a summer of colourful clothes and instant fixes.  

Ta da.