- Cricket lovers around the world who were keeping a close eye on the recently concluded second Test of the two-match series between New Zealand and England would be elated beyond mere words with the eventual outcome. We know how the surfeit of T20 cricket played around the world has caught the imagination of young enthusiasts for its blitzkrieg, razzmatazz, excitement, and slambang variety. The instant entertainment dished out by the shortest format of the game serves an appetizer that cannot be ignored anymore. No arguments there. T20 cricket is not only gaining in popularity across the wide spectrum of cricket spectators but also rakes in a huge amount of sponsorship revenue from television and digital rights essay an incredible role.
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- Trust me, cricket connoisseurs grown up watching Test matches would never ascribe to the view that the T20 format is going to be the sole deciding factor in further expanding the popularity of the game. None can test the true caliber of a cricketer like Test match cricket spread over five days of intense battle between both the bat and the ball. Every run scored and every wicket snared is a thrilling contest in itself. The ups and downs, highs and lows, thrills and frills, and the excitement galore over five days are unparalleled. Each session is a thriller in itself defining how a Test match progresses. Remember, a down-and-out team can make a comeback in a Test match offering unimaginable twists and making the audience go crazy over such engrossing turns.
- This is what happened in the recently concluded second Test of the two-match series between New Zealand and England. Forced to follow on by England, New Zealand came out with outstanding batsmanship in the second innings led by the indomitable superstar batsman Kane Williamson’s century helping the Kiwis to set a not-so-challenging target for the opposition. Now, what unfolded on the last day of the match was simply unbelievable. We all know how the present England team under the stewardship of Captain Ben Stokes and Coach Brendon McCullum goes about playing an attacking brand of cricket right from the word go. Note that England’s declaration in the first innings itself was very aggressive.
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- Set a target of 257 in the second innings, England folded up for 256 allowing New Zealand to win by the narrowest margin of 1 run. Can there be anything more engaging, exciting, exhilarating, and entertaining game of Test cricket than the one we saw in Wellington, New Zealand? Diehard cricket fans would have gone crazy watching the last session of the play when the match swung like a pendulum. Credit goes to the cricketers from both sides for dishing out such memorable performances over the five days. Whoever said that Test cricket is boring and long winding? Such inexplicable but welcome experiences can be witnessed only in Test cricket and the testimony to the fact was on full display in Wellington. Long live Test cricket!
