Opinion Recommitting to Test cricket: Afghanistan vs New Zealand, in India

A test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand wouldn’t normally set pulses racing. One of the teams is a relatively new entrant to the longest format of cricket while the other, despite having a proud history across various versions of the game, has never been considered one of the bigger sides, often being patronised for “punching above their weight”. But the upcoming contest, set to begin on September 9 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, assumes significance due to the perceived crisis the five-day format is currently suffering, in the face of the unprecedented riches on offer for players in domestic T20 leagues around the world.

Afghanistan’s best-known cricketer, Rashid Khan, will not be in action against the Kiwis, having stepped aside from Test cricket for a year. New Zealand’s greatest-ever batsman, Kane Williamson, is part of the squad, but he and several of his colleagues now pick and choose international commitments after turning down their board’s central contracts. In fact, the conundrum that these two teams and others like the West Indies face, is symptomatic of the problems confronting Test cricket. This has prompted incoming International Cricket Council chair Jay Shah to propose a dedicated Test cricket fund worth Rs 125 crore for countries outside India, England and Australia to ensure that players get a minimum match fee of $10,000, and that boards can manage touring and operational costs.

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That India is hosting the first-ever Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand shows the BCCI’s commitment to the longest format for the last several years. The proceedings on the field at Greater Noida will be keenly followed. But the match itself is more significant as an indicator of the health of Test cricket. India will be front and centre of the picture, even if its own team doesn’t take the field.