To keep flame of Test cricket alive, the calendar needs imaginative planning

India play Australia in the World Test Championship final at the Oval next week. In the inaugural WTC final in 2021, India were surprisingly humbled by New Zealand. What’s in store now, redemption or more disappointment? Ayaz Memon spoke to former India captain and selector Dilip Vengsarkar about the challenges that await Rohit Sharma’s team

Even more pertinently, we have beaten Australia in four successive series, home and away.But this is a fresh contest being played in a neutral venue. Also, a WTC final creates its own unique pressures. In this scenario, past results may not have much meaning. I see it as even- stevens.

It isn’t. T20 cricket demands different skill sets and mindset. That’s why increasingly you have red and white ball specialists, and only a handful of players have the technical ability and mental bandwidth to play all formats. Ideally, there should be two or three first class matches for teams to warm up, for the tempo and excitement to build up for fans. You can’t treat a World championship final lightly!
That players did not have enough time to acclimatise because they only got to England after the IPL was touted as the main reason for the 2021 defeat. Yet two years later, the situation’s virtually the same!
IPL’s not to blame. It precedes the WTC by more than a decade. The calendar’s chock-a-block and fitting in fixtures is exceedingly difficult. But if keeping the flame of Test cricket alive is the avowed objective, with the WTC final as the pinnacle, more robust commitment and more imaginative planning from the ICC and member Boards is imperative.

By and large the selectors have done a good job. That Hardik Pandya is still not fit to play five-day cricket is disappointing. A pace bowling all-rounder is crucial in Tests outside the sub-continent. His presence would also have given the captain more bowling options. One player I would have picked straightaway is Umran Malik.

Scorching pace can be of great value in Test cricket. Of course, Umran’s still raw and needs to work on control and consistency. I would have sent him to England two-three weeks earlier to work on his length.

I believe selectors must have a good eye for spotting talent, but also a vision for the future and the courage to take risks. Almost 15 years ago, the selection committee I headed picked Virat Kohli. There were many who thought the decision hasty. Six-seven years ago who thought (Jasprit) Bumrah would become India’s spearhead in Test cricket?

A lot would depend on pitch and weather but seven batsmen would be a defensive move. I’d go with five bowlers to increase the chances of winning. All-rounders in the squad provide batting depth in any case. All three spinners played against Australia in home Tests. This is hardly likely to happen in English conditions...
Very unlikely. I’d go with two. Ashwin would be my first pick. Australia has many left-handed batsmen so an off-spinner is vital. He also has guile and cunning to rely on if the pitch doesn’t afford help. Jadeja is a better batsman, the side’s best fielder, and parsimonious as bowler, so difficult to omit him.

Rohit is a big-occasion player; he’s shown that over the years. As has Virat, who fought back superbly after a protracted run drought. Rahane is a gritty batter and with Rahul unavailable, a smart addition to the side as he adjusts swiftly.

He’s batting like a dream. Batting’s about scoring runs, helping win matches, but if this also has an aesthetic dimension to it, as with Gill, the player’s special. Whether he is the next big thing is entirely in his own hands from here!

Be positive, trust your ability. Forget about strike rates, dot balls, economy rates et al that find so much virtue in T20. Test cricket is a different ball game and, in my opinion, still the real measure of cricketing excellence.
Traditionally, early summer helps pace and swing. There is good bounce and lateral movement which puts to severe test technique and temperament of batsmen and bowlers. By August September, pitches start getting slower and lower, helping spinners. However, global warming has had a big effect on weather patterns which in turn has impacted how pitches behave. The last 10-12 years shows that the nature of pitches in England has changed, so a great deal depends on how quickly players adapt.