: Keep Test cricket to top six teams; respect quality over quantity: Ravi Shastri #IndiaNEWS #Sports,Cricket Manchester, July 22 (IANS) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri stated that Test cricket

Keep Test cricket to top six teams; respect quality over quantity: Ravi Shastri #IndiaNEWS #Sports ,Cricket
Manchester, July 22 (IANS) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri stated that Test cricket should be restricted to only the top six teams in the format. Shastri, who is currently working in the United Kingdom for Sky Sports as a member of their commentary team, further said that emphasis has to be put on white-ball cricket and that it can be used to spread the game all over the world, citing the football model.
You cannot have 12 teams or ten teams. You keep the top six, keep the quality and respect quality over quantity. Thats the only way you open a window for other cricket to be played. Expand teams in one-day cricket and T20 cricket if you want the game to spread. But Test cricket will have to reduce the number of teams that play.
The bottom line, its the football model. Youve got the EPL, La Liga, the German league, the South America Copa America. In the future its going to be like that, youll have one World Cup, the big one and then the rest of it will be all different leagues happening around the world, said Shastri.
Adding to the way he wants the Test format, Shastri insisted that the format wouldnt be limited to only six sides, but teams will have to qualify for being part of the top six to be able to play the format. As per current rankings, the top six ranked teams in Test cricket are Australia, India, South Africa, England, New Zealand and Pakistan.
As per Shastris proposal, teams such as West Indies, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka would miss out on playing Tests, so as do Afghanistan and Ireland, which arent on the Test rankings yet.
Whether its India, Australia, or England you have to qualify for red-ball series if you want to be around to play Test match cricket. Then it doesnt matter if England doesnt go to the West Indies, or West Indies come to England. If theyre in the top six, they play, but if theyre not in the top six they dont play.
In complete contrast to Shastris views, West Indies beat England 1-0 in a three-match series in March while Sri Lanka recently drew their two-match Test series against Australia 1-1. When asked if he would be pleased with keeping Test cricket to just six teams, Shastri, the former India all-rounder, replied in the affirmative.
Absolutely. Because what is Test cricket? It tests you and for that you need quality. If theres no quality then whos going to watch it? Youre going to have three-day games, two-day games if the opposition is not right.
If you have countries who have never played Test cricket and then you say come to India or come to England, in bowler-friendly conditions the game over in two days, two-and-a-half days. And youve taken money from the broadcaster for five days.

Latest stock market news Twitter alternate of India

10% popularity Flash it Bury this