With the last two matches in the Ashes being over by the third day, Test cricket is changing, but what has made it go from being the format of patience to a whirlwind clash?

 

ESSEX HEAD-COACH PAUL GRAYSON

ESSEX head coach Paul Grayson has given his backing to Test cricket, and said this summer has reinforced its place in the game.

The five-day format has come under scrutiny in recent months, with the shorter form of the sport ever expanding and a seemingly more gung-ho approach by leading batsmen that lends itself to one-day and T20 cricket.

Australia have only gone past 300 runs twice in an innings this Ashes series, with their players averaging 17 with the bat in the last two tests, with their erratic shot-selection highlighted as ill-befitting the Test arena.

But Grayson, inset, says he has no concerns about the future of Test cricket, and says this new, exciting brand of the game could help it in the long run.

“Anyone who has watched this series has done so on the edge of their seat,” he said.

“The pitches have been very good and the levels of excitement have been intense. Sometimes if a team makes 500 or 600 in the first innings, you don’t get the crowds you’d do if the target was more reachable.

“But good surfaces, in which the scores are around 350 or 400, leave matches so open and generate more interest.

“It is natural in this day and age that players want to specialise in either one-day or Test cricket and more often than not the players are getting it right in their decision-making.

“Having aspects of big hitting in Test cricket is inevitable as there are so many capable players out there who can make a success of it – Joe Root for example.

“But Test cricket is still very much alive and kicking. Look at England’s top three batsmen – Adam Lyth, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell all only play Tests.

“I think it is important that players for each discipline are picked on that merit as you don’t want Test cricket to become one-day cricket. It opens doors for new players. Sam Billings is a good example, no-one would have expected him to play for England a year ago but he was given a chance and impressed.

“When we do badly people are critical of Test cricket, and county cricket, and vice versa. We need to be consistent across both and, after a difficult period for Test cricket, it is in a good place now.”

 

CHRIS GLADWIN - FORMER ESSEX OPENING BATSMAN

FORMER Essex opening batsman Chris Gladwin believes Test cricket it is in great nick.

Gladwin, inset, played for Essex and Derbyshire in the 1980s alongside the likes of England captain Graham Gooch.

But he believes the international game is at an all-time high and has benefitted from the T20 game.

“Test cricket is in fantastic health and it’s the best we have seen,” said the 53-year-old cricket coach and Westcliff first XI captain.

“Years ago batsmen were more selective but now if the ball’s in your area you will play it.

“Cookie is a bit more old school because he will pick his shots, but it’s good to have adventurous cricketers who can play around that.”

Gladwin believes T20 has been “fantastic” for the game and says preparing flatter wickets for the shortest form of the game has also had an impact on the five-day game.

“It’s hard for a bowler in T20, but the pitches make it easier for batsmen to hit runs,” added 53-year-old Gladwin.

“T20 has also meant batsmen look at who is bowling and how the field is set to have an idea of how the ball will be bowled and the areas they are likely to find.

“When I was playing we tended to play the ball on merit rather than work it like they do now.”

 

THURROCK GAZETTE EDITOR GARY PEARSON

ENGLAND’S Ashes victory was truly breathtaking. Superb entertainment.

Now, in the aftermath of all that adrenalin, there’s been debate about the five-day nature of Test matches. After all England’s crowning victory almost happened within two.

I can sometimes get a little nostalgic about those lazy days of settling down to watch a Test last the distance, when opening bats took hours to get off the mark...

No chance of that nowadays with the pounding impact of 20/20. It’s changed mindsets.

Attacking batting is now seen as best form of defence, seemingly at all times.

Entertaining yes at the top level, not so at lower levels.

I captain a Saturday side in the 45 over-a-side T Rippon league here in Essex.

Following the changing approach to Test cricket, and a high octane Cricket World Cup, I’ve definitely seen a lot more “swinging of the bat” this summer, and a lot of it hasn’t been pretty. Here lies my concern.

The smash, bang, wallop nature of today’s game is making the local game rather ugly. Traditional batting is too often undermined and discarded in favour of quick runs scored in ugly fashion.

A classical cover drive beats the hell out of a cow corner slog every time, right? Any batsman would agree.

For me there’s now a bigger responsibility than ever before at grassroots level to make sure youngsters (and adults) carry on playing the game in the “right way”.

For now, a saving grace seems to be the future England captain Joe Root. He has shown he can succeed in all forms of the modern game while playing correctly.

Senior players, of all standards, must make sure the art of batting is heralded, taught and preserved making sure it isn’t killed off and replaced by a series of hefty hacks, mostly across the line, better suited for a baseball arena...