Test cricket’s first two days at Lord’s summed up the format: Nasser Hussain

The comments made by prominent commentator and former England captain Nasser Hussain after the game ended quickly brought to light the difficulties that the longest format in modern times faces.

Discussions on the status of Test cricket have been triggered by the recent Test match played at Lord’s between England and the West Indies.

On Day 3, the match concluded in the morning session with the Three Lions triumphing over the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs. Even though the win was fantastic for the hosts, it brought up questions about how well-prepared and ready the sides are for Test cricket in an increasingly packed international schedule.

“For me, those two days encapsulated our current state of affairs in Test cricket. You talk about how good their batting is, but they’re out in a white-ball sunset, your bowlers are raw and unproven, you lose the toss in unfavourable conditions, and everyone thinks Test cricket is going to end, Hussain said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

Hussain contends that this lack of sufficient training is a sign of more serious problems in the game. Although he thinks it’s a difficult undertaking given the volume of cricket played, he thinks players require enough time to prepare for a Test match.

But you’ll get exactly what England gets when they go away if you prepare for a Test match in that manner. It irritates me that Test matches ought to be given the preparation they merit, Hussain continued. “It’s very easy to say, but it’s extremely hard to do in these modern times.

Another area of concern was the scheduling problems between the several game forms. Hussain pointed out that a lot of elite players are choosing limited-overs cricket matches above Test matches. Test cricket’s competitiveness and integrity are at risk due to this change in emphasis.

Also Read: Coley calls for Gabba’s return and invites the West Indies to up their game.

“Told you, Test-match cricket is dying,” is the reaction you get from people when teams show up and perform that well without any maintenance. After hearing you talk to Jimmy (James) Anderson on the platform following 188 Test matches, he continued, “I would like to think we would try to look after Test-match cricket.”

I am a person I am because of test cricket: Additionally, James Anderson

An answer to these worries was offered in James Anderson’s retirement speech at Lord’s. Anderson, as remembered by Michael Atherton, talked fervently about how his experiences playing Test cricket had influenced him personally.

“I am the person I am today because of test cricket.” Thus, Anderson stated, “all the lessons he’s learned from playing Test cricket are the ups and downs, highs and lows, returning for that third spell at six o’clock in the evening and having to dig deep within yourself.”