India-South Africa Cricket Test Series: The No. 1 Game

South Africa fought tooth and nail to save the second cricket test match at Kolkata, India. Team India finally won it with just 9 balls to spare. A test match that was more of a contest for the No. 1 position than for the glory of test cricket.

Test cricket is spread over five days with four innings-two a side. For the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) the marketing strategy was definitely not inspired by test matches. There had been lots of brain storming sessions on the deemed loss of popularity of test cricket in terms of less crowds and less money. Shorter forms came to the fore. The T20 Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament became such a revelation that cricket was likened to movies-both giving instant gratifying entertainment in about the same time. If one can entertain the most and earn the maximum revenues in the quickest possible time then why go for prolonged varieties. Marketing priorities were very clear and loud.

The dilemma came when India made it to the top position in International Cricket Council (ICC) test rankings. Suddenly that was a viable marketing proposition. The two-match test cricket series between India and South Africa got instantly hyped with media and cricket lovers getting glued over it, because that series was to decide if India could retain the No. 1 spot or lose it to South Africa.

When Team India caved in to South African onslaught in the first test at Nagpur, India, in a quite predictably obliging manner the BCCI came under scathing criticism. Like tiring Team India with too much of money spinning cricket; not preparing young players for the long classic variety and thus failing to maintain a potent reserve; having a flawed selection strategy; carrying on with a step motherly treatment to test cricket; and, so on.

Immediately, few scapegoats were identified in Team India and dropped peremptorily. To the confused dismay of BCCI, the second test at Kolkata became the focal point of keenest interest and overwhelming media attention. A key tussle to decide the top team of the world.

That Team India batted superbly, managed to win finally and successfully retained the top position came as the most sought after rescue for the cricket Board. The nail biting finish was the silver lining. More significantly, the point of 'marketability' was not lost entirely on them.

What do all these lead to? Well, as long as good cricket is being played nobody bothers if this is the longest or shorter or shortest variety of the game. Coming to India, as long as Team India keeps on doing well the forms hardly matter. Of course, one cannot expect jam-packed stadiums in test cricket like you do not get hysterical revelers for classical forms of music or art performances. But one does continue to earn huge television advertising revenues.

The BCCI should get this point right. Do not go after the time or days it takes. Go after the quality or intensity of the game. Anyway, as long as Team India continues to be hot in the race for the top spot test cricket does not seem to be a lost cause!