Test cricket in August: sadness of the future

June-November is the official hurricane season in Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean. It coincides with the wet season in Trinidad and Tobago.

That’s why cricket has always been played in the dry season which falls between January and May.

So the authorities take a chance when they schedule fixtures as important as Test matches at the wet time of the year.

At present the WI are engaging South Africa in a two-Test series in August.

Owing to the proliferation of what is now known as white-ball cricket throughout the year, there is precious little space in which to squeeze in Test matches for the lower-rated teams.

It is so difficult to accept when, 30 years ago, WI had been the champion Test team in the world for 15 consecutive years, from 1980-1995. They were also Test World Champions in 1965.

At present, they are never invited to participate in a five-Test series. That is now the privilege of just three teams: India, England and Australia. They banded together against the lesser sides, taking advantage of their position, improving and growing their finances, while at the same time developing and strengthening their players.

One only has to witness an Ashes Test series, whether in England or Australia, to see the grounds filled with cricket-lovers, enjoying the battle erupting on the field of play. Though nevertheless, India, the richest cricket country in the world, does not attract the same number of spectators for Tests, but is overwhelmed by onlookers for the white-ball stuff.

Some years ago, when India began dominating the International Cricket Council’s executive, supported by England and Australia, the rules were changed with regard to arrangements for home and away Test matches.

Whereas in the past the profit from games were generally shared 50-50, the new agreement was established as 100 per cent profit for the home team. So the least populous, less developed countries, began struggling, with their smaller-sized grounds generating very little profit, thereby having to rely on white-ball cricket and sponsorship.

Cricket became dependent on the franchise one-day format, while sponsors paid the players. The lucrative contracts saw cricketers receiving lavish sums of money for a few weeks’ games. The format flourished and the remuneration was incredible.

The “poorer”countries lost players, who became unavailable for first-class cricket at home, including Tests because they had contracts to fulfil.

West Indians, as the most popular cricketers in the world, were the first to be approached; it meant WI teams would lose out big time, with their cricketers, both young and experienced, losing interest in games of a longer format.

It eventually came to pass, when other countries followed the lead of the Indian Premier League and franchise cricket sprang up in almost all countries, that there was little room to play Test cricket – which is the true test of the better team in a match.

A region like the West Indies, which profits from the Caribbean Premier League, was forced to reorganise Test matches to accommodate franchise cricket by circumstance, not by choice.

Thus Tests were reduced to two- and three-Test series, and as the money-making franchises worldwide took over cricket, it was no longer possible to play Test matches when they should be played: they were pushed into the off-season. The once-proud WI cricket authority was relegated to picking up the scraps left by the “big boys”.

Where the WI made their money, to develop their cricket and look after their expenses, was on tours, when they earned 50 per cent of the profit. One can reflect on the tours to England, Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan. The crowds in those countries adored the playing style of West Indians, which was unique to them alone.

That is why there was always a demand for them, even before franchise cricket, in league cricket in England and, afterwards, county cricket.

Thus it was only natural for WI cricketers to be in the forefront when cricket franchises were searching for exciting, enthusiastic and skilful cricketers for their teams, to attract the crowds for that format of the game.

It’s a shame really, to blood these players with so much natural ability, but not to have enough money to pay them to play for their country.

Now, as we witness the empty stands for the first Test match of a two-Test series with South Africa, in August, the sadness of the future beckons.