Amid Engrossing Test Cricket Worldwide, The Five-Day Format’s Future Remains Uncertain

Virat Kohli, India’s struggling captain, made a rousing return in the series-deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. It was not his best innings and he fell short of ending his puzzling century drought, which has now ticked over two years.

But make no mistake he hasn’t played many gutsier innings with India’s quest to conquer their final frontier on the line. Having averaged a measly 28 – well down on his Test career mark of 50 – since his last ton, a supremely focused Kohli scored a gritty 79 off 201 balls to single-handedly rescue India, who made just 223 against a tough South African attack in bowler-friendly conditions.

Stripped back of the fluency which has made him such an eye-catching batter over the last decade – and arguably the greatest ever limited-overs batter – Kohli conjured a defensive masterclass in what shapes as a defining match for his captaincy legacy.

The 32-year-old returned after missing India’s second Test defeat with back spasms and particularly enjoyed an engrossing battle with South Africa spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who eventually had the last laugh to end Kohli’s 273-minute heroics.

World No.1 India has an opportunity to break their curse and finally triumph in South Africa having also conquered traditionally difficult terrain of Australia and England in recent times.

The see-saw battle saw India take a series lead in the opener before the hosts hit back led by hardnosed skipper Dean Elgar who is exactly the type of steely character to lift a struggling South Africa back to their glory days.

It’s been a gripping, tense battle throughout and, unfortunately, played behind closed doors due to the emergence of the omicron variant. This highly competitive contest has also had the misfortune of going head-to-head with the Ashes – the only cricket series able to overshadow mighty India.

Cricket’s most traditional and revered contest, the Ashes had once again been overhyped and outstretched with Australia romping to a series victory after three straight thrashings against a meek England who have mostly been inept Down Under for decades.

Granted the Ashes had already been decided, but something unexpected happened in the fourth Test in Sydney. Beleaguered England appeared headed for more embarrassment as they slumped to 4 for 36 in reply to Australia’s first innings of 8 for 416 before a brilliant century – their first ton of the series – to Jonny Bairstow sparked some trademark British bulldog fight.

England were still outclassed but managed to avoid a series whitewash with defiant batting during a nerve-jangling final day to draw the match. It was probably the most dramatic Ashes Test Down Under since Australia’s famous comeback victory in Adelaide in 2006.

It showcased that when Test cricket is hard fought, the five-day format remains unparalleled even in an age of quick consumption where T20 cricket – played over just three hours – has taken the sport by storm.

And the best of this brilliant period of Test cricket might have been Bangladesh’s unforgettable first Test victory on the road against World Test Championship winners New Zealand. It was probably Test cricket’s biggest ever upset and an incredible feat for a cricket nation so long shunned by powers Australia and England.

Ahead of the 2023-31 Future Tours Programme, which is set to be formalized later this year, it remains imperative for powerhouses India, Australia and England to not just play amongst themselves and start giving opportunities to other countries.

Since hosting Bangladesh and Zimbabwe for two Tests each in 2003, Australia has hosted England and India for 24 Tests since. Obviously they, along with their co-powers, have billion-dollar broadcast deals to satisfy but the future of Test cricket remains shaky and dependent on smaller countries – who have minuscule broadcast deals in comparison and remain reliant on ICC revenue share still skewed towards India – being able to play the top teams home and away.

There is a prevailing feeling that Test cricket is inevitably destined to be reduced to four or five countries. “It’s already heading that way,” an ICC board member once told me. “The ICC must make a decision which format to hold up as defining the sport and its future – Tests or T20?”

As we’ve seen during an epic week of Test cricket, the format remains irrepressible when it comes alive and its protracted time length elevates the sheer drama like no other sport.

It’s just a shame Test cricket’s future remains so uncertain.