‘Tigers need more Tests’
India captain Virat Kohli said that while Bangladesh have the skillset required for Test cricket, they needed more exposure to the longer version in order to sort out how to play in difficult situations under pressure and improve their performances in Tests.
Bangladesh wilted under the seam and bounce of the India pacers yet again during the second Test -- a pink-ball affair -- after the same thing happened in the first Test. Asked about the gulf between the two sides, Kohli said that not having two key players in Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan undid the Tigers but that there should be more focus placed upon playing as much Test cricket as possible, something that the players cannot decide by themselves.
“They did not have two key players. They have the skillset, that’s why they are playing international cricket. If they play more Tests, you get more experience. If you play two Tests then again play after a year and a half, then you won’t understand how to figure out situations and play under pressure. Match situations are needed regularly,” Kohli said during a press conference yesterday.
While Bangladesh have played only five Tests this year, losing each and every one of them and succumbing to four innings defeats in those five outings, there has to be a discussion on how much the Tigers are prioritising Test cricket over other formats. India have demolished both South Africa and Bangladesh at home now and none of the series were competitive -- a facet that does not increase the appeal of the longer format. Kohli was of the opinion that the cricket board must decide on what it wants to do regarding Tests.
“Players, as I said, have a limited role. South Africa have had their issues for some time. I don’t know what the discussions are in the Bangladesh Cricket Board around Test cricket. How much it is promoted or how much importance is placed on Test cricket. Eventually, the strength of Test cricket should come from financial structure,” he said.
He spoke of how India got better and better in the longer version. While he cited bench strength as an issue that helped them perform, he once again stressed that Test cricketers everywhere needed to be motivated through a financial structure.
“If you don’t keep Test cricketers in good financial condition, their motivation keeps going down. If a player playing for 20 overs and bowling just four overs is earning 10 times more than you, then eventually this is your livelihood. You will not see the logic after five years and want to only play T20s. This can only be corrected through a central contract.
“See the traditional countries like Australia, England and New Zealand. They are so strong because their contract structure starts from Test cricket.
“We have made similar changes and now Test cricketers feel they have a secured future too,” he said about the importance of the board and the cricket financial structure.
