A long-term strategy recommendation for India to achieve and retain its prime position in the world of Test cricket.

1. India and Test cricket: a long-term strategy
Achal Raghavan
achalraghavan@yahoo.co.in
August 20, 2014
The India-England cricket Test series has mercifully come to an end. Once the wailing, breast-beating and "Off
with his head" comments have died down, India/BCCI could possibly look at this long-term strategy for India
to regain respect in Test cricket:
1. Recognise that Test cricket and T20 are two completely different animals. Announce that a player - however
talented - will be eligible to be selected for either one or the other, but not both. It is evident that asking players
to be equally good in both formats is impractical - both from the point of view of technique, and the lure of
money of T20. With dedicated and separate teams, a Test player has no choice but to take his career seriously.
2. Improve the pay for Test players, not to reach anywhere near the absurd money being paid out in IPL, but to
a level which makes it reasonably attractive. This would be sufficient motivation for the millions of youngsters
you can see, playing with rudimentary equipment in small towns all over India. In any case, I predict a fall in
the IPL pay over the next few years, given the spectator / TV viewer fatigue already creeping in - and so the
pay differential ought to start narrowing down.
3. Invest significant sums (which should not be a problem, given the deep coffers) in "dropping in" fast pitches
at select stadia in India. Ensure that at least 50% of Test cricket in India is played on such fast pitches. Choose
smaller towns for these stadia, rather than try and tinker with existing pitches at Calcutta, Mumbai or Chennai.
Let these larger cities continue with their bingeing on T20. The smaller towns are hungry for quality
international cricket.
4. Keep ticket prices reasonable, so that kids can come in, watch quality international Test players, and get
inspired.
5. Make it mandatory for Test team aspirants to play in the English leagues (first level or club level) for at least
two seasons. In addition to exposure to English conditions and pitches, the hard Monday-to-Friday grind will
bring in the work ethic that is badly needed.
6. Beef up the funding for under-16 and under-19 teams, so that they play more international matches. As
potential stars emerge, ask them to make a formal "career choice" - get into the race for Test or T20, but not
both.
7. Form a running list of 40 "high potential" players for Test team places, and publish this list. Continuance in
this list will need consistent performance. Review this list every 3 or 6 months, and modify it.
8. Award scholarships for these players to enroll in good coaching institutions in England, Australia and South
Africa. Let them get attuned to playing conditions, culture and technique "on-site", rather than get a foreign
coach or two to India.
9. Form (and pay for) a panel of all-time greats like Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman and Kapil Dev, and
make their services available to this select group of prospective/current Test players. Such distinguished
alumni are a pool of great wisdom, which needs to be made available to current players as a system, and not
through one-time interventions.
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