'There are players who want to excel in Tests despite the attraction of T20s' - Anil Kumble

ICC has been mulling reducing Test matches from five days to four in an effort to bring in more eyeballs for the format. However, more than the people supporting the initiative, there are many former and current cricketers calling for the idea to be scrapped and let the 143-year-old format of the game to remain as it is.

The chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, Anil Kumble, however, had his own thoughts about the popularity of Test cricket and whether there was a need to tinker with the number of days a Test match is played and whether the new generation of cricket which is brought up on a healthy dose of slam-bang T20 cricket want to play the five-day game.

“I think everybody wants to play Test cricket, that’s very clear”: Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble talked about the Test and T20 cricket and its effect and sustainability in the future. He felt that there was no dearth of players wanting to play Test cricket to prove themselves.

“I don’t think so. I think everybody wants to play Test cricket, that’s very clear. there is some challenge in keeping everyone focused and pushed towards playing domestic competition especially the Ranji Trophy. I don’t think there is any dearth of people wanting to play the longer format. I think everybody wants to, they realize that’s the biggest challenge and I’m sure that’s going to be the case for a long time,” Kumble was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.com.

Kumble also advised the young bunch to keep performing to the best of their abilities and not look to impress anybody. He said the selectors are there to drop a player, not pick anyone.

He further said, “One thing I would tell any youngster is don’t look at somebody… Selectors are there to actually drop you, not pick you. Because you pick yourself. At the end of it, your performances count and then you certainly pick yourself. The selector or whoever is picking you is there to drop you not really to pick you… that I think one must be aware of.”

He said the pressure on a player in India was immense and a single failure may result in you being dropped. But there are also more opportunities like the IPL, Ranji Trophy or domestic tournaments for one to perform, impress and make a comeback.

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