The IUP Journal of Management Research
Is the Onslaught of T20 Cricket Influencing How Test Cricket Is Played? – A Formative Assessment

Article Details
Pub. Date : Oct, 2019
Product Name : The IUP Journal of Management Research
Product Type : Article
Product Code : IJMR21910
Author Name : Subhasis Ray
Availability : YES
Subject/Domain : Management
Download Format : PDF Format
No. of Pages : 34

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Abstract

The oldest and longest format of cricket, i.e., Test cricket, has been played since 1877; the 50-over One Day International (ODI) format has been in existence since 1971. The smallest and youngest format, i.e., Twenty Twenty International (T20I) started only in 2005. But mass acceptance of the shortest version of cricket was epitomized by the success of the franchise-based Indian Premier League (IPL) that started in 2008. Buoyed by the success of IPL, many other countries followed suit. Even a 10-over format (T10 league) got ICC’s approval in 2018. The shorter the game, the less is the time commitment from spectators and even more is the competition. These, in turn, help penetrate new countries and ensure more thrill. These lead to more eyeballs in terms of TV, digital media and ground spectators, which ensure more money being poured in. The lure of big money made cricketers, including the budding ones, embrace T20 format. Even established cricketers are retiring from Tests to stretch their T20 career. The present work uses a metametrics framework for conducting formative assessment of the influence of 20- over cricket match on Test cricket. Various advanced statistical analyses were conducted on the secondary data available at www.cricinfo.com between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2016. The study revealed a number of startling facts quite contrary to common perception, e.g., Test matches have become more decisive; they yield higher run rate; and the matches are getting over faster post IPL. Tests are showing positive trends with respect to ‘batting contribution of tailenders’ and ‘percentage score in boundaries’ which are encouraging from a viewer’s point. There is a negative trend for ‘runs scored per wicket’, and cricketers may need to place more ‘value’ on their prized wickets.


Description

With an active International Cricket Council (ICC) at the helm, the game of cricket has been seeing a lot of changes and upgrades in playing rules and formats which any other sport can hardly match. Currently, there are 12 full members and 94 associate members of ICC (ICC Development, 2018). The number of cricket followers has long surpassed the billion mark (Kadapa, 2013). While the oldest and longest format of the game, i.e., Test cricket, has been played since 1877, the 50 overs One Day International (ODI) format has been in existence since 1971; the smallest and youngest format, i.e., Twenty Overs International (T20I), started only in 2005 but gained instant popularity. This is further accentuated by the introduction of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 which was into its 11th edition in 2018. Even a 10-over format (T10 league) got ICC’s approval in 2018 (Bose, 2018).


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