2018 was a year that had it all – quality cricket, controversies and great individual efforts. As exciting as 2018 was, 2019 is expected to be equally riveting as it is the year of the 50-over World Cup in England and the start of the Test Championship.
Here is Ajit Vijaykumar’s wish list for 2019. What do you wish for?
INDIA-PAKISTAN BILATERAL CRICKET
We wish for it every year. But we just don’t get it. The political differences between India and Pakistan have ruined bilateral cricket relations and after the Pakistan board lost its case in the International Cricket Council (ICC) dispute resolution panel hearing over its bilateral agreement with India, it doesn’t look like the two sides will warm up to each other anytime soon.
But one can always wish. The current generation of cricket fans does not know the joy of a full series between the two nations. Imagine a four-Test series between India and Pakistan. The revenue generated from that encounter will be some of the highest seen in the sporting world. The Ashes will be dwarfed.
NEW ZEALAND TO WIN WORLD CUP
There are many teams that can be termed as favourites for the 2019 World Cup in England. The hosts along with India, South Africa are seen as among the top contenders to lift the title with teams like Pakistan and West Indies close challengers.
But the one team I wish ruins all predictions and walks away with the trophy is New Zealand. A genuinely likeable team that goes about its business with the minimum of fuss and exhibits competitiveness in all conditions. They reached the World Cup final in 2015 before losing to the Aussies. The under-rated Kane Williamson, Trent Boult and Co deserve a World Cup trophy befitting the greatest New Zealand side ever.
MORE OF THE SAME FOR TEST PITCHES
Bumrah (r) has had a terrific debut year in Test cricket.
2018 was the year where Test cricket witnessed some of the most challenging conditions for batsmen. Batting average was 26.2 – the lowest since 1959. Two bowlers picked up 50 wickets or more – Kagiso Radaba and Dilruwan Perera. India pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami became one of the most lethal pace trios in contemporary cricket with 136 wickets.
It was all down to the pitches on offer. Wickets across the globe – barring a few – had ‘life’ in them with pacers and spinners in the thick of things on all days. Many Tests ended in three and a bit days while we also saw some keenly fought matches running into the fifth day. In 2019, please let the curators do what they have been doing because the resulting quality of Test cricket has been of the highest order.
CHECK PROLIFERATION OF LEAGUE CRICKET
The ICC is looking to put some sort of a cap on T20 – and now even T10 – leagues with franchise cricket running round the year and many cricketers giving up on red-ball and even international contracts to become freelance cricketers. Having some sort of a check on the number of leagues players can participate in will be a welcome move but care must also be taken to ensure the players who have to forego franchise dollars are compensated to a degree, if not entirely.
We already have too much league cricket, which has taken some focus away from the outstanding Test cricket we saw in 2018. Maybe 2019 will be the year where the Test Championship pulls cricket fans its way.
GREATER CROWDS FOR TEST CHAMPIONSHIP
We will witness the start of the ICC Test Championship in July. The idea is to provide a definite structure to Test cricket which admittedly does not attract a lot of attention outside the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar (Australia-India) and Pataudi Trophy (England-India).
With a points structure in place for each series won, leading up to a championship clash in 2021, each series will be worth something and teams can’t afford to take it easy at any stage. With each Test carrying weightage, especially in two-match series, fans will hopefully follow the fortunes of their teams with greater enthusiasm as they have something definitive to look at.
