T20 Format Is Casting A Dark Shadow Over Test Cricket: Chappell

According to Ian Chappell, the T20 format of the game has thrown a “dark shadow” over Test cricket. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 will be held in the UAE followed by the Ashes series.

Chappell also shed insight on the ongoing discussions among the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) over the Covid-19 regulations.

Chappell also believes that T20 events involving several nations are easier to negotiate with than the long-drawn structure of Test match cricket in the present circumstances.

“There’s a T20 World Cup to be played in the UAE and then, after some spirited negotiations, hopefully, a credible Ashes series in Australia. The difficult negotiations over the Ashes series were mostly brought about by the Covid pandemic, but more and more the T20 format is casting a dark shadow over Test cricket”.

“T20 tournaments involving countries require only days to complete and therefore are far easier to negotiate in the current chaotic climate than a long Test series,” said Chappell.

Future Test series being mostly played among the traditional cricket countries: Chappell

In addition, Ian Chappell stated that in the future, Test matches will only be played between traditional cricketing countries. The 78-year-old also believes that nations such as Afghanistan and Ireland lack the adequate infrastructure that can help young players.

“This points to future Test series being mostly played among the traditional cricket countries. It’s hard to see the long form of the game prospering in the latest Test-playing nations, Ireland and Afghanistan. They don’t have a first-class infrastructure capable of supporting a player development system of any great depth,” said Chappell.

Chappell also believes that traditional Test-playing countries would not like to play with newer Test-playing countries and that's the destiny of Test cricket may be dark as a consequence.

“There’s also an inclination among the older Test-playing nations to avoid contests against these newer teams where possible, as they are generally a costly proposition. It’s a bleak picture for Test cricket, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic-created chaos,” concluded Chappell.