World Test Championship is Step in Right Direction, Says David Gower

Former England skipper, David Gower feels World Test championships can revitalise the interest in the red-ball cricket. Meanwhile, the ICC World Test Championship will be a league competition for Test cricket run by the International Cricket Council (ICC), starting in 2019. David Gower along with Farokh Engineer and Mushtaq Mohammad participated in a public conversation held on Friday on how to save Test cricket.

Test cricket needs to get saved – David Gower

However, Gower opined people want to see great players doing great things, and if preparing good pitches can lead you till there, then so has to be the case.

“There is already a move towards having World Test Championship (in 2019), which I think in the end is good. What the people want is great players doing great things. If you have good pitches, which produce good cricket, people will be interested,” Gower said.

Also, Gower feels Indian skipper, Virat Kohli might help in this matter. People will listen to him if he can urge that Test cricket is an essential part of the cricketing world.

“If Virat Kohli (given his extraordinary following) says Test cricket is important, then people will listen to him,” David Gower added.

Moreover, David Gower also said the market forces should come together to design a strategy that will bring in more crowd at the Test match.

“You’ve got to go to market forces and if need be just open the gates. Because where is the money coming from? The money is coming from the television.” Gower further added.

Meanwhile, Mushtaq Mohammad feels the first two essays could get restricted to 100 overs.

“As an old-timer, I don’t want to see too much fiddling around with test cricket. You don’t want to disturb test cricket. Test cricket should be left alone. Test cricket is the mother of all cricket.” 

Meanwhile, David Gower is in favour of four-day Tests while all the three is wanting for a Day/Night Tests.