On Day 3, dampness in the outfield prevented the start of play. (FILE Photo)
On Day 3 of the 2nd Test match between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, the play could not start because of poor drainage system at the Green Park ground. This incident has once again sparked the debate of having five designated Test match venues too many.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin would give both pros and cons of having many Test centers instead of just five and vice versa.
Pros
“Firstly, what are the benefits that Indian cricketers attain by having so many test centers you have got cricketers who come and play test cricket from every nook and corner of this country,” said Ashwin after the game in the press conference to the reporters. “It is a huge country and it has triggered that sort of urgency and that sort of passion amongst cricketers to be able to come and play for this country. That is a big positive,” he added.
However, Ashwin would acknowledge that there are “certain requisite ingredients” that are important to host a Test match which were lacking in Kanpur “The weather and the kind of drainage that we need to be able to invest in,” the 38-year-old said.
Cons
“But having said all this, does it help a player if you have just a few test centers? Most certainly it does,” Ashwin would go on to say.
Unlike India, the other Test-playing nations have designated Test match venues and specific times in cricketing calenders to host Test matches. For instance, Australia hosts the Boxing Day Test at the MCG every year and likewise, England starts their Test summer at Lords every year in the first week of June.
“We go to Australia, they play India only at five test centers. They don’t play us at the Manuka Oval in Canberra,” Ashwin said. “They won’t be very familiar with the conditions. So does England. They have certain select test centers and that’s where they play. “Some of those are only white ball centers.”
“Can we do it here? That’s above my pay grade. I cannot comment on that,” he concluded on the issue.
