England test captain Ben Stokes has launched a defence of the five-day game, and raised concerns over the sport's international schedule, saying authorities do not give the matter enough thought.
Ben Stokes. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In a BBC radio interview with former England great Sir Ian Botham, Stokes discussed the state of cricket and spoke of his dislike for test cricket being overshadowed by the focus on international white-ball cricket, and a variety of T20 franchise competitions attracting players with bigger pay packets.
"Test cricket has been spoken about in a way I don't like. It is losing the attention of the fans, with all the new formats and franchise competitions," Stokes said on BBC radio.
"We understand there are so many opportunities for players away from test cricket. But, for me, it is so important for the game. I love playing Test cricket and felt we could do something different.
"Taking the result away from the mindset is a great starting point. Putting focus on making every day entertaining. Not allowing people to know what is going to happen.
"If people turn up excited about what they are going to watch, you've already won before a ball has been bowled."
Under Stokes and their new coach, New Zealand's Brendon McCullum, England have enjoyed a test resurgence, playing an uninhibited attacking style dubbed "Baz-ball" that has led to success, including an unprecedented 3-0 clean sweep in Pakistan.
Botham supported the approach of Stokes and McCullum.
"It's about putting bums on seats. People now want to watch the game," Botham said.
Stokes highlighted England's three-match, one-day international series in Australia in November, which started four days after they won the Twenty20 World Cup.
He described it as a "series which meant nothing".
"The scheduling doesn't get enough attention that it should," Stokes said.
"Some people say, 'You are playing for England, that should be enough', but there is a lot more to factor in."
Stokes announced his retirement from ODIs in July, citing the "unsustainable" rigour of playing all three formats of the game.
The 31-year-old was part of the England team that won the ODI World Cup in 2019.
"You want international cricket to be [of] the highest standard. But we have seen a lot of different squads being picked and players being rested, and that's not the way international cricket should go," Stokes added.
Meanwhile, England officials announced on Tuesday the men's team will return to Bangladesh for the first time since 2016 for two white-ball series in March.
They will begin with three one-day internationals followed by three Twenty20 matches. All the matches will be held in Dhaka and Chittagong.
The last time the teams met in 2016, England won the ODI series 2-1.
"There is a great passion for cricket across Bangladesh, and we expect a tough challenge against a side who have an excellent record in home conditions," said Clare Connor, the England cricket board's interim CEO.
- Reuters / ABC
