How to make Test Cricket more interesting: Part 3

Despite producing some thrilling encounters over the year, Test cricket has seen a rapid decline in popularity. Though players rate it as the ultimate test of cricket (and hence the name Test Cricket!), spectators are becoming less interested in it. This is the last article in the series of articles which suggest some ways to improve the longer form of the game. The suggestions may be whacky, funny or comical but everything is possible in world of cricket. Here is presenting Part 3 of ways to improve the popularity of Test cricket:

# Allow Steve Bucknor and Ashoka De Silva to umpire each Test:

These two umpires are the most hated and the most loved figures in the Test cricket ( depends on which team you are supporting ). Steve Bucknor though has retired, but I would love to see both Ashoka De Silva and Bucknor as umpires in each of the Tests that is going to be played. You are guaranteed entertainment and anger when both of them are officiating together. It does not matter if the accuracy and authenticity of their decision is zero. Ultimately what matters is entertainment, even as a spectator when you are sitting and watching these two masters at work, you are bound to curse them without realizing that you are actually cursing them.

The dreaded finger

If you happen to be an Indian supporter you are bound to be more angry and abusive than any other person in the whole world. If I remember correctly, both Ashoka and Steve have a natural prejudice against Indian batsmen, Sachin in particular. On one hand, the Indian fans will get infuriated and another the opposition fans will be relishing it. Either way you see that the interest in cricket will surely increase, so it is proven strategy that whenever Steve and Ashoka umpire together fireworks will surely spark.

# Conduct IPL and Test cricket simultaneously:

IPL is the primary reason that the interest in test cricket has dwindled , and what better way to bring interest back in it by conducting both test and IPL matches simultaneously. If you are getting dizzy or confused please let me explain what I actually mean:

Since IPL and Test matches will be conducted on the same day, this would mean that the Test match will be played in the day whereas the IPL match would be conducted in the night. Now, someone who wants to watch his favorite city franchise in action in an IPL match should be made to compulsorily sit for Test match in the day. Otherwise he should outright be refused the ticket to the IPL match.

BCCI way : Bringing Test and IPL together

If you think this is crazy, think again what the BCCI has done in the past. The Indian governing body has redefined the word crazy. If it can introduce strategic breaks in IPL, it can also make buying of both the tickets mandatory, after all it is a much more financially viable option. And we all know how money minded BCCI is, don’t we ??

# Introduce Hollywood, Bollywood and other regional cinemas teams:

We have often seen celebrities participating in charity matches and displaying their cricketing skills to their fans. Since they have such a flair for this beautiful game, I say let us introduce more international teams in the world of Test cricket. Legalizing the star studded team for Test cricket is bound to bring more fans and increased popularity for the sport. Some of the teams may include Hollywood XI, Bollywood XI and Lollywood XI and so on…

Precautions to be taken:

1. One must not forget that Rajnikanth is the supreme power when it comes to world of superstars, so the point that should be kept in mind is that Rajnikanth should be made Captain as well as coach for all these teams. Besides this, there will be a special team for Rajnikanth – Rajni XI. However the team shall comprise of a single player – Rajnikanth himself or else he will get offended and we don’t want him to be offended don’t we ???

The "Rajnikanth" effect

2. Deepika Padukone should be kept away from any celebrity team, or else she is certain to bring about its doom. The glamour that will be added by these superstars could be nullified by their failure. In that case our very own superhero Jeevan will take over though Chulbul Pandey may have a problem with that!

# Show Big Boss on the ” Big Screen” :

Cricket has changed tremendously since the big replay screen came into picture. Similarly ” Indian Junta” and its interests have changed since the homecoming of “Big Boss”. Now instead of showing absurd and mistimed messages on the large electronic screens we can show the fans a brand new episode of ” Big Boss”. I guess mixing the sport with a little bit of gibberish has always been BCCI’s forte. The cricket fans are bound to be glued to their seats when they see the hysterics of Sunny Leone, Shweta Tiwari and Rakhi Sawant on the big electronic screen.

The X Factor:

Just when the fans started getting bored with the overacting of our Big Boss mates, show the video of Sreesanth being slapped, you know just to spice things up. And to remind the fans that cry babies like Kambli and Sreesanth do exist in cricket.

# Allow INDIA TV to cover all Test matches:

All of us know how reliable the news of INDIA TV is. When they don’t report the attack of aliens on Earth, they are out reporting on “how a car was driving itself”. Therefore for authentic and reliable reporting of Test cricket, all coverage should be given to INDIA TV. The spectators must familiarize themselves with the following kind of headlines:

Expect the unexpected with INDIA TV

Breaking news —> ICC building a secret army to defeat BCCI

—> Michael Clark : Kangaroo meat is the secret of my energy

—> Is Sara Tendulkar dating Aryan Khan???

—> Indian team bowled yet again for 222 : Kali mata’s curse impacting India’s performance

….. and the epic headline

—> Pakistani team drinking alien’s milk to prepare for India series

and Part 2 in this series.

If you have any other ideas to revolutionize Test Cricket feel free to write them down in comments section, I would love to compile them and write a new arcticle :)