Is the money hungry BCCI killing test cricket?

As India is mainly dependent on its batsmen to take them to win test matches or for that matter any match, BCCI prefers batting pitches in India... this is the only reason that we see 3 Indians in the list of 8 people who have crossed 10,000 runs in test cricket... and is the trend continues, no wonder if we see 3 more crossing the 10000 barrier in the next few years... As far as the BCCI goes, they make money from every quarter... i will not be surprised if they start taking money from the government saying we are giving so much money to the transport department on the match days, so we need some share from that... In this case the captain and the senior pros should interfere and ask the board to make it straight... but why should the captain complain until he is not getting any losses under his belt... every damn member of the cricket fraternity doesn't want the change... so be it... i would be very much happy if the ICC rejects these stadiums from organising any future test matches...

Well, most tests get drawn in India because of the placid nature of the tracks. The poor bowlers just don't get any help. However, placid tracks are not just in India but all over the sub-continent including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. That apart, Indian batsmen are more watchful than the Pakistan batsmen for they have got experience and class. People like Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Gambhir and Dhoni who like spending time in the centre instead of being flashy and flamboyant. As far as Srilanka's higher result record is concerned, I think the presence of stalwart spinners like Murali and Mendis has done the trick for them. Indian spinners do not have that much bite even on Indian tracks and as a result, opposition teams bat longer thus increasing chances of draw. I just don't think that the BCCI is sort of fixing all this for money. Draws and placid tracks have always been and are still common all over India. You can see this even in domestic cricket.

Just look at the last match vs SL…the only silver lining was Sachin’s 43rd century LOL BTW…the BCCI is the world’s richest cricket body and we all know that money begets money and that the rich are always greedy for more money, isn’t it? So if its for rich individuals, why cant it be for rich corporations? And then its an autonomous body, so Govt has no control or dictat over it…its raking in the moolah and allowing the cricketers to do so…see how rich the Indian players are when compared to players of other cricket playing countries but as a nation, India is way poorer than Australia, SA or England…so the BCCI is happy, the cricketers are happy…who are we to complain?

BCCI is only playing for money. They do no care about cricket. Every board have their website but BCCI made official website at last as they do not want to spend money.

There is no doubt that BCCI is more interested in making money than in imrpoving the status ofthe sport in our country. With politicians getting involved inthe mess that already it is things have gotten even more murky. Just look at the events hosted by India and then look at the improvements in the basic standards at the places that host the events. I dont think BCCIis interested in making sure the money they put back in the game is utilized properly or not. In a country of a billion cricket fans its a pity to see that the richest board in India is just wasting the money and more than that it is killing the sport itself. I dont blame the curators for praparing such pitches. Its the boardsresponsibility to make sure the pitches are made to a certain standard. With most of the grounds being host to many marriage receptions and other events apart from cricket so as to make some more money for the state cricket boads the standard of the grounds are bound to go down. The board has to realise grounds are not multi utility venues but strictly to be used for cricket. And I guess blame also rests on the fans too.We are so much in need for entertainment that we want more ODIs and T20s than tests. Thus the board too has the pressure to deliver this. If you get 10 tests and no ODIs in a year I am sure you would be as upset or maybe even more. But future of test cricket as a sports for the fans looks in danger.

yes i also think so. The money is driving BCCI.

Actually that is not true any longer. Because these days the rights are sold on the basis of the series and not the number of days played. Of course, the gate receipts will still be based on the number of days the match is played, but that is meagre amount of money for BCCI to really worry. I think the bigger problem is with the preparation of pitches in India. If you look at most venues in India there is so much of overload of cricket that the pitches do not get the proper care to be nurtured as someone or else is playing cricket. If not some political party has some rally taking place on the pitches which has the blessing of BCCI. Remember the Eden Gardens opening ceremony fiasco!! So yes BCCI is killing test cricket, unfortunately it is killing the duck that lays golden eggs. Cheers! Ram

Whatever, I would like to see BCCI to make pitches which are sportive, both bowlers and batsmen get enough chance to prove their presences. This will also make Test match very interesting, making pitches only for batsmen or bowlers is very unfair. When India tour Australia in 2008, the pitches was very sportive and the series between India and Australia was good expect the controversial Sydney test where umpiring was very poor. Symonds and Bhajji had verbal argument and lot of sportive spirit was missing between the players.. I hope BCCI changes its policy on pitches.. :)