Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The popularity of Test cricket, I'm sure, has once again been revived following the results of the series played over the last eight months as well as the new ICC (International Cricket Council) pecking order.
With India taking over the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings after displacing long-time champions Australia, who are now in third place behind South Africa, there has been renewed interest in the purest form of the game as the top three teams can lose their spots with a couple of poor series results.
Following the success of the shortest form of the game such as the Twenty20 World Cups and the two IPLs (Indian Premier League) as well as the T20 Champions League, there were fears that the traditional form of cricket would lose its relevance in this modern day when fast food and quick entertainment is the order of the day.
In the last two-three months, India twice defeated Sri Lanka by innings margins at home after saving the first Test following a great batting display; Pakistan registered their first Test victory on New Zealand soil and ended the three-Test series level 1-1; while Australia defeated the West Indies 2-0 in a three-Test series at home.
The West Indies did well to bounce back from an innings loss in the first Test to draw the second and lost the third Test by a narrow margin.
The two series that are now going on; between Australia and Pakistan in Australia and the other one in South Africa against England have also had a lot of drama which is what Tests are all about. Australia won the first Test by 170 runs and also clinched the second Test in which the visitors had the upper hand for most part of the match by 36 runs in a thriller.
The most thrilling series in recent times, in my opinion, would be the one between England and South Africa where England managed to hold on for draws with only one wicket remaining in the first and third Tests and, in between, winning the second Test by an innings.
And, to brighten things up, we have players like Virender Sehwag who is one of the most explosive and destructive batsmen in world cricket now. There is never a dull moment when he is in full flow and a spectator who has just turned up for the match may mistake it for a one-dayer when 'Viru' is going hammer and tongs at the bowlers.
The Indian opener has been in such wonderful form recently that experts have started comparing him with the 'incomparable' Don Bradman. Of course, Sir Don stands tallest among all batsmen with his phenomenal batting average of 99.96. So when you look at it figuratively, Sehwag is way behind at 52.50 from 72 matches.
Ironically, the Delhi player's average in the shorter forms of the games are nothing to shout about even though his strike rate is commendable. So, does it indicate a love affair with Test cricket? I surely hope so.
