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Ahead of the India-England series, former selector and BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale praised the near-capacity crowd at Lord’s for the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia in London. What impressed him most was that neither host nation England nor a crowd-puller like India was playing, yet fans turned up in large numbers. “People actually bought tickets to watch the WTC final,” Jagdale noted. “That’s great news for Test cricket.”
“Whereas in the IPL, large number of the spectators are pass holders — they don’t actually buy tickets,” said Jagdale, who has been an integral part of Indian cricket’s administrative ecosystem. “But Test match fans do buy tickets. They come to watch this great game of cricket.”
Jagdale also highlighted the contrasting ways in which victories are celebrated in different formats. “A Test win like South Africa’s WTC triumph is celebrated in a harmless and natural way — with dignity and pride,” he said. “In contrast, celebrations after events like the IPL, such as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s recent win, often turn wild and, at times, even harmful.”
That’s why purists love Test cricket — and it’s not just them; even youngsters are increasingly drawn to it. “It’s simply a matter of building a strong foundation for those aspiring to play at the highest level. Test cricket should be watched and understood deeply, as it’s where a player truly develops depth in their skill set,” Jagdale added.
Good piece. South Africa doesn’t have the crowd-pulling power of India or Australia but crowds turned up to watch them shake off the choker tag
Well written ! Hope the best team wins
Good piece. WTC final was indeed good news for those who have a taste for cricket.
Test cricket is the real cricket and the toughest cricket. Also South Africa is a country that is struggling to retain their best talent in lieu of T20 or playing in England and New Zealand. This is a massive result for Test cricket all over the world