The Final Test

Huw Turbervill is the ultimate passionate polemicist for the Test format with a zeal that manages to weave both George Orwell and Basil Fawlty into his arguments'' - David Gower OBE ''As cricket expands into ever more formats and franchise leagues, more and more voices are to be heard; but the editor of The Cricketer should always be listened to'' - Scyld BerryThe editor of The Cricketer goes on a soul-searching journey to discover what the future holds for Test cricket. As T20 grows like Japanese knotweed, Test cricket is in mortal danger. White-ball tournaments - mainly T20 and T10 - are now sprouting in places like the US and Saudi Arabia, and Test cricketers are commonly being offered all-year-round contracts by IPL owners, allowing them to play short-form tournaments in the West Indies, the UAE and elsewhere.The IPL has expanded, but Australia''s Big Bash is contracting; the 2023 men''s Ashes were concertinaed into a tiny window but The Hundred continues to dominate. Is there still hope for Test cricket in this tumultuous sporting landscape? Turbervill recalls the poignancy of the final Test of the English summer at The Oval in 2022, and describes how the match could be seen as a metaphor for the demise of the longer game.As cricket fans seem divided in the sport''s own version of the culture wars: traditionalists refusing to accede territory; pragmatists wanting to achieve a healthy balance and progressives conceding the change, Turbervill asks cricketers, commentators and writers about the future of Test cricket.With guest appearances including Ben Stokes, the architect of Bazball which could save Test cricket, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Mike Brearley, Dean Elgar, David Gower, Graham Gooch, Richard Hadlee, Merv Hughes and many more, this book reveals if Test cricket can truly survive the next decade.>

Auteur
Huw Turbervill started his career writing for local papers in Suffolk before joining the Sunday Telegraph and Daily Express, writing about cricket, football and sub-editing the sports pages. He then worked on the Daily Telegraph until 2015 when his dream came true, joining The Cricketer. His books include The Toughest Tour, the story of England's tours to Australia since the War. His first trip to The Oval Test was in 1986, and he hopes that he will be at the Oval Test in 20 years' time.

Texte du rabat

'[a] compelling book... Test cricket is hanging on. It's a worry' - Graham Gooch'Huw Turbervill is the ultimate passionate polemicist for the Test format with a zeal that manages to weave both George Orwell and Basil Fawlty into his arguments' - David Gower OBE'As cricket expands into ever more formats and franchise leagues, more and more voices are to be heard; but the editor of The Cricketer should always be listened to' - Scyld BerryThe editor of The Cricketer goes on a soul-searching journey to discover what the future holds for Test cricket. As T20 grows like Japanese knotweed, Test cricket is in mortal danger. White-ball tournaments - mainly T20 and T10 - are now sprouting in places like the US and Saudi Arabia, and Test cricketers are commonly being offered all-year-round contracts by IPL owners, allowing them to play short-form tournaments in the West Indies, the UAE and elsewhere. The IPL has expanded, but Australia's Big Bash is contracting; the 2023 men's Ashes were concertinaed into a tiny window but The Hundred continues to dominate. Is there still hope for Test cricket in this tumultuous sporting landscape? Turbervill recalls the poignancy of the final Test of the English summer at The Oval in 2022, and describes how the match could be seen as a metaphor for the demise of the longer game. As cricket fans seem divided in the sport's own version of the culture wars: traditionalists refusing to accede territory; pragmatists wanting to achieve a healthy balance and progressives conceding the change, Turbervill asks cricketers, commentators and writers about the future of Test cricket. With guest appearances including Ben Stokes, the architect of Bazball which could save Test cricket, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Mike Brearley, Dean Elgar, David Gower, Graham Gooch, Richard Hadlee, Merv Hughes and many more, this book reveals if Test cricket can truly survive the next decade.

Contenu

Introduction 1. How people learned to stop worrying and love T20 2. Testing thoughts 3. Reflections: David Gower and my golden years 4. The Sky effect 5. Reflections: Graham Gooch and Grandstand 6. Open a window for Test cricket 7. Why can't I be more like Jarrod? 8. Viv Richards: The king and I 9. Test cricket before 1982 10. Reflections: Farokh Engineer and India 11. Test cricket in the 1980s 12. My love of county cricket 13. The Hundred, decisively divisive 14. Reflections: Mudassar Nazar and Pakistan 15. Test cricket in the 1990s 16. Reflections: Jack Russell the artist 17. Test cricket in the 2000s 18. Reflections: Merv Hughes coming in off his long run 19. Test cricket in the 2010s 20. Reflections: Richard Hadlee, New Zealand's king of swing 21. Test cricket from 2020 onward - Bazball et al 22. nternational white-ball cricket 23. Reece Topley - modern family 24. My love of club cricket 25. Cricket journalism 26. My family and cricket Conclusion: Let's talk up Test cricket