Testing time for the longest format

AS far as Test cricket is concerned, groundhog day is here Again.

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It's when administrators, past and present, and players, past and present, get on to various podcasts and press conferences to say that the longest format of the game is about to die. This time, however, all of them could have a point about the health of the five-day game.

Sure, at some level, it's never been better. In the next 40 months or so, Australia, India and England will face each other in a series of five-match Test series. Including the five Test series against England beginning with the first in the city on Thursday, India are, according to the Future Tours Programme, set for 20 Tests against the so-called other members of the Big Three. They are slated to play only 14 Tests against the other full-members put together in this period.

England, who play a lot of red-ball cricket compared to the other teams, have 15 games against either India or Australia. They have 22 against the other full members in total. Australia have two full blocks of five Tests against India apart from a home Ashes against England. Against the other full members, they only have 16 remaining, including one against the West Indies beginning in a few days' time. Tests can be profitable but only when the Big Three face each other. For the other sides? Not so much. But this isn't even about money.