Coping with the impact of T20 batting in Test cricket

After the T20 World Cup in June, it is Test cricket that has been played the most prominently, heating up the race to win the two berths for next year's World Test Championship final at Lord's.

- Rasesh Mandani

The WTC is doing well to keep the traditional format alive, but the character of long-form cricket has changed dramatically. Several unexpected results have been thrown up with many teams looking uncomfortable at home, batting techniques taking a beating and visiting bowlers out-performing more fancied home bowling attacks.

Last week, Australia were dismissed for 104 by the Indian pacers at Perth. Indian batters were bundled out for 46 by New Zealand in the Bengaluru Test. The Kiwi spinners outshone India's tweakers to clinch the series 3-0. This week, Sri Lanka were 42 all out against South Africa at Cape Town. In the last five years, on 10 occasions a team has been dismissed for 80 runs or less in a Test innings.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has said that defensive batting techniques have been hampered by T20 cricket. "I agree with Gambhir," said Dinesh Karthik, the India ambassador for SA20 league, in a media interaction. "When he said that lack of defensive technique is prevalent because of T20, I don't think it's a complaint. It is a reality and the players need to choose."