Warner scared for future of Test cricket, leaves message for youngsters

Senior Australia opener David Warner said he fears for the future of Test cricket, looking at how young cricketers are prioritising white-ball cricket over the longest format of the sport.

Warner cited the example of one of his colleagues from Sydney Thunder, Oliver Davies, in describing how up-and-coming cricketers are thinking when it comes to choosing between formats.

Warner said he tried to impress the importance of playing Test cricket upon his younger teammates, including Davies during his stint in the Big Bash League. Warner has played 101 Tests and 240 limited-overs matches, said it’s important young cricketers understand the value of playing Test cricket and leaving a legacy behind.

Notably, the International Cricket Council introduced the World Test Championship in 2019 to add more context to Test matches amid dwindling numbers around the traditional format of the game. With franchise-based T20 leagues growing at an unprecedented pace, a majority of cricketers across the globe have shown a tendency to prefer shorter formats because of the monetary benefits associated with the leagues.

Top players like Warner, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes have been flagbearers of Test cricket in the modern-era, allotting time and energy to play red-ball cricket, consistently.

“I was speaking to (Davies) the other day. He likes playing white-ball cricket, I can't see him playing red-ball cricket any time soon,” Warner said.

“If he wants to put his mind to it, he can definitely play. But I’ve got a little bit of scaredness about what’s going to happen in the next five to 10 years, where cricket is actually heading.

“I’d love for guys coming through to play red-ball cricket and play test cricket because that’s the legacy that you should want to leave behind.”

Advice to youngsters

Meanwhile, Warner also said it’s not possible for a cricketer to have a long and successful career without playing Test cricket, highlighting that there have been only a handful who have managed to stay relevant over a considerable period of time without playing red-ball cricket.

“There’s only been a small minority of people who have been able to do that and have a long career (without Tests),” said the 36-year-old.

“Guys see the short term at the moment with all the leagues and stuff around.

“The best way to get value for your currency is actually making a name for yourself.”_India Today