Why is Test Cricket losing popularity? What are the things that can be done to increase the popularity of Test Cricket?

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Is test match cricket dying? Is popularity of test cricket declining? The answer is yes. Yes, the viewership of test cricket has gone down significantly. People now-a-days prefer to watch ODI Cricket or T20 cricket more than the test cricket. After all no one will keep everything aside and watch 6-7 hours of cricket daily for 5 days.

Why is Test Cricket facing a decline?

The biggest reason is that the white ball cricket has become a lot popular. The shorter formats contain a lot of entertainment, excitement, drama & even money when compared to test cricket. The pitches in test matches are either a lot bowling friendly or very flat which either results in a 3-4 day game or results in a draw which excludes excitement and thriller from the equation. Another such reason is the lack of contest between the players. The fiercer the battle between the players,  the more interesting the match turns out to watch. One more reason is that, a lot of players opt to play shorter formats as the test cricket tests skill, temperament, fitness and mental strength a lot more than limited overs cricket which eventually affects the popularity of test cricket.


What can be done to revive Test Cricket?

The day-night test cricket is one of the best things that has started and should be continued and played by every test playing nation. The world test championship is also a good move by ICC which can add a flair and competitiveness among the test playing teams. One more thing which can be done is that instead of tossing a coin, the choice should directly be given to the away team's captain whether he wants to bat or bowl. This will bring more excitement in the game and will neutralize the home advantage to a lot extent as home teams are dominating a lot now-a-days. Also good pitches can be prepared by pitch curators, where a good contest between the bat and ball can be seen.

I feel the test cricket is the best format of cricket as it needs a lot of skill, temperament, patience, fitness and mental & physical strength to survive.

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