One of the biggest criticisms of test match cricket is that there are not enough tests. Many feel that with the current number of 50-over matches, test status should be given to a new format or even completely abandoned.
However, one thing many fail to realize is just how much money test cricket has made for the game.
It may sound crazy but before the advent of limited over formats, test cricket was by far the most popular way to play the sport. More games meant more revenue which allowed teams and countries better resources to develop the game.
So while some might want to ditch the test format, we must remember why it became so successful in the first place!
This article will talk about five ways test cricket rules can help your team win when you are a fan of either side. These tips will focus mostly on strategies at the grass roots level, looking into small changes players make during a game.
You get paid less than professional league basketball players, haha.
Don’t let them score
In test cricket, if either team is more than one run down, then it becomes very difficult to win or lose the match. This is because once both teams have scored their full quota of runs, there is nothing left for them to do but go home.
In that situation, even if one side manages to bowl out the other, they will still be able to salvage some points by running up a few extra runs before leaving the field.
This is why in tests you should never give your opponents the chance to get into a position where they can fight back in the game. If they are not in danger of losing yet, then it may be okay to leave something behind as an offering at their feet, but only if you really believe it will hurt them later on.
It is better to risk making a mistake and going for the throat than playing safe and ending up with nothing.
Keep your composure
In test cricket, there is an almost constant stream of events happening at breakneck speed. A lot of these happen very quickly so it can be hard to keep up with them.
This is particularly difficult when things go wrong because you have to hold onto what has happened before in order to understand why this situation has arisen.
It is important not to get too stressed about anything that happens during a game as this will only make you more nervous which could actually hurt your team.
Instead try to remain calm and collected no matter what is going on around you. This way you will be able to react correctly to whatever situation arises.
Test match referees are trained in keeping their cool and this helps them do their job better.
Take your time
In test cricket, there is an ever-increasing need to take things slow. Too many teams seem to be in a rush to win every match completely, making it hard for them to keep up with their opponents.
Test matches can easily get out of hand when one side feels like they are always behind and needs to make a big change before the game becomes impossible to win.
This isn’t just limited to the opposition either; some players feel that if they don’t perform then someone else will!
If you have ever watched a match where one player seems determined to prove themselves wrong, then you know what I mean. They will try anything but still lose the ball or fail to hit a shot very well even though they were clearly struggling earlier.
It can become really frustrating to watch this happen over and over again and not be able to do much about it. This can also hurt their own confidence which may carry onto future games.
So how can we help our team play more patiently?
Take your time. Don’t run too fast from one thing to the next. Use the time effectively and give yourself enough to recover between actions.
Don’t worry about what happened last time you did something – instead think about what could improve upon that action now.
Think about all the different possibilities, focus on one option only for a few seconds and see what happens.
Use your brain
In test cricket, there is an important rule that teams use to determine whether they win or lose. This rule comes down to one thing: how well you use your mind in the game of cricket.
Test matches can get very expensive for a team if they do not play smartly. Therefore, every member of the team should be thinking about what style of cricket they want to play, and what strategies are needed to achieve this.
If a player does not know the answer to these questions, then they may need some extra training before the match so that they do not waste valuable time during the game.
This could mean going up as a batsman to pick off a bowler, changing positions from keeper to bat, or just giving up on batting because the other players cannot put together a good partnership.
All of these things cost a lot of money and take away resources from the next part of the game, which is bowling.
Enjoy the game
This article will talk you through ten test winning rules that every cricket fan should know. These are some clever strategies or tricks to help your team win a match even if it seems like there is no hope at all!
Many of these tips can be used in any situation, not just during a test match. Some of them are very simple ideas that take place during the play-off period, while others need more time to pick up signals before they work.
But why would you want to help your side win? Because it feels good. It gives you a sense of satisfaction knowing that you have done your best to contribute to the victory.
It also raises your self-confidence because you realized that you do have skills which people outside of the sport may not realize.
Always try to score more than the opposition
In test cricket, there is an important rule that teams are not allowed to break. This is called the time limit draw. The time limit draw comes into play when either team has completed its quota of innings (also known as a half-test) or both teams have finished their games.
At this stage, if one of the teams still wants to continue playing then they must do so within a set amount of time. For example, if a team has been batting for three hours and needs to bat out the time left in the game, then it would be illegal to stop the match before that time expires.
This is because the rules say that once the allotted time for a team’s innings has expired, the other team can ask them to call off their own side and go home.
Always try to keep the game tight
As mentioned before, test cricket is a very long format. This means that there are longer periods of time in which nothing happens. There are not too many games where a ton has been scored every 40 minutes for an entire day!
When you have a lot of time to play a sport, it can sometimes become boring. When this happens, your players will lose interest and focus, potentially leading to a loss of the match or even the season for the team.
This can be avoided by having more events happening during the game. A way to do this is to use milestones in the game to make it interesting.
Milestones can be anything from reaching a specific score, going into a break, hitting a ball over a certain distance, getting a batsman out, etc.
The best way to determine if a milestone has been reached is by using a formula called the Ising Principle. The Ising Principle states that when applying energy to a system, it will eventually dissipate unless something prevents it.
In other words, if you want to see some action in test cricket, you need to give the teams time to bat/bowl without interruption. If a new event is added like a run-out or wicket then you must find a way to include it within the current event.
By doing this, the player can easily prepare for the event and go about their business as normal.
Be a good sport
Being a test match cricket fan is about much more than just watching your favorite team play against another team. It’s about supporting the brands of merchandise that their sponsors offer, it’s about cheering for your side when they are in contention and it’s about staying awake until the wee small hours to watch the game finish.
But what I think most people don’t realize is how much being a test match cricket fan also requires you to be a good sportsman. You have to treat players of other teams with respect and acknowledge that even though your own team may not win, that doesn’t mean that theirs was the better performance.
It’s only by engaging in this type of fair-minded discussion that we as test cricket fans can hope to learn anything beyond whether or not our team won.
