‘It’s ridiculous’: Aussie legends want ‘abysmal’ rules changed to save Test cricket

As Australia gears up for another series, cricket legends are urging Test cricket to make changes so the iconic format doesn’t die.

Australian greats are urging cricket administrators to speed up the pace of play of Test cricket and do away with unnecessary delays amid fears for the future of the game’s longest format.

Australia take on the West Indies in a two-Test series starting on Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval, followed by a day-night game at the Gabba to round out the summer of cricket.

Pakistan put up a fight but lost their series 3-0 and the West Indies are massive underdogs, especially given all-rounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers are prioritising T20 cricket in the UAE and South Africa.

Watch Australia vs West Indies on Kayo Sports. Every Test, ODI and T20I Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

There have long been fears for the future of Test cricket beyond the ‘Big Three’ of Australia, India and England, and those fears were confirmed when South Africa announced it was sending a C-grade squad to New Zealand for next month’s Test series.

South Africa’s decision to force its star players to play in the SA20 competition shapes as a watershed moment in Test cricket’s imminent decline.

Test cricket isn’t helping itself either. The Sydney Test was mostly spared of rain but legends were furious when Australia and Pakistan left the SCG due to bad light on Day 2.

Former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian told news.com.au Test cricket needs to pay players more to play Tests, get rid of delays for bad light and introduce harsher punishments for slow over rates.

“We need to make sure our rules are not discouraging people from watching Test cricket,” the Fox Cricket commentator said in an impassioned warning to the five-day format.

Australia is dominating on the field but there are grave fears for Test cricket. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

“You can’t go to a game at the SCG or MCG and walk off for bad light. I’m critical of some our batsmen too of looking at the umpires and wanting to get off the ground as quick as possible because the light’s not good enough or the rain has come.

“You can’t have that. Test cricket is under the pump. You put the artificial light on, then that’s too strong and they can’t play. It’s ridiculous.

“I’ve been saying this for 20 years. You’ve got to change the rules of Test cricket. You’ve got to fix the rain and the light rule. You’ve got to keep players out there playing.

“That’s what people expect. You can’t penalise the people who have paid their hard earned money who can’t watch a game of Test cricket. It’s ridiculous.

“The over rates are a massive issue. Teams should be getting through 90 overs a day no problem. You have to make the penalties stick a lot more. Captains have to make sure they’re not wasting time.

“It might have to cut into the lunch and tea break, but you need to make sure captains and teams get through their 90 overs. It’s not that hard.

“We do it with T20 cricket, we force batsman to hurry out there in 90 seconds or else they’re out. You’ve got to make sure players stay out there and play Test cricket. 

“Maybe we don’t have any red ball cricket, we just have pink ball cricket so bad light is not an issue. We turn the lights on and we know they’re going to be out there playing. We’ve got to fix those rules.”

Slow over rates and delays are a bug bear for fans. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell described the pace of play in Test cricket as “abysmal”.

During the Pakistan series, Australia regularly fell well short of the required 90 overs to be bowled in a day.

Chappell wrote in an ESPN Cricinfo column: “Why are batters allowed to meet mid-pitch during overs to discuss who knows what without penalty?

“Why aren’t batters informed that etiquette requires them to be in their stance at the crease when a bowler is ready to deliver?

“Heat extremes excepted, why allow drinks at times outside of the regular break? Why do glove changes occur so often? Surely this is superstition more than need.

“Why aren’t boundaries signalled only for balls that hit the rope rather than allowing pointless replays that look at the whereabouts of a fielder’s feet or hands?”

Delays for bad light infuriates fans. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Steve Waugh and Michael Clarke believe money is the solution to get the world’s best players to make Test cricket instead of domestic T20 leagues, and Julian agrees.

“We need to work out ways to pay players (more competitive amounts) to play Test cricket,” he said.

“That’s what T20 series have done and they’re paying them more money. It’s as simple as that. You want West Indies to pick their best Test players, then pay them more money.

“You’ve got to come up with a formula to get more money into Test cricket.

“Money talks. If you pay them more money to play Test cricket, they will pay Test cricket. It’s that simple. It’s not rocket science.”

Julian remains hopeful Australia’s young players still view Test cricket as the pinnacle, but he fears for nations without the financial backing of Australia, England and India.

”In Australia when you speak to most young players playing Big Bash, they want to play Test cricket for Australia,” he said.

“Jake Fraser-McGuirk, Henry Hunt - when you speak to them, they want to play Test cricket. They go, ‘Mate, I want to play Test cricket and wear the baggy green’. I don’t think that’s an issue for youngers players coming through.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith walk off the SCG due to bad light. Photo: Tom Parrish

“I don’t fear for Test cricket in Australia because I still think every young cricketer out there that I speak to wants to play Test cricket for Australia. You’re always going to get that in India and England as well. They want to play Test cricket for their country.

“I don’t fear for it, but what I do fear is administrators not making Test cricket viable so players play. Players have got to be in tune.

“The light’s not quite right or there’s a little bit of rain around, they’ve got to be encouraged to stay out there and play because that’s what people have paid their money for.

“I just really hope the West Indies take advantage of playing Test cricket at the Adelaide Oval and the Gabba, two great venues to bowl quick and score runs.

“I’m hoping the West Indies surprise us and give us something to watch. If we can see some great signs from West Indies, that’ll be great for Test cricket in the West Indies.

“That’s the problem at the moment. Test cricket in the Windies is a problem. They’ve got the talent, no doubt, we just need to encourage them to play more Test cricket.”