Former Australia captain raise concern over Test cricket's future calls it 'abysmal'

Test cricket have been in talks over its extinct over the past few years. Though the traditional format of the game has seen some breathtaking encounters over recent years. But due to the inclusion of T20 cricket and franchise leagues over the world the red-ball format's crowd has been a bit less. In recent years, there has been a heated debate among cricket experts and former players about the relevance of Test cricket in modern times, with T20 cricket preferred by fans, administrators, and a number of players worldwide.

With former Australia captain Ian Chappell being the recent one to comment about the debate. Chappell has raised questions about the viability of Test cricket in light of the growing popularity of T20 cricket. He asked administrators and cricketers to collaborate for the survival of Test cricket. 

He also also raised concerns of "why batters are allowed to meet mid-pitch during overs to discuss without penalty" and drinks being allowed outside of regular breaks. He believes that games should flow naturally and urged administrators to ensure the same. 

Administrators are enamored of T20's popularity: Ian Chappell

Writing in his column for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell termed the pace of play in Test cricket as abysmal, stating, "It's no secret that Test cricket is an endangered species. Administrators are enamored of T20's popularity and its huge financial rewards; there has been a world-wide explosion of T20 leagues and now players are signing long-term contracts with major T20 franchises. These are all contributing factors."

"The pace of play in Test cricket is abysmal. It's slowing every day and nothing is being done to improve matters. On the one hand Ben Stokes genuinely strives to improve the entertainment quotient of Test cricket but he's being undermined by the administrators' lack of initiative."

The 80-year-old further added, "When was the last time the stipulated minimum number of overs were completed in the regular time allocated for a Test day's play? Six hours of cricket is ample - for players, the fans, the viewers and administrators. Everything should be done to avoid the game enduring overtime. Overtime is one of the more boring aspects of cricket."