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WITH its fast-pace, big names and swashbuckling sixes and boundaries, it is almost too easy to fall into the trance of Twenty20 cricket or T20 cricket as most know it by.
Big money leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash and most recently Caribbean Premier League, SA20 and Pakistan Super League have hastened the death of Test cricket at an alarming rate over the last decade or so.
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh recently lambasted South Africa’s decision to send a shadow side to New Zealand for a Test tour while their top players took part in a domestic T20 tournament, saying it proves the longest format of the game is under serious threat.
“If I was New Zealand, I wouldn’t even play the series. I don’t know why they are even playing. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?” wrote the Aussie legend in a stern Instagram post.
The Aussie legend warned the International Cricket Council to step in and save the Test version of the game.
As Zimbabwe’s Chevrons face Ireland in the third day of the historic and maiden Test Match between the two teams, the once-off clash series provides Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) with a chance to ensure the senior team re-assert themselves in the Test arena.
ZC have been riding on a wave of spectator interest in the Chevrons brand especially after the national team scored some successes in the 50 overs and T20 versions.
Zimbabwe have in the last few years also had the privilege of being granted hosting rights for the World Cup qualifiers for the 50 overs also known as One Day Internationals in 2023 and the T20 qualifiers a year earlier.
While Zimbabwe did miss out on qualification for the latest ICC T20 World Cup in the United States of America and West Indies, the Chevrons got some reprieve in that earlier this month, they hosted newly crowned world champions India and scored a rare win over the Asians.
It is in the Test arena, however that the Chevrons have almost been forgotten about.
Yet the Chevrons announced their arrival on the elite Test group in 1992 with some fine cricket that had the world standing to notice.
Ironically, the new cricket enthusiast and many neutrals have lately associated the Chevrons with T20 and ODIs.
Test matches, which also come with huge financial gains from television rights revenue, have been rare in coming.
While Ireland are playing their first home Test since attaining Test status, the Chevrons have an opportunity to showcase why they are part of that elite 12-member grouping.
In fact, Zimbabwe and South Africa are the only teams on the continent who enjoy Test status.
It is thus imperative for the Chevrons to beat Ireland in the on-going test.
But this is a team with a long history of inconsistency and the scores from Belfast will once again put Zimbabwe under the spotlight.
Many of their followers will be hoping that the Chevrons do not collapse and that by the time they return home, they would have done themselves a power of good to remind the world including their fiercest critics that they are indeed as good a Test team as they are in the T20.
The time is now for the Chevrons to get back to basics and bring back the good old days of Zimbabwe Test cricket.
Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza and the likes of Tendai Chatara are already reaching the twilight of their careers but they could do well to help Zimbabwe relaunch a strong base for Test cricket.
Of course, to their credit ZC have done well to ensure the country once again wins the confidence of the ICC and be granted co-hosting rights for 2026 and 2027 Under-19 and 50-over World Cups.
The fact that England will host Zimbabwe in a one-off men’s Test in May 2025 – the first time the two teams will face each other in the format in more than 20 years – underscores the need for the Chevrons to be a regular actor in the Test arena.
Zimbabwe and England will play a four-day Test from May 28-31, next year at a venue yet to be decided.
The on-going match against Ireland should serve as a grand appetiser.
Two of the biggest threats to Test cricket happen to be casual fans and the rich pickings that have been afforded by the increasing numbers of T20 cricket league around the world and Zimbabwe just like their peers would need to be vigilant to guard the integrity of the longer version of the gentleman’s game.
These casual fans are those that throng to venues for the brisk pace, sixes and boundaries of the shorter version and don’t really understand the prestige that comes with red ball cricket.
These are fans cannot be bothered with staying through five days of cricket.
These are the fans who would on most days make up Harare Sports Club’s Castle Corner and would rather sing and dance than pay attention to the action on the pitch.
The only action they are concerned with are the sixes, boundaries and wickets that come thick and fast during T20 and T10 matches.
ZC now have a chance to turn the corner by putting prestige back to cricket.
Reinvest into the Logan Cup cricket, identify the next generation and make sure that Zimbabwe put the best Chevrons side when the world will be watching during the four-day Test against England next May are some of the avenues they can explore.
Online Reporter