Shorter formats of the game have become more popular in the last couple of decades and keeping that in mind, new versions like T10 and The Hundred were introduced in recent years.
The debate has long been brewing with regards to the future of Test cricket.
In the era of Twenty20 cricket and with the ever increasing popularity of the shortest format, will the longest format of the game survive in coming years?
But Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach of Bangladesh national team, believes Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game.
“If you ask my opinion, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game. No matter how popular the other formats are going to be in the future. As a cricketer, you know, your skill will be tested in Test cricket. As a bowler, as a batsman, as a fielder it will test you and your skills, your mental skills, your resilience, everything. So, there's no better format than Test for any cricketer if you really want to be proud of representing your country,” Hathurusingha said during the pre-match press conference in Mirpur on the eve of their lone Test against Afghanistan.
The International Cricket Council introduced the World Test Championship in recent times and it has become important for the Test-playing nations.
Recently, Australia became champions defeating India in the final at The Oval, London and it created quite a buzz around the cricket world as two of the best teams in this cycle battled for glory.
The Bangladesh-Afghanistan Test is not under the WTC cycle but the Bangladesh coach said representing the country in a Test is enough for a player to motivate himself.
“You're playing for your country. Forget about the Test Championship, that came how long ago? Two years, three years ago, or four years ago? Before that, you are playing Test cricket for your country. That's what we dream of when we start playing in 11, 9, 10. Playing for your country, I don't have to inspire anyone. If there's a problem about playing for your country, then I think he (a player) is in the wrong place,” said Hathurusingha.
“In my head, and I think in the players' heads, playing for your country in a Test match is enough for them to be motivated, that's how I look at it. So, any match you play for your country is an honor. So, I think we don't look beyond that,” he added.
During his first stint as head coach of Bangladesh, the Tigers made significant results in the Test arena, like defeating England in Mirpur in 2016, beating Australia at the same venue in 2017 and defeating Sri Lanka in Colombo earlier in the year.
Bangladesh produced another magnificent result in their Test history last year when they defeated New Zealand away.
But the Tigers' overall performance in the longest format is still not consistent enough and they still have a long way to go to establish themselves as a good Test side.
The Bangladesh coach informed that the Tigers are looking to adopt a suitable process which will help them to become a better team both in home and away series.
“I think regardless of the Test Championship or whatever, as I said, playing a Test match for your country is enough for you. But when you are asking about a path, we wanted to play a certain way against different opposition. So accordingly, we will, regardless of whether it's a Test Championship or not, we'll find the way best suited for us when we are playing at home. At the same time, we keep an eye on that for our development to play away from home,” the 54-year old concluded.
