Test cricket needs World Cup, dominant Team India to survive, feels Dean Jones

Test cricket needs World Cup, dominant Team India to survive, feels Dean Jones

Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones, who has turned into successful commentator, cricket analyst and coach ever since his retirement, finds the day-night form of five-day cricket interesting and believes it is the way forward. In addition, Jones believes that a world cup for Test cricket is the immediate need of the hour and more so, a successful Team India is what Test cricket needs in order to survive. ALSO READ: Dean Jones hails MS Dhoni as “one of the greatest”.

The 55-year-old cricketer, who is currently in India to commentate for the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), also said that it is the fans from India who determine the success of any format in cricket. “Let’s not forget that India didn’t like ODI cricket until Kapil Dev’s team won the World Cup in 1983. India hated the T20 format until the ICL came and [MS] Dhoni’s team won the inaugural World Cup. So what we have to do is start a World Cup Test series and make India the winners. We will start loving Test cricket again,” said Jones while talking to the media.

Jones, who is associated with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Islamabad United in the capacity of coach, also believes recently crowned World No.1 Test team Pakistan cannot be worthy of that position until they play India. “How can you say Pakistan are the No.1 when they don’t play India? Until you have a proper World Cup and until you give Test cricket what it deserves — like making it more sexy by bringing more pink ball and D/N games — it’s not going to go anywhere. Test cricket needs a World Cup. With all respect to Pakistan or Australia, you aren’t No. 1 until you have beaten everyone in the world,” said Jones.

The former cricketer has indeed made some valid points with his statements. Hope the ICC, PCB and most importantly, BCCI is listening.