Skip to content

Eoin Morgan fears chance to help Test cricket has been missed

Sunday 25 February 2018 11:36, UK

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 18: England batsman Eoin Morgan picks up some runs during the International Twenty20 match between New Zealand and Englan
Image: Eoin Morgan fears the opportunity to help Test cricket has been missed

Eoin Morgan says he fears the chance to revive Test cricket may have been missed and that the format is now seen as a "luxury".

Test cricket has long been seen as the primary form of the game, but the rise of the one-day and T20 formats has challenged the status quo.

Morgan, who will lead England in their ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, said: "Test match cricket has had a lot to worry about for quite a while now.

Live One-Day International Cricket

"If something was going to be done about it, it probably should have been done already.

"There are still, I suppose, different ideas being thrown around - but actually giving priority to Test matches is sort of a luxury now for the bigger countries around the world.

"For other countries, T20 franchise cricket takes priority."

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Eoin Morgan of England celebrates reaching his century during day three of the 3rd npower Test at Edgbaston on August 12,
Image: Morgan played the last of his 16 Tests for England more than six years ago

Ideas to restore the primacy of Test cricket have included day-night pink-ball matches and four-day Tests.

Also See:

But Morgan said: "The best ideas probably being bandied around are putting most revenue behind the match appearances or actual prize money towards Test match cricket.

"(Then) there's no influence on what format people choose, simply because of the money they might make. (Their decision) is all down to how good they are at that particular format."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

England captain Eoin Morgan says Ben Stokes has trained well but is under no pressure to bowl 10 overs if he plays in the first ODI against New Zealand

The conflict between Test and limited-overs cricket has returned to the spotlight in England following Adil Rashid's and Alex Hales' decisions to sign white-ball only contracts with their counties.

Their decision essentially ends their hopes of a Test recall - temporarily at least - but Morgan backed their move.

He said: "I think it's a really good decision for those individuals. Every individual is different - they see their future and their pathway changing all the time, and it's okay to be able to change it.

Adil Rashid during an England T20 nets session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 9, 2018
Image: Adil Rashid recently signed a white-ball only contract with Yorkshire, allowing him to focus solely on limited-overs cricket

"A lot of people actually are forced into a position to play one or two formats - which I think is wrong, because it's their own career, it's their own future.

"They need to take hold of it and make the most of it while they can."

Around Sky

Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch over 200 live festive football matches and all the darts

Not got Sky? Get instant access to Sky Sports with no contract