I write this at the end of the first Test match between India and New Zealand if you've seen the match, you know what an engrossing day of cricket we saw. After the T20 razzmatazz where the skill sets required succeed are entirely different, Test matches tell you just why every cricketer worth his/her salt would love to do well the most in that format.
Sample this:
On the last day of the match, NZ began the day needing 280 more runs from 93 overs, with 9 wickets in hand.
At lunch, night watchman William Somerville and Tom Latham had remained unseparated, in a wicketless first session, leaving all 4 results open to possibility. And then the game ebbed and flowed, with India capturing 3 wickets post-lunch, and 5 in the next one. Yes, we were still agonizingly short by just one wicket in a last-wicket unbroken stand between the very impressive Rachin Ravindra and the gritty Ajaz Patel.
Right from when they came together in the 90th over (at 89.3 overs) till the end of the day at 98 overs, their thrilling partnership during the course of those 51 balls is precisely why nothing can ever beat Test Match cricket.
Gripping, sensational and as many in NZ would call it, even an absolute heist. The duo did got the Kiwis out of jail.
I have often seen people ask in wonder, "Why is it that Test cricket has a draw? Why can't there be a result? Isn't it boring (even bad) to play for 5 days and not have a result at the end of the match?"
Well, to all those who think so, the next time your mind drifts to think along those lines, remember what happened today. It was a draw alright, but ask anyone who watched, from either side, every ball, especially the last hour and even more so, the last half-hour (the last 7-8 overs) was simply mesmerizing.
Thank you, Shreyas Iyer, Tom Latham, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Kyle Jamieson for playing your heart out in your all-round performances in each innings.
Dream debuts for Shreyas Iyer and Rachin Ravindra - well done and hopefully, this is only the beginning of many more memorable moments for both of you..
And most importantly, great advertisement for Test Cricket.
Yes, India might not have won today but that's why this sport (and even more so, this format) is a lot of like life. You might not win today but you can still salvage and walk with your head held high, and live to fight and win another day.
Can't wait for Mumbai, the next stop.
Long Live, Test Cricket, Jai Ho!
