Response to Mukul Kesavan's "The last tour"

Kesavan writes on "Why the Australia series marks the end of India's great middle order, and even, possibly, of the primacy of Test cricket"

It is premature to write obituaries for Test cricket. It's been done before, but the longer version of the game is the essence of the game. No amount of money can change that. T20 will have an impact, but my prediction is that it will produce more of the fearless cricket and cricketers the Aussies produced over the last ten to fifteen years.

Yes, teams will take some time to rebuild after the last generation leaves, and it will take more than some time for the new paradigm to take shape where players catch the eyes at T20 and move on to the longer versions, rather than moving up from first class cricket. But a new equilibrium will be attained - maybe 4 day tests (something Steve Waugh had advocated long back), maybe the leagues playing longer versions as well (you need good practice to do well in any format), maybe a window for wonderful exciting Test cricket between the best 4 to 6 trams only (we should already stop this Bangladesh, Zimbabwe nonsense right away, anyway)...

The ICC, though needs to get its act together and look at its options proactively. Else, what you say might well come true. But I am hopeful, if not the ICC or the stupid twerp of a BCCI... the market will come out with a solution to satisfy everyone... including test cricket lovers like me and you.

And I am hopeful about the cricket ahead. India-Australia, (paint something over the Champions League), but look ahead to the Ashes! Like I said, way too premature to write obituaries for real cricket.