A viewer’s account of what importance each format holds for him and why all three formats are important.
For me, watching cricket is to the mind what food is to the body. The joy and satisfaction I get by watching cricket is like nourishment for my mind. But you can’t always have the same kind of food. A balanced diet, having all the required ingredients, is needed to get proper nourishment for your body. In sports, cricket does that for me by providing different emotions, taking my mind to different dispositions at times. For example, T20 is an instant energiser. It stimulates the mind with its innovative and adventurous streak. Test cricket, on the other hand, has a persistent calming effect because of its longevity and gentle pace.
Let’s talk about all three forms of the game, going from youngest to the oldest, smallest to longest and from instant gratification to eternal bliss.
T20 cricket is the dessert. A dessert satisfies the taste buds. It is something that is had after the main course, but not in large quantity. It placates our cravings for something different and tasty and provides instant gratification. At times, we might want second or third helpings, but having it very frequently is not advisable for a good health.
Moreover, the joy it provides by eating it occasionally is not the same if we have it over and over again. So if it is to be savoured and appreciated for a long time, it is better to have it in moderation.
ODI cricket is like water, an absolute necessity for survival. Water also helps to digest the meal. We have it very frequently, lots of it, without even noticing it, but never get bored of it. We cannot replace it with anything else. Sometimes we add some flavours in it (points to constant tinkering with ODI rules), trying to make it a little tastier or more bearable. But the point is that we cannot do without it. A little more or a little less in quantity does not make much difference. If we are deprived of it for a long time, we realize its importance. It is an integral part of life, often taken for granted.
Test cricket is the main course. Having food takes more time, effort and patience, but the rewards are high. It gives us strength and solidity, the capacity to stand. Lack of it incapacitates us. We generally have it at fixed times, in almost the same quantity every time. Sometimes we have a plate full of dishes of our liking and taste, but that is not always the case. And then there are the times when we ignore it, in order to make space for things that look tastier, shiner. We can live without it for a few days, but we will crumble eventually. Only a delicious, full plate of the main course can satisfy the stomach and tongue together; not any dessert or drink. Ignore it at your own peril!
I guess I have made the message clear. Just to reiterate: We need a balanced diet, with all required ingredients, to get proper nourishment.
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