DESPITE criticism from various corners about Test cricket losing its charm while comparing it the shorter formats like ODI and T20, the longer form of the game continues to has its own charm and the ardent followers still remain loyal to it. Because Test cricket we all know is mother of all cricket.

In this series — which certainly has not been the best by a visiting Pakistan team to South Africa — the spectators have still flocked in large numbers

to enjoy Test battle. Though it may not have been to their liking to see an unevenly contest but they certainly appear to have a good time watching their home team win.

Games finishing within five days is now quite common for the fact a great majority of Test matches now are over within the distance, sometimes within two and half days or three days and four. That however has not kept the crowd away which obviously is an encouraging sign for the longer format too.

Call it the lack of skills or coping with the pressure of the game and the influence of the limited-over games on the psyche of the modern day batsman or whatever a Test has to be enjoyed and here crowd has been having a ball watching South Africa perform.

The ongoing series is no different. The third and final Test has still two days to go and yet a result is possible within four days that is if and when the Pakistan batsmen stumble again in chasing 381 this time.

From 1877, when the first-ever Test was played between Australia and England in Melbourne, to this day just over 2,500 matches have been played. Of them a Test which comes to my mind was played in South Africa at Durban in 1938-39. It was an incredible game that lasted nine days before it had to be abandoned as a draw when England, chasing 696 runs to win at Kingsmead, were only 42 runs away from victory at 654-5.

The shipping company carrying the England team on its homeward journey issued an ultimatum through its captain for the tourists to call the match off or else the ship would sail without them. The Test was immediately abandoned. There were seven centuries scored in that match, including an innings of 219 by England’s Bill Edrich.

In this era it is unthinkable of such lengthy Test matches because the quality of cricket that is seen nowadays is not high quality stuff. The majority of the modern batsmen have neither the temperament nor the concentration to survive even one single day. Only Viral Kohli, Kane Willimson and Joe Root you may single out as rare exceptions.

The target for Pakistan to save their blushes in their final knock of this Test series is once again looks insurmountable considering the spate of disasters in the series.

South Africa, having played better cricket throughout with the help of their speedsters in prime form, are surely well on their way to complete a clean sweep which they no doubt fully deserve.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2019