FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: Tour matches are a valuable slip-road into cricket... let's preserve them

Guest columnist RAJIV RADHAKRISHNAN continues his mini-essay series with a love letter to the tour games which are becoming more and more rare during hectic international summers

^{Captains Joe Denley and Safraz Ahmed prior to Kent's tour game with Pakistan}

In late July 1998 I went to Lord’s and watched Middlesex play Sri Lanka in a four-day fixture. The mecca of cricket, the then-world champions and my home county, what more could I ask for?

These tour matches, now so scarce, were a positive part of the calendar and sadly they have been all but pushed out of the cricketing landscape.

Like the old Texaco Trophy ODIs, they provide the public a glimpse of the opposition, a generation of interest and talking points. For me, at the 1998 game, I saw Marvin Atapattu for the first time, observed his classical play and debated whether he should be the opening partner for Sanath Jayasuriya at international level.

International cricket is expensive to watch and, with satellite TV now broadcasting all England matches, the tour game provides an opportunity for those who cannot afford to attend the big games to be able to see foreign (and domestic) talents. I was a 19-year-old student in 1998 and it was a privilege to watch the world champions play for a reasonable price.

^{Tour matches hold a place in our columnist's heart}

During tour games the public, especially the childen, have more access to their heroes. This interaction is important as it feeds and develops the enthusiasm amongst the youth. When meeting their idols, they are inspired further. In 1998 I interacted with Muttiah Muralitharan and Romesh Kaluwitharana and had time for a proper conversation.

The tour fixture also provides a balance for those who do not want to sit in an empty stand during a first-class county match or be in a crowded stadium during an international game. The middle ground appeals to some. During that 1998 match, there were sufficient attendees to make the match feel important but it was not overbearing.

For the counties that do not have an international ground, the tour match can provide them with a useful source of revenue. It is their big day in the calendar and a time to show case what their arena can offer.

The tour game also allows the visiting team to try out new things in proper match conditions, as well as an opportunity for unestablished players from either side to make a claim for a more permanent place. Rightly or wrongly both sides may rest key players for the tour game so this gives a chance to the newcomers.

^{Joe Root plays in a tour match in New Zealand}

Furthermore, there must be an incentive for the domestic side to win the match (thus forcing them to pick their best side). A better domestic opposition is also necessary for the touring team as it provides them with the required preparation for the international matches. That way the fans are not seeing an undercooked product at Test and ODI level.

A tour match sponsor could be introduced for the “series” against the domestic sides. There are sponsors for the Tests and ODIs, why cannot this be applied to tour games?

Lastly, the tour games are not always given First Class or List A status these days. Before, the games had more intensity and, even if the result was not always the priority, the players still took pride as the numbers counted towards their records. Today when 17 plays 13 in a tour match, the anticipation for the cricket has evaporated before a ball has been bowled.

There is a certain romance attached to these games - a gentle, relaxed beginning to the tour programme - and it is a shame these fixtures have now been diluted and lost their significance.

I hope the administrators can change the landscape back to what it was. We miss the romance.

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