Every cricketing nation now has its own league—even Nepal. This isn’t surprising; we all saw it coming. But what no one predicted—not even the most opinionated, stubborn cricket pundits—is that 2024 would be the year of Test cricket.
The year kicked off with the West Indies pulling off a sensational Test win in Australia, ending with South Africa making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. And yes, somewhere in between, there was a T20 World Cup.
2024 wasn’t just a good year for cricket; it was proof that the game still has room to surprise us.
2024 review
Cricket’s three formats are like siblings. T20 cricket is the youngest—vibrant, trendy, and always stealing the spotlight. Test cricket is the oldest—traditional, methodical, and proud of its legacy. Then there’s ODI cricket, the middle child, often overlooked and unsure of its place.
But in 2024, Test cricket found its groove by borrowing a page from T20’s playbook. Shots that would have been career-ending a decade ago are now celebrated.
Take Sam Konsta’s reverse scoop against Jasprit Bumrah on debut—something unimaginable in the past. England’s Bazball approach epitomizes this fusion: attack, then attack harder.
T20 players have started flourishing in Test cricket, bringing their fearless mentality to the longest format. Fast bowling is at an all-time high, spinners are using their T20 smarts to thrive on flat tracks, and batters are redefining what’s possible with the willow.
It’s no wonder away teams had their best year since 2004. The West Indies won in Australia. Sri Lanka shocked England at The Oval. New Zealand whitewashed India in India. Even India pulled off a historic win at Perth.
Modern players, thanks to T20 cricket, are better prepared for overseas conditions. They’ve traveled the world, learned the nuances of different pitches, and embraced challenges rather than fearing them.
Test cricket wasn’t just alive in 2024—it was thrilling, competitive, and packed with unforgettable battles. The WTC has finally made bilateral series meaningful, and fans were treated to a year of high-stakes, high-quality cricket.
The ODI Dilemma
While Test cricket thrived and T20 continued to dominate, ODI cricket struggled to stay relevant. Bilateral ODI series barely made headlines, even with a Champions Trophy on the horizon.
This shift isn’t necessarily bad. Fans have long complained about the volume of meaningless ODI cricket. Perhaps the future lies in reducing bilateral ODIs and focusing more on marquee ICC events.
Lucky for us, cricket’s diversity is its strength. Three formats, each offering something unique, is a blessing. It’s time we embraced this perspective.
What It Means for the Future
Despite Test cricket’s resurgence, talks of splitting teams into a two-tier system resurfaced. This idea feels counterproductive, especially in a year where away teams excelled. With only a handful of Test-playing nations, why shrink the pool even further?
The WTC format, however, could use some tweaks. For instance, South Africa faced criticism for reaching the final despite playing far fewer matches than India and England. Balancing the number of games per team would make the competition fairer.
Ultimately, cricket doesn’t need more division—it needs more inclusivity.
If you’ve scrolled through cricket Twitter or tuned into ex-players’ podcasts, it might seem like the sport is in utter chaos. The constant chatter about crammed schedules, format fatigue, and the rise of T20 leagues makes it easy to feel like cricket is losing its way. But let’s pause for a moment and focus on what’s happening on the field—not just in our feeds.
The truth? Cricket isn’t dying. Test matches are still thriving with new energy, T20 cricket isn’t ruining the game, and the sport as a whole has never been more global, competitive, or exciting. Yes, there are challenges, and yes, there’s change, but this is evolution, not extinction.
2024 proved that cricket has a bright future. From thrilling Test matches to the rising dominance of T20 leagues, the game is finding ways to entertain fans while adapting to modern demands. The evolution is messy, but it’s also beautiful.
Don’t think twice, it’s all right
With T20 leagues raising spending limits, cricket is finding a curious balance(context for the headline).
Star players have the financial security to focus on Test cricket while cherry-picking leagues and out-of-favour players get opportunities to refine their craft in diverse competitions worldwide. Youngsters can now dream of earning big bucks in T20s while still idolising the grit and prestige of Test cricket.
The next five years will likely solidify these trends: fewer bilateral white-ball series, fiercely competitive Test matches, expanding T20 leagues, and ICC tournaments breathing life into ODIs.
Of course, cricket boards might still throw in a curveball, prioritising the commercial side of things in the name of “future-proofing.” And who knows? With its shiny new T20 league, maybe America will become the team to watch—especially if Trump takes an interest. Imagine a “Make Cricket Great Again” campaign!
One thing is certain: cricket will continue to evolve in search of the elusive balance between formats. It may be a distant dream, but the journey itself is captivating. Let’s stop fixating on the negativity and enjoy the ride—after all, cricket has always been about unexpected twists, hasn’t it?
