Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison fears that the cancellation of the final Test between England and India could be the “beginning of the end of Test cricket”. He also believes that the upcoming second phase IPL Played a part in the cancellation in the United Arab Emirates.
The fifth Test was called off just hours before the start of the Indian team due to concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak after the second physiotherapist tested positive. “Due to the fear of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are unable to field a team,” the ECB statement read on Friday.
“It’s bullshit, it really is. My initial thoughts are that this is the beginning of the end for Test cricket. When you choose to go down this road, it’s just done. Before we start throwing stones, let’s be fair , England did it to South Africa. Let’s get it straight from the start. We are not a completely innocent side in this because we came home when we didn’t know what was happening.
“But it is all about the IPL. End off,” said Harmison on talkSPORT’s breakfast show on Saturday.
“As much as I want to sugar coat it, I don’t think I can. The IPL starts in five days, and a month before the tour starts, India asked if they could move the last Test match or four. Can clear the day so they can be fit in the IPL. Suddenly it happens. It doesn’t sit well with me and I feel very sorry for the people of Manchester,” Harmison said.
The 42-year-old, who played 63 Tests for England between 2002 and 2009, felt very sorry for the people of England, who were waiting for an exciting conclusion to a difficult Test series. “It stinks, it really does. I feel very sorry for the players of England, the supporters of England, and I feel sorry for the game of Test match cricket, because for me this is where it starts.” If we start canceling games.
“This series has been fantastic, with one of the best out there, and not a chance to go 2-2 or have India go 3-1 and a chance to show what a great side India has been to me. It does everything. Test cricket is alive largely because of one man – Virat Kohli. He speaks so positively about Test match cricket, he loves it, wants to play and thinks This is the pinnacle. But now all of a sudden India doesn’t want to play and that’s it, the game is gone, the game is gone in Test match cricket.”
Harmison concluded by saying that India flexed their muscles for not playing the fifth Test due to the second leg of the IPL in the United Arab Emirates.
“We don’t know the full facts, but when teams are going out like this two hours before a match, it’s up to the players to say, ‘If we contract COVID now, we’ll have to wait for ten days. Gotta stay here and IPL is the beginning’. It’s a small window there and money makes the world go round, but there’s a point where honesty comes in. For me, it’s India flexing their muscles and saying is, ‘We’re not interested in playing – my bat, my ball, see you later’.”
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