It’s his...only his!

Shreyas Iyer celebrates his century by kissing his India helmet during the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Green Park, Kanpur, on November 26. Pic/PTI

There is something magical about Test cricket. The oldest format of the international game may not appeal much to the fast food, fast everything generation but even the players know that it's the format that really tests their skills and mindset and they are going to be remembered more for their performances in this format rather than the odd one in the white ball format. Why just the players, if you ask the umpires and they too will say that they want to officiate in a Test match and being recognised as a Test umpire is the ultimate for them too.

Easy way out

Yes, there will be players especially as they come to the end of their careers, who think that they don't want the hard work of Test cricket and would rather play the shorter white ball games. The quicker bowlers, as they get older, prefer bowling four overs rather than the 15 or more they have to bowl in a day at the Test match.

Seeing the players in whites or creams is also so much more pleasant considering some white-ball uniforms can be garish and hard for the eyes. It's also good to see proper names on the backs of the shirts along with the numbers to identify the players. The whole idea of numbers is so that the new follower of the game is able to identify the player. Often visiting team players need to be identified as they are not familiar to the home crowd. That's why when nicknames are used on the back of the shirts for the white ball games it is tough for the new follower to know who the player is.

Speaking of Test cricket, it was so heartwarming to see Shreyas Iyer kiss with such reverence the India cap presented to him once again re-emphasising that getting THAT cap is the pinnacle even for the modern Indian cricketer. That cap with the number 303 will always be special to him because that number belongs to him and him only. The new shirts he will get will have that number embossed below the BCCI logo and again those will be only his and nobody else's.

What was noticeable in England was that the Indian team sweater had a different colour than the one which has been traditionally used in the past. Whether this is done by the clothing sponsor or it is a BCCI decision, is not clear. The India cap has the same emblem for ages ever since India started playing Test cricket so a change in the colours of the sweater could be an oversight by the clothing sponsor and hopefully will be rectified before the team plays the next Test series. Look at the jumpers of all the Test playing nations. They have remained the same over the decades and so should the India sweater.

Patent the logos

Also, it would be a good idea for the BCCI to patent the logos and the sweater colours so that nobody else can use them. Once again, you will never find the England, Australian, West Indies, New Zealand logos and sweater colours being used by anybody other than their national teams. That's what makes them prized and coveted.

The reverence with which the Australian players treat their Baggy Green is because that cap with its distinct logo is not available to anybody other than the Test player. You can't get it at the merchandise shops nor can you get the Australian Test match shirt as part of sponsor merchandise.

It's a bit late for the BCCI to do anything about the caps, shirts, etc, but it can still patent the sweater so that it's unique only to those who are good enough to play
for India.

Professional Management Group