Test Matches and timescales

 

I am very lucky to be associate member of the [MCC](http://www.lords.org).

This means I get the opportunity to go and watch some excellent cricket, and take some friends.  Unfortunately, it also means that I can only do that on my own membership on 4th and 5th day of (most) tests.  That means Sunday or Monday in most tests.

Nowadays this leads to a problem - length of matches.  After all if the match is over, it’s just a rather expensive country pub.  Yes, it doesn’t really matter too much as whilst I like watching the game, it’s an excuse to meet up with friends from far afield.  However, if the game is over too quickly that shortens our meet ups.

I asked Claude for some help and clearly Lords has a problem.  It is one of the shortest test venues... 2000-2025 - 49 test matches, 18 have reached day five.  Average overs bowled only 300, average time 3.5 days.  That means half of them are basically over in 3 days.  Who’s going to travel to watch such things.

The pitch needs a pick-me-up.

More importantly however, the club needs to think about it’s associate members - more likely to be younger, more likely to have kids (who might want to watch, and have school on Monday), more likely to have work to go to on Monday.

If the matches were opened up to associates on the 3rd day, as well as 4th and (the mythical beast) 5th, I think this would go down well.  I have emailed the club my thoughts, such as they are.  I suspect little will change in my lifetime, but I can be surprised.  I like my club, but it sometimes does need a shake up to settle down again.