12-12-2005

More Pakistanis Prefer One-Dayers Over Test Cricket

via sport.guardian.co.uk

The last few days in Pakistan have demonstrated as clearly as ever that the contrast between the popularity of Test and one-day cricket here remains as stark as ever, probably more than in any other Test-playing country. As much as the emphatic Test series win over England was cheered throughout the country, yesterday showed that the one-day game still attracts far bigger crowds, induces stronger emotions and creates bigger heroes. In an increasingly acquisitive society, it is this concept of seeing an entire game in one day – regarded as a more obvious sign of value for money than watching a single day of a Test – that suggests it will be a long time before the appeal of Tests equals that of one-dayers.