Indian Test cricket team end 2009 tried and tested

Yesterday India won the three-match series 2-0 against Sri Lanka here at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium and became the world number one Test cricket team in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rankings.

The Lok Sabha and the President today congratulated the team and the players of the victorious Indian cricket team will be awarded Rs 2.5 million each, the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) said on Sunday. 

But the rest of the world, especially Australia, thinks there's another side to this story.

The Sydney Morning Herald points out that, "a scheduled three Tests against world No.2 South Africa has been canceled, denying all cricket supporters of a major series that would have had significant impact on the rankings."

"They won't admit it," says the Australian paper, "but the fixtures are determined purely by television revenue. Indian broadcast moguls are not interested in Tests because they rate poorly - as indicated by the recent survey -- while ODIs and Twenty20s push their numbers through the roof. So there is increasing pressure from the BCCI - which sells matches for a handsome profit to television networks - to scrap Tests for more ODIs and Twenty20s."

"The situation is also not helped by the willingness of Australia, England and South Africa to jump at every chance to play meaningless ODIs in India, simply to boost revenue for the BCCI in return for partnerships in the Champions League Twenty20 competition and other financial benefits."