Former Australian player Justin Langer sharply condemned the increasing frequency of short Test matches, calling the completion of games in two days 'unacceptable' after Australia won by innings against Bangladesh in just six sessions on Sunday.
The dominant game, in which left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc played a key role by taking 10 wickets, allowed Australia to recover from a shocking nine-run defeat in Darwin. Ultimately, Australia won by an innings and by a margin of 51 runs.
This victory allowed the team, which holds the top spot in the world rankings, to level the score in the two-match series at 1-1. However, the quick conclusion of the match was the third for Australia in the last seven games that ended in less than two days.
On SEN radio, Langer stated: 'Two-day Test matches are unacceptable. It is bad for the game for many reasons. Last year was disappointing for spectators, for children who can watch their heroes on television, listen on the radio, or come to the stadium.'
Highlighting the broader implications of such quick finishes for the sport's ecosystem, Langer, who has played 105 matches for Australia, added: 'From an economic point of view, it is a disaster for Cricket Australia, which invests money in junior cricket. And we are talking about very well-paid professionals, and you get tired of hearing: 'Oh, it's just the pitch, oh, it's the curators, the ball moves a little'.'
Bangladesh were bowled out for 95 runs in the second innings, representing a slight improvement of 31 runs compared to the collapse in the first innings. Moving away from discussions about the pitch condition, Langer linked the trend of quick team dismissals to the deterioration of basic game skills.
He noted: 'I think much of it is related to basic game technique. Take this Test match. Almost all dismissals happened because of the players; their front foot did not pass the front line. It is simply basic technique and footwork patterns.' He also spoke about his work with young players: 'I am currently training young guys, and I have just returned from England; there are a couple of players in our Hundred team who also want to become Test players. And you conduct training with them, and you tell them things that are so basic to us in the game, and their eyes light up as if you are teaching them magic for the first time.'
Australia will next travel to South Africa in October to participate in a three-match Test series, which will be their first visit to the country with red-ball format since 2018.