Football should look into mimicking cricket’s Test format and create five-match series

Football should look into mimicking cricket’s Test format and create five-match series…it would allow individual battles to marinate and has worked well in basketball and baseball

  • Dinesh Karthik articulated the power of a five-match series in cricket this week
  • Karthik said Test match series allow individual battles to really develop
  • So why not test out the concept in football? Two-legged cup ties offer a glimpse
  • It would be fascinating to see football’s finest minds tussle over a longer series

Tough to imagine Messrs Infantino and Ceferin tuning into Sky Sports Cricket, I know.

But, given some of their batty brainwaves, perhaps they could do worse than listen to Dinesh Karthik.

Early in this third Test, Karthik articulated the power of a five-match series, the way it allows individual battles to marinate.  

Battles like Jimmy Anderson vs Virat Kohli really develop over a five-match Test series

So why not try out the concept in football? Arsenal fans may wince at the thought of facing Romelu Lukaku over five games

So why not try out the concept in football? Arsenal fans may wince at the thought of facing Romelu Lukaku over five games

He was talking James Anderson v Virat Kohli. More torture than titanic battle thus far. But a duel Karthik expects to see-saw this summer. 

It’s a familiar concept in other sports, of course. ‘World champions’ in baseball and basketball are decided by seven-game series, while boxing’s great rivalries are invariably built over multiple fights.  

Two-legged cup ties offer a glimpse of this world but how fascinating an experiment it would be to see football’s finest minds tussle over a three- or five-match series?

What greater test of Mikel Arteta’s coaching than the knowledge a similar fate awaits over coming weeks?

What greater test of Mikel Arteta’s coaching than the knowledge a similar fate awaits over coming weeks? 

‘Have we not suffered enough? One hunded and 80 minutes of Romelu Lukaku will suffice this season,’ comes a faint cry from north London. We hear you, Arsenal fans. But what greater test of Mikel Arteta’s coaching — or Pablo Mari’s remaining dignity — than the knowledge that a similar fate awaits over coming weeks? 

Unless they find a way to halt the carnage. It would be great viewing. Almost like a… European Super… League. Oh, wait…

CHILD PITCH INVADERS POSE STEWARDS PROBLEM

Are we witnessing the early days of a vertically-challenged revolution on these shores?

As Tottenham toasted victory at Wolves, a young boy escaped from the away section. 

Unchallenged, he waltzed on to the pitch and asked for Eric Dier’s shirt. The stewards’ approach was more lost puppy than menacing streaker. 

No rugby tackles or rough-house tactics — how could they? Instead they politely escorted the boy back to the stands.

The problem? This soft touch wasn’t lost on other youngsters, one of whom made his own rush for the hoardings. His hopes were dashed but clubs could have a problem on their hands if this proves infectious. What’s the answer? Child stewards?



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