Cricket legend Sir Ian Botham has heaped praise on players like Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, saying they have helped save Test cricket.
The retired England and Somerset all-rounder said the pair had helped “put the crowds back in their seats”.
The 68-year-old revealed his views on the modern game during an interview with former England cricketer Geoff Miller OBE at Champions (UK)'s 'An Evening with Sir Ian Botham' event.
“I think the modern game is great but Test cricket needed a kick,” Beefy said.
England icon Sir Ian Botham says Test cricket cannot be allowed to die
Champions (UK) Ltd.
“Now it has become a boring slog for me because of that particular game type.
“But if you look at Test cricket, you've got Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, two very forward-thinking players who have decided to play attacking cricket.”
“So what they do, they smash 700 in a one-dayer and nobody does that in Test cricket.
“When you win a match, all of a sudden the seats are filled. Tickets for the five-day match are now sold out in England and are filling up in India and Australia as well.”
“But if the boys hadn’t done that, Test cricket as we know and love it would have died.
“That shouldn't happen. We shouldn't allow that to happen.”
The introduction of video officiating has been a topic of debate for many years in many sports.
Cricket's version of DRS allows players to question whether there is enough evidence to overturn an on-field decision.
The frequency of use has been called into question, a complaint Botham said he shares.
Sir Ian Botham has praised England's pairing of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
Champions (UK) Ltd.
He continued: “Just like in football, I'm tired of seeing VAR and DRS, it's a nonsense way of slowing down the whole game.”
“Let the referee do his job and let DRS and VAR step in when there are big mistakes, but you don't need to step in after every tackle, every time the ball moves, every time a goal is scored.”
“I say it's for making big mistakes, but not intervening every time the ball finishes. Use technology when you make something badly wrong, but don't use it every time the ball finishes, otherwise you might as well get rid of the umpires and the referees.”
Sir Ian Botham wants to reduce the use of technology in sport
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Throughout his incredible career, Botham has been hailed as one of the most celebrated all-round players in the long history of the sport.
When asked how he would like to be remembered, he reiterated, “Honestly, I don't know. I've had a saying since I was 16 that when something goes wrong, you torpedo it and see it through to the end. This translates to not looking back at what happened, but learning from it and continuing down a path.”
“I think that's what it is. And I think it's about being known as a guy who loves to play a great game and is an entertainer. That's what I wanted to be.”
Botham was speaking at 'An Evening with Sir Ian Botham' event, hosted by growth consultancy Champions (UK).
