Simon Hughes and Simon Mann are joined by Daily Telegraph cricket writer and author Tim Wigmore to discuss the backstory, the current state and the future prosperity of the Test format as examined in Tim's new book Test Cricket: A History. The conversation ranges from the origins of the Test match idea, with just three countries involved, how it expanded, chronicling key matches, turning points and characters, how the great 1970s West Indies and 1990s Australia were formed, and why Australia are consistently so much better than everyone else. Finally we consider if India can dominate in the same way and how the Test format can survive and prosper. To buy Tim's book visit https://amzn.eu/d/1Qrtofk To enter our free competition for Lord's Test tickets subscribe to THE CRICVERSE at https://cricverse.substack.com/p/county-crickets-saviour?r=lo2wd CHAPTERS - 00:00 The Brutality of Test Cricket 01:40 Exploring the History of Test Cricket 04:34 The Evolution of Test Match Selection 07:22 The Global Expansion of Test Cricket 10:40 Key Moments and Shifts in Test Cricket 13:18 The Impact of Prejudice in Team Selection 16:17 The Competitive Landscape of Test Cricket 19:11 Looking Ahead: The Future of Test Cricket 21:05 Cricket's Golden Age: A Historical Perspective 23:55 The Evolution of Test Cricket and Key Matches 28:24 The Rise of India in Test Cricket 32:05 Australia's Dominance and Cultural Impact on Cricket 34:47 The Future of Test Cricket: Challenges and Opportunities 41:39 Preserving Test Cricket in a Changing Landscape Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices