"1.4 Billion Votes for Test Cricket..." David Gower Praises Virat Kohli’s Test Cricket Legacy

David Gower was one of the finest batters to have played for England. Now 68 years old, he is gradually moving on from cricket and is auctioning his cricketing possessions online. He was recently seen at Old Trafford, watching another closely contested Test between England and India.

In the current Test series between England and India, all the experts are talking about Virat Kohli. Many are remembering his heroic performances during the 2021 Test series. Meanwhile, Gower praised Kohli and his strong commitment to the longest format of the game.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Times of India, the English legend said, "It’s the most beautiful animal you’ll come across anywhere. And when people realised it was heading toward extinction, Project Tiger gave it a lifeline. I see Test cricket in a very similar way. I love it when Virat Kohli says Test cricket is the most important thing in his life and career, because that’s like 1.4 billion votes for Tests—if everyone in India follows his example."

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"That is a major fault in the way world cricket is being managed. It shows who has the money and who has the power. I love the way New Zealand play their cricket, and how they’ve taken Test matches to smaller, beautiful grounds and made it look attractive. South Africa doesn’t seem to care about Test cricket anymore, because the only thing that makes money for them is the SA20 league. I use the tiger as an example—the tiger was once in danger of extinction," Gower added.

David Gower said - "I love it when Virat Kohli says Test Cricket is the most important thing in his life, in his career, because that is 1.4 billion votes for Tests if everyone in India follows his work". (TOI). pic.twitter.com/haDtrv5h3S

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) August 1, 2025

David Gower’s Glorious Test Career at a Glance

One of England’s most elegant batters, David Gower scored 8,231 runs in 117 Tests at an average of 44.25, including 18 centuries. In 1985, he enjoyed a "golden season," scoring 732 runs at an average of 81.33 and leading England to a 3-1 Ashes victory. At Edgbaston on 15 August, Gower scored a career-best 215 from 314 balls, and followed it up with 157 at The Oval. In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.