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Stop hoarding privilege: Johnson slams Cricket Australia CEO's take on lesser Tests

Stop hoarding privilege: Johnson slams Cricket Australia CEO's take on lesser Tests

India Today16 hours ago
Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has criticised Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg's remarks suggesting that the future of Test cricket lies in reducing the number of nations competing in the format. Greenberg recently argued that Test matches should be limited to the top teams to maintain financial stability and ensure 'quality' contests.Greenberg claimed that forcing smaller boards to play the five-day format could drive them towards bankruptcy, suggesting that 'scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe.' He pointed to the Ashes as an example of how meaningful rivalries between elite nations remain profitable.advertisementJohnson, however, strongly disagreed, stating that cutting back opportunities for developing nations would damage the very fabric of the game. Writing in his column for the West Australian, he argued that leadership lies in lifting others up rather than shutting them out.
'The solution isn't to scale Test cricket down to three or four rich countries,' Johnson wrote. 'It's to help the rest grow. Players want it, fans want it — so why are we making it so hard? What these nations lack isn't passion, it's support. And if the ICC and the so-called big three want to protect the future, they need to stop hoarding the privilege and start sharing the responsibility.'He stressed that the meaning of Test cricket is not determined by broadcasting revenue but by national pride. 'A Sri Lanka v Pakistan series might not break streaming records, but to the players and fans it means everything. You don't protect that by cutting it off. You protect it by investing in it.'Johnson also highlighted the irony of Test cricket being labelled 'too expensive,' while money continues to pour into new T20 leagues worldwide. He pointed out that South Africa, the reigning World Test champions, do not have a single home Test scheduled this summer, calling it a sign of misplaced priorities.'The money is there — it's just being pointed the wrong way,' Johnson wrote. He suggested that a share of revenue from major Test series should be reinvested into grassroots cricket, coaching and infrastructure across nations.Johnson's call was clear: Test cricket's future will not be saved by restricting it to a few. Instead, it requires shared responsibility, fair investment and a commitment to ensuring that all cricketing nations have the opportunity to play the format that remains the ultimate test of skill and character.- EndsMust Watch
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