CA boss Greenberg's warning for future of Test cricket
Admitting he has become a "little unpopular" since taking over from Nick Hockley in March, the former Australian Cricketers' Association boss believes "scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe".
"I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK," Greenberg said on Wednesday with 100 days to go before the Ashes.
"A lot of traditionalists might not like that.
"I'm not suggesting I know the number that will play, but literally we're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket.
"We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something, and has jeopardy, and that's why the Ashes will be as enormous and as profitable as it is because it means something."
But there could be more Test cricket played in Australia, with Greenberg open to playing red-ball matches in Queensland and the Northern Territory during winter.
Australia are currently hosting South Africa in Twenty20s and ODIs in Darwin, Cairns and Mackay.
Tests were last played in Darwin and Cairns more than 20 years ago, with Australia hosting Sri Lanka in 2003, then Bangladesh the following year.
"I was in Darwin on Sunday night (for the first T20)," Greenberg said.
"I went there primarily because it meant a lot to the people of the Northern Territory.
"They hadn't had international cricket there for the best part of 17 years.
"The one thing when you go there at this time of year is you take the one biggest variable away, which is the weather.
"Great facilities ... I can see that (Tests) happening."
Greenberg has also been exploring privatisation of the Big Bash League, noting other T20 competitions around the world are backed by money outside the governing cricket boards.
"That will upset some people, and it will set the hairs racing and potentially of people debating the merits," he said.
"It would be completely naive of us sitting here in Australia to not explore it.
"I'm not suggesting that we're going to do it yet.
"I'm not suggesting there's been a decision made, and ultimately it won't just be my decision or Cricket Australia's decision.
"It will be the whole of leadership of Australian cricket and it has to be beneficial for everyone."
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned some nations will go "bankrupt" if they continue to play the longest format of the game, stressing he sees a future with less Test nations.
Admitting he has become a "little unpopular" since taking over from Nick Hockley in March, the former Australian Cricketers' Association boss believes "scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe".
"I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK," Greenberg said on Wednesday with 100 days to go before the Ashes.
"A lot of traditionalists might not like that.
"I'm not suggesting I know the number that will play, but literally we're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket.
"We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something, and has jeopardy, and that's why the Ashes will be as enormous and as profitable as it is because it means something."
But there could be more Test cricket played in Australia, with Greenberg open to playing red-ball matches in Queensland and the Northern Territory during winter.
Australia are currently hosting South Africa in Twenty20s and ODIs in Darwin, Cairns and Mackay.
Tests were last played in Darwin and Cairns more than 20 years ago, with Australia hosting Sri Lanka in 2003, then Bangladesh the following year.
"I was in Darwin on Sunday night (for the first T20)," Greenberg said.
"I went there primarily because it meant a lot to the people of the Northern Territory.
"They hadn't had international cricket there for the best part of 17 years.
"The one thing when you go there at this time of year is you take the one biggest variable away, which is the weather.
"Great facilities ... I can see that (Tests) happening."
Greenberg has also been exploring privatisation of the Big Bash League, noting other T20 competitions around the world are backed by money outside the governing cricket boards.
"That will upset some people, and it will set the hairs racing and potentially of people debating the merits," he said.
"It would be completely naive of us sitting here in Australia to not explore it.
"I'm not suggesting that we're going to do it yet.
"I'm not suggesting there's been a decision made, and ultimately it won't just be my decision or Cricket Australia's decision.
"It will be the whole of leadership of Australian cricket and it has to be beneficial for everyone."
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned some nations will go "bankrupt" if they continue to play the longest format of the game, stressing he sees a future with less Test nations.
Admitting he has become a "little unpopular" since taking over from Nick Hockley in March, the former Australian Cricketers' Association boss believes "scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe".
"I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK," Greenberg said on Wednesday with 100 days to go before the Ashes.
"A lot of traditionalists might not like that.
"I'm not suggesting I know the number that will play, but literally we're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket.
"We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something, and has jeopardy, and that's why the Ashes will be as enormous and as profitable as it is because it means something."
But there could be more Test cricket played in Australia, with Greenberg open to playing red-ball matches in Queensland and the Northern Territory during winter.
Australia are currently hosting South Africa in Twenty20s and ODIs in Darwin, Cairns and Mackay.
Tests were last played in Darwin and Cairns more than 20 years ago, with Australia hosting Sri Lanka in 2003, then Bangladesh the following year.
"I was in Darwin on Sunday night (for the first T20)," Greenberg said.
"I went there primarily because it meant a lot to the people of the Northern Territory.
"They hadn't had international cricket there for the best part of 17 years.
"The one thing when you go there at this time of year is you take the one biggest variable away, which is the weather.
"Great facilities ... I can see that (Tests) happening."
Greenberg has also been exploring privatisation of the Big Bash League, noting other T20 competitions around the world are backed by money outside the governing cricket boards.
"That will upset some people, and it will set the hairs racing and potentially of people debating the merits," he said.
"It would be completely naive of us sitting here in Australia to not explore it.
"I'm not suggesting that we're going to do it yet.
"I'm not suggesting there's been a decision made, and ultimately it won't just be my decision or Cricket Australia's decision.
"It will be the whole of leadership of Australian cricket and it has to be beneficial for everyone."
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He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list. Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and he made the 2014 and '18 All-Australian teams. But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits. "If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said. Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011. Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold. "I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added. 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He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said. "He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can." Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies. Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal. "He's as good a person as I've ever met, and anyone has ever met in footy. I don't think you'll ever meet anyone who says 'I don't know about that Luke Breust' - he's universally loved," Mitchell said. The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games. He and fellow forward, and good friend, Jack Gunston are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags. 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Such is Breust's standing at Hawthorn that despite only playing six senior games so far this season, he remains a co-vice captain. "He's not this big, look-at-me personality, so he probably hasn't been celebrated as much outside of us," Mitchell said.
