Latest news with #CricketCalendar
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Forcing Test could ‘bankrupt' cricket countries: Australia chief
Australia cricket chief Todd Greenberg says a slimmer Test calendar could benefit smaller nations because the five-day game was better 'where it means something'. Marking 100 days until the home Ashes series against England begins in Perth, Cricket Australia CEO Greenberg suggested that quality, not quantity, was important in keeping the red-ball game viable. 'We're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket,' he told reporters. 'We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something. 'That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and as profitable as it is – because it means something.' England have just completed a thrilling 2-2 home drawn series against India in front of sold-out crowds. At the same time, New Zealand and Australia romped to easy overseas Test series wins against uncompetitive West Indies and Zimbabwe teams respectively, leaving question marks over the quality of Test cricket in those countries. One idea is to create two or more divisions of Test cricket to keep it competitive, but Greenberg said he did not have a strong opinion on the ideal number of Test-playing nations. 'Let's consider what the future might look like,' he said. But the five-day game remained in rude health in Australia, Greenberg said, where interest in the Ashes had been 'off the charts'. 'This will be the biggest sports event in Australia this year,' said Greenberg. 'The interest is quite extraordinary with ticket allocations for 11 of the 20 days on sale already exhausted.' Australia were defeated by South Africa in the final of the 2025 World Test Championship at Lord's Cricket Ground in London in June.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Test cricket could 'bankrupt' nations
The traditional Test calendar could lead to bankruptcy for certain nations, Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg warned as he called for a slimmed-down schedule. Greenberg wants quality prioritised over quantity to ensure a viable future for red-ball cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently set up a working group to discuss the Test format and the potential to introduce a two-tier system. "Scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe," said Greenberg. "I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK. "We're literally trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket." 'England and India provide most intense, dramatic and emotional finale' Is Test cricket financially sustainable? Is two-tier Test system 'greedy' or will it help cricket survive? Greenberg wants to see marquee series such as the Ashes between England and Australia - the 2025-26 series gets under way in Australia in 100 days' time - receive greater investment. The pulsating five-match series between England and India this summer was Test cricket at its finest. However, Australia won each of their three Tests in the West Indies by at least 133 runs, while New Zealand cruised to a comfortable series victory in Zimbabwe - winning one of the Tests by an innings and 359 runs. "We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something and has jeopardy," Greenberg added. "That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and profitable as it is - because it means something." The emergence of shorter forms of the sport has proved difficult for Test cricket, with T20 franchise leagues and The Hundred offering lucrative player contracts in domestic cricket, and adding further congestion to the global calendar.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Test cricket could 'bankrupt' nations
The traditional Test calendar could lead to bankruptcy for certain nations, Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg warned as he called for a slimmed-down wants quality prioritised over quantity to ensure a viable future for red-ball International Cricket Council (ICC) recently set up a working group to discuss the Test format and the potential to introduce a two-tier system."Scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe," said Greenberg."I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK."We're literally trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket." Greenberg wants to see marquee series such as the Ashes between England and Australia - the 2025-26 series gets under way in Australia in 100 days' time - receive greater pulsating five-match series between England and India this summer was Test cricket at its Australia won each of their three Tests in the West Indies by at least 133 runs, while New Zealand cruised to a comfortable series victory in Zimbabwe - winning one of the Tests by an innings and 359 runs."We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something and has jeopardy," Greenberg added."That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and profitable as it is - because it means something."The emergence of shorter forms of the sport has proved difficult for Test cricket, with T20 franchise leagues and The Hundred offering lucrative player contracts in domestic cricket, and adding further congestion to the global calendar.
