5 days ago
If forced to play Test cricket, nations can go 'bankrupt', warns CA boss
Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg says the traditional Test format could push some cricket nations into financial ruin and the sport may be better off with fewer five-day matches.
Greenberg, who replaced Nick Hockley as CEO in March, said the future of Test cricket may involve fewer nations and more investment in marquee series like the Ashes.
"I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK," Greenberg told reporters on Wednesday, marking 100 days before Australia host England in the Ashes.
"We're literally trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket."
Greenberg, the former head of the sport's players' union, said cricket boards needed to prioritise meaningful contests over volume.
"Scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe," he said.
"We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something and has jeopardy.
"That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and 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."
While the five-Test Ashes series starting in Perth in late-November has seen record demand for tickets, the longest format is under siege from T20 cricket.
Mushrooming T20 franchise leagues offering lucrative player contracts are crowding out the global calendar and have prompted a slew of top players to give up Tests and one-day internationals.
Though Australia maintains a bumper schedule of Tests every home summer, it was also one of the earlier movers in T20, with the Big Bash League (BBL) set for its 15th season in December.
CA has resisted allowing private investment in BBL teams but Greenberg signalled the policy could be coming to an end following a review by Boston Consulting Group.
"It would be completely naive of us sitting here in Australia to not explore (privatisation)," he said.
"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." (With inputs from AFP)
