Cricket Australia will continue to lobby the International Cricket Council to mandate that Test series last at least three matches despite the current calendar congestion and broader concerns about the traditional format of the sport.
CA boss Nick Hockley branded South Africa’s decision to preference its T20 competition and instead send a third-string Test squad to New Zealand later this month as a “wake up call” as current greats said match-day rules needed to relax to become more fan friendly.
Hockley acknowledged on Thursday there is currently a “two-speed economy” when it comes to Test cricket, with Australia, England and India reaping rich rewards from powerhouse series while poorer nations flounder and are forced to choose between formats to focus on.
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But the CA chief executive said it is imperative the ICC worked to ensure there was enough space on the calendar for both Test cricket and T20 competitions to thrive around the world.
“I think the World Test Championship has been a really positive development. (But) I do think there is work to be done on the FTP (Future Tours Program),” Hockley said.
“I think it is (about) cementing the World Test Championship and advocating for three-Test series as a minimum and, as best as we can, making sure that we minimise domestic T20 competition overlap for those countries.”
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Australia’s current Test series against Pakistan and the two Test series later this month against the West Indies, which have selected seven uncapped players in its 15-man squad, overlap with the Australian Big Bash League.
But the current season has seen record crowds for the Tests against Pakistan in Perth and at the MCG, while fans continue to flock to Big Bash matches across the competition.
Hockley said it is worth recognising the BBL is now an established league, whereas the South African domestic league running next month is only in its infancy.
The Board of Cricket for South African expressed regret over the clash when defending the decision to send an inexperienced squad to New Zealand on Wednesday.
It said Test cricket remained the pinnacle of the sport but, on this occasion, it had no choice but to preference a competition that it is trying to grow to strengthen the sport more broadly in South Africa.
“I think that’s been a wake-up call for everyone,” Hockley told Fox Footy host Gerard Whateley on SEN on Thursday.
“But I think their T20 comp compared to our Big Bash, we are in our 13th season and they are in their second. If anything, this was (caused by) sub-optimal scheduling.
“In Australia, it’s very clear that throughout the whole Big Bash, we have always prioritised international and Test cricket and we’ll always do that. (But) we’ll be working with the ICC and scheduling groups to make sure those types of clashes don’t manifest.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan understands the decision by South Africa’s board but said it will be interesting to see whether the ICC sanctions the nation for their decision.
“It will be interesting to watch what the ICC do … will they sanction them points? They should,” he said.
He also said on Fox Cricket broadcast administrators need to be more fluid when it comes to rules and conditions, citing the suspension of play midway through the second day of the SCG Test due to bad light as an example of the format shooting itself in the foot.
“I can only go on what they say and they still all say that Test cricket is still the pinnacle. But I don’t believe them,” Vaughan said.
“Test cricket has to get real. They have to come up with a solution. These kids are going to say, ‘Hang on. I am just going to get into T20 cricket and stay with T20 cricket for the rest of my life’.
“We want them to start watching Test cricket and having days out at the SCG … and not days where they see players walking off because of a little bit of bad light.”
Hockley said T20 leagues were introducing new audiences to cricket but conceded there was a challenge converting them into Test fans.
He acknowledged stronger nations have a “a collective responsibility” to ensure less wealthy nations flourish but believes there are positive signs when it comes to Test cricket.
“We are fortunate that England and India are coming out more frequently than they have, but we want to see everybody strong,” he said.
“There were people who suggested this was going to be a weaker summer, but we’ve had record crowds in Perth, (a) huge turnout in Melbourne. It’s been the most wonderful event.
“In that sense, it is a bit of a two-speed economy. The challenge is that we continue to support those countries that are struggling a little bit more in terms of Test cricket.”
Fox Cricket broadcaster Harsha Bhogle said that in an ideal world, the ICC would fund a concept that would guarantee at least three Test series at a minimum around the world and allow all nations to focus properly on the Test arena. But he doubts that will occur.
“If (the ICC) were to fund it, yes (it would work),” he told foxsports.com.au
“But increasingly teams will prioritise portable T20 leagues, because that is what keeps them independent of ICC funding. That’s their own income. You can use that for development programs.
“I’d love to know what other countries think about it. I’m not sure, but I just get the impression sometimes there’s often lip service for Test cricket. I couldn’t say that with certainty. It’s just a hunch.”
A recent survey of almost 5,000 fans by the website CricBlog found almost two-thirds believed T20 competitions would dominate between six to nine months of each calendar year within a decade.
More than three-quarters of the fans surveyed also believe club franchises will hold more power than individual cricket boards by the 2030s when it comes to their contracts with individual players.
Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Todd Greenberg said during the Boxing Day Test that boards around the world needed to be alert to the changing landscape in this regard.
Vaughan is also worried about how India will approach Tests in coming years once Virat Kohli has retired, stating the champion batter and former captain had been a critical figure in making sure his nation remained focused on the longer form of cricket.
Bhogle is also concerned that future generations of cricketers will have little interest in playing the longer format of the sport given the riches they can make with franchises.
“All cricket boards are doing what is more financially relevant to them, what is financially better for them,” he said.
“And for South Africa currently, playing Test cricket is becoming a bit of burden, as it is for the West Indies, as it is for Sri Lanka, as it is for everybody. There’s a lot of people who think, ‘Why should we put more money behind yesterday’s product?’
“I really do think there’s a generation of cricketers who couldn’t be too fussed playing Test cricket. There’s so many players who are not too keen to play Test cricket. Not so much in England and Australia, because there’s a tradition of Test cricket being glorified.”
But the vast majority of fans who responded to the survey were certain Test cricket will continue to exist in the future given its tradition.
Australian great Adam Gilchrist recently told Fox Cricket’s podcast The Follow On he is convinced things will settle and that international and domestic bodies will find a way to coexist and ultimately thrive.
“In the history of cricket, it is still in its infancy, the whole T20 tournaments relative to the 150-160 year history of Test match cricket. So it will slowly settle down,” he said on The Follow On.
“Everyone still puts a lot of value on Test match cricket and we have seen that this summer in Australia, certainly at the Boxing Day Test, where the crowd patronage has been wonderful.
“And I think there is a passive love for the game that will always keep it a high priority across the cricketing world.”
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