Cricket Australia Chief Warns Some Countries Risk Going Bust By Playing Tests

Cricket Australia main executive Todd Greenberg has warned immoderate nations will spell “bankrupt” if they proceed to play nan longest format of nan game, stressing he sees a early pinch less Test nations.

Admitting he has go a “little unpopular” since taking complete from Nick Hockley successful March, nan erstwhile Australian Cricketers’ Association leader believes “scarcity successful Test cricket is our friend, not our foe”.

“I don’t deliberation everyone successful world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that mightiness beryllium OK,” Greenberg said connected Wednesday pinch 100 days to spell earlier nan Ashes. A batch of traditionalists mightiness not for illustration that.

“I’m not suggesting I cognize nan number that will play, but virtually we’re trying to nonstop countries bankrupt if we unit them to effort to play Test cricket. We request to make judge we put successful nan correct spaces to play Test cricket wherever it intends something, and has jeopardy, and that’s why nan Ashes will beryllium arsenic tremendous and arsenic profitable arsenic it is because it intends something.”

But location could beryllium much Test cricket played successful Australia, pinch Greenberg unfastened to playing red-ball matches successful Queensland and nan Northern Territory during winter.

Australia are currently hosting South Africa successful Twenty20s and ODIs successful Darwin, Cairns and Mackay. Tests were past played successful Darwin and Cairns much than 20 years ago, pinch Australia hosting Sri Lanka successful 2003, past Bangladesh nan pursuing year.

“I was successful Darwin connected Sunday nighttime [for nan first T20],” Greenberg said. “I went location chiefly because it meant a batch to nan group of nan Northern Territory. They hadn’t had world cricket location for nan champion portion of 17 years. The 1 point erstwhile you spell location astatine this clip of twelvemonth is you return nan 1 biggest adaptable away, which is nan weather. Great accommodation … I tin spot that [Tests] happening.”

Greenberg has besides been exploring privatisation of nan Big Bash League, noting different T20 competitions astir nan world are backed by money extracurricular nan governing cricket boards. “That will upset immoderate people, and it will group nan hares racing and perchance of group debating nan merits,” he said.

“It would beryllium wholly naive of america sitting present successful Australia to not research it. I’m not suggesting that we’re going to do it yet. I’m not suggesting there’s been a determination made, and yet it won’t conscionable beryllium my determination aliases Cricket Australia’s decision. It will beryllium nan full of activity of Australian cricket and it has to beryllium beneficial for everyone.”