Credit: Cricket Australia
Test cricket, which has stood its ground for the better part of 150 years, is widely regarded as the toughest format of the sport because it gets played across five days, testing not only the talent and skill, but also the temperament and durability of the players. Since the advent of T20 cricket in the early 2000s, Test cricket got a wake up call in regards to its sustainability in the new era of the sport, especially with some experts predicting it might go away for good in the near future.
While Test cricket keeps producing enthralling action amidst the question marks on its future, the Cricket Australia (CA) chief Todd Greenberg has given a unique take on the format’s current standing. He spoke about the traditional Test calendar having a potential to bankrupt the cricket boards of certain countries, wanting the number of matches to come down and more focus to be put on the quality of the contests.
We're literally trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket: Todd Greenberg
After the International Cricket Council (ICC) set up a working group to discuss the future of Test cricket and the scope of a two-tier system, Todd Greenberg talked about how "scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe,” as reported by BBC Sport. He also remarked, “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.”
Todd Greenberg also gave the example of how the Ashes Test series between Australia and England is important due to the history and meaning behind the matches played by both the nations. He was quoted as saying, “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.”
Moreover, the Ashes 2025-26 will be played down under between Australia and England, starting with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21 onwards.
