Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg suggested that the test cricket can become a loss for certain nations and call for less five -day matches to maintain the value of the format. They believe that by creating a more exclusive test cricket and focusing on high -ranking competitions, the format can maintain its prestige in a modern game.
After taking over from Nick Hockley as CEO, Greenberg warned that some cricket boards could face serious financial tension if they tried to maintain a complete timetable of test matches. “I don’t think everyone in the world cricket must strive to play a test cricket, and that could be okay,” Greenberg said, as Reuters quoted. “We literally try to send countries in bankruptcy if we force them to try to play a test cricket.”
Quality above quantity
The longest format faces growing pressure from the growth of Criket Twenty20 and the global proliferation of franchise leagues. With players and fans who attract shorter, commercially lucrative formats, the test cricket tried to maintain its meaning. Greenberg believes that The solution is not to play more tests, but to make every series more meaningful.
“Lack of test cricket is our friend, not our enemy,” he said. “We have to make sure we are investing in the right spaces to play a test cricket where it means something and has a threat.”
He pointed to ashes between Australia and England as, for example, how high bets and historical rivalry can cause great interest and strong financial revenues. “That’s why the ashes will be as huge and profitable as it is – because it means something,” Greenberg added.
Greenberg’s comments come in the middle of wider debates in the International Criket Council (ICC) about the future of the test calendar. Smaller nations are often trying to draw large crowds or secure lucrative broadcast offers for five -day matches, They make them financially risky. The vision of the CA chief would see a more efficient test plan that favored a series that bears competitive and cultural significance, while allowing other nations to focus on formats that better suit their financial reality.
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Published:
Amar Pancker
Published on:
August 13, 2025
