With 100 days till the primary Ashes recreation of England’s tour, Australia CEO says Take a look at cricket wants high quality, not amount.
Australia cricket chief Todd Greenberg says a slimmer Take a look at calendar may gain advantage smaller nations as a result of the five-day recreation was higher “the place it means one thing”.
Marking 100 days till the house Ashes sequence in opposition to England begins in Perth, Cricket Australia CEO Greenberg steered that high quality, not amount, was essential in maintaining the red-ball recreation viable.
“We’re attempting to ship nations bankrupt if we pressure them to attempt to play Take a look at cricket,” he informed reporters.
“We’d like to verify we spend money on the suitable areas to play Take a look at cricket the place it means one thing.
“That’s why the Ashes can be as huge and as worthwhile as it’s – as a result of it means one thing.”
England have simply accomplished a thrilling 2-2 home drawn series against India in entrance of sold-out crowds.
On the similar time, New Zealand and Australia romped to simple abroad Take a look at sequence wins in opposition to uncompetitive West Indies and Zimbabwe groups respectively, leaving query marks over the standard of Take a look at cricket in these nations.
One concept is to create two or extra divisions of Take a look at cricket to maintain it aggressive, however Greenberg mentioned he didn’t have a robust opinion on the best variety of Take a look at-playing nations.
“Let’s contemplate what the longer term may appear like,” he mentioned.
However the five-day recreation remained in impolite well being in Australia, Greenberg mentioned, the place curiosity within the Ashes had been “off the charts”.
“This would be the largest sports activities occasion in Australia this 12 months,” mentioned Greenberg.
“The curiosity is kind of extraordinary with ticket allocations for 11 of the 20 days on sale already exhausted.”
Australia had been defeated by South Africa within the closing of the 2025 World Take a look at Championship at Lord’s Cricket Floor in London in June.
