International media reported on Wednesday that Todd Greenberg, the Chief Executive of Cricket Australia (CA), said that the present Test cricket schedule could cause some countries to go bankrupt.
Greenberg told the media that if every cricket nation wanted to play Tests, it would be too expensive for them and would eventually lead to their bankruptcy. Greenberg remarked, “Scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our enemy.”
“I don’t think everyone that plays cricket in the world needs to want to play Test cricket, and that’s fine.
“We’re literally trying to make countries go broke by making them play Test cricket.”
Greenberg also asked for more money to be put into big Test series like The Ashes, saying that it would still be profitable since it is still relevant. Greenberg went on to say, “We need to make sure we put money into the right places to play Test cricket where it means something and is risky.”
“That’s why the Ashes will be so big and make so much money—because they mean something.”
At the time Greenberg spoke, there had been talk of a two-tier system for the longest format.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently set up a working group to look into ways to improve the World Test Championship (WTC) before its next cycle starts in July 2027. Roger Twose, a former New Zealand batter, is in charge of the group.
According to the proposed formula, the 12 teams will be split into two groups of six. The “Big Three” teams will be in the first group, along with South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. The second group will include Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies, who Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland will join. These last three teams are likely to be added to the expanded version of the WTC.
Full member countries, on the other hand, are still divided on the issue because they would miss out on the chance to play against the Big Three: Australia, England, and India.
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