Image Credit- Cricket Australia
Amidst the growing discourse on the well-being of the
World Test Championship (WTC), CA intends to advocate for series to consist of
three matches or more.
Though he acknowledged that Test cricket was being
played in a “two-speed economy” and that South Africa’s decision to
send a drastically diminished team to New Zealand had been a “wake-up
call,” CA Chief Executive Nick Hockley remained optimistic that there was
a way to keep the game alive outside of the big three nations of Australia,
England, and India.
A series must consist of no more than two matches at
minimum, according current WTC standards. The series between India and South
Africa could end in a draw, and the West Indies will soon play Australia in two
games, while the series against Pakistan has already lasted three games. When
Pakistan toured South Africa in 2018–19, there was a previous series of at
least three Test matches that did not feature Australia, India, or England.
“The preference is a minimum three-Test
series,” Hockley told SEN. “So we’ll keep advocating and championing
that. I do think there is work to be done on the FTP (Future Tours Programme)
going forward, and it’s really [about] cementing the World Test Championship,
[and] really advocating for three-Test series as an absolute minimum.
“And then as best as we possibly can, making sure
that [when it comes to] domestic T20 competitions, we minimise the overlap for
those countries where it is an important source of revenue, so that every
country is prioritising international – and particularly Test – cricket.”
The argument has reached a new height since South
Africa decided to travel to New Zealand with a second-string Test team. Cricket
South Africa has stated that they are still dedicated to Test cricket and that
they are making efforts to prevent conflicts in the future.
“That’s been a wake-up call for everyone,”
Hockley said. “The role of T20 [in] bringing new kids and new people into
the game can’t be underestimated. The belief is that the two can coexist. This
was suboptimal scheduling.
“I think we in Australia – it’s very clear that
throughout the whole period the Big Bash has been around – have always
prioritised international cricket. But this has shone a light. And certainly,
we’ll be working with the ICC through scheduling groups to make sure those
types of clashes don’t manifest and really champion the fact that people need
to be prioritising international cricket.”