Alarm bells ringing for Tests but League Championship should bring context: CA chief James Sutherland

CRICKET AUSTRALIA’S chief executive James Sutherland believes that the value of Test cricket is slowly diminishing in some parts of the world.

Sutherland opined that the format is in a desperate state because it is not commercially viable. Speaking on ‘The Grade Cricketer’ podcast, the stalwart said,

“In many ways there’s so much doubt about Test cricket and its future I think and in some parts of the world it really is in a desperate state. That’s partly because it’s just not commercially viable. There are some really significant warning signals in some parts of the world.”

Referring to the Indian market, he further added,

“As a starting point if you go to India, the country where there is supposedly the most lucrative commercial market, the current valuations on a Test match, five days of Test cricket, is exactly the same as the valuation on a three-hour Twenty20 international match. That’s a perspective on what the market in the biggest country in the cricketing world sees as the value of Test cricket, and that has a significant flow-on impact to other countries. So the alarm bells are ringing for Test cricket and that’s one of the reasons why I think this context around Test cricket is so important with this league championship.”

When asked how the new league system will benefit the game, the CA chief executive said that he expects the incentives to bring context to the longest format.

“In 15 years’ time I sincerely hope that this league will create extra relevance and drive and importance for Test cricket, ideally the championship has significant incentives for countries and players to stay involved in Test cricket, and the rewards and recognition from that will also be seen and reflected in fans coming and continuing to stay connected to the game.”

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