The Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley has refused the reports on India, England, and Australia boards have not paid attention to a draft presented to the ICC to save Test Cricket.
Hockley denies Martin Snedden’s reports
A report has said that three boards have rejected the document of New Zealand Cricket chair Martin Snedden, who proposed FTP to save the longest version of the game.
“Categorically, I think there was some misreporting around that. Certainly, the discussions I’m in at the moment are very much thinking about how we can optimize the calendar and how we can continue to grow cricket around the world,” told Hockley.
The changes proposed in the blueprint include additional T20 leagues other than the Indian Premier League, alteration in the WTC points table, 40 over ODIs, apprehensions about T20Is, and an effort towards pooling of broadcast rights revenue for bilateral series.
But Hockley denied the suggestions made that these boards were not focusing on Test cricket, saying he had met Snedden during the first test of Australia’s tour of New Zealand 2024. He has said that Australia has been committed to helping ICC to flourish in all three formats.
“We had a great catch-up with Martin (Snedden) here yesterday (Friday in Wellington),” Hockley said.
“We’re very much involved with that piece of work. I think at Cricket Australia we’ve got good influence and I think we’ve got a really important role to play around the ICC in terms of driving strategy.
“I think that Cricket Australia has been behind many of the developments. Whether that’s the introduction of the World Test Championship.”
“I’m on the FTP working group with the ICC, and making sure that we’re keeping all three formats healthy and strong, that we’re growing the game in all territories,” he added.
Pointing out the growth of cricket across the globe, Hockley said countries like the United States too had embraced the game.
“It’s just brilliant to see the way that the T20 World Cup in the US has been embraced. I understand that ticket sales were 20 times oversubscribed when they were when they were released.
“So, I think cricket has a great opportunity to have a format strategy where all the formats play a role and all fit together. That is really the essence of the work that Martin has started.
It’s incumbent on all of us as members working together to make sure that we continue to take it forward,” he added. Hockley added that Australia has been dedicated and had great respect for WTC.
“Practically, it is making sure that the World Test Championship is given greater prominence so each Test series has context.
“I think it’s looking at the economic viability in different territories and how we make sure that it is economically viable for those countries where it isn’t (currently). Still for Australia… men’s Test cricket is the most valuable property. So, it’s working together.
“Then on the calendar, it’s trying to configure the calendar in a way that there’s space for all three formats,” he concluded.
They are currently playing on the first test of Australia’s tour of New Zealand 2024 at Basin Reserve, Wellington.
