The Chief Nick Hockley suggested that it would be a wakeup call for the Test format after South Africa announced a second-string Test squad for the New Zealand tour.
CA prefers minimum Three-Test matches in International Cricket
After South Africa announced their second-string squad for the Test series in the New Zealand tour, many former cricketers have criticized South Africa’s board for ignoring the World Test Championship.
On this occasion, CA chief executive Nick Hockley admitted the situation with South Africa sending a weak team to New Zealand had been a wakeup call and that Test cricket was operating in a “two-speed economy.”
Under the WTC regulations, a series must have a minimum of only two matches. With India and Proteas men playing a two-test series in India’s South Africa tour, the series could end with a 1-1.
On the other hand, Australia will be playing a two-test match against West Indies after the conclusion of the ongoing 3rd Test match in Pakistan’s Australia tour 2023-24.
The last three-match Test series weren’t played without involving India, Australia, or England when Pakistan had toured South Africa in 2018-19.
While speaking in the media Chief Executive Hockley said, “The preference is a minimum three-Test series.”
“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 minimize the overlap for those countries where it is an important source of revenue, so that every country is prioritizing international – and particularly Test – cricket.”
Australia Cricket has felt that an ODI series being canceled last home season was due to the SA20 which has brought a high revenue to the South African game.
But South Africa’s decision to send a second-string Test side for New Zealand has started the debate to a new level. “It is a bit of a two-speed economy. The challenge is that we continue to support countries that are struggling in terms of Test cricket.”
“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.”
Hockley was confident that nations other than Australia, England, and India were committed to the future of Test cricket. but acknowledged the financial side of the format brought challenges.
“The challenge is the economics,” he said. “There are parts of the world where the revenue from the T20, ODI, and a Test are the same, yet the costs of putting on a Test are significantly higher.”
“What we’ve seen over the last few years in Australia, what we’re seeing this summer, and what we saw in the UK over the English summer is that Test cricket is really thriving in certain countries.”
“And in that sense, it is a bit of a two-speed economy. The challenge is that we continue to support those countries that are struggling a little bit more in terms of Test cricket.”
Australia will be playing their first test against West Indies starting on January 17 at Adelaide Oval.
