Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland insists Test matches remain popular across the world and says it would be unfortunate if people judged the sport on last weekend’s events at the Gabba.
Australia’s demolition of the West Indies inside three days, coupled with low crowds and television viewership, has made for a flat feel at the start of summer in contrast to the previous three seasons, which featured South Africa, India and England.
The one-sided match came amid debate over the future of the game first played in 1877, as some custodians have advocated a two-tier system while others want a world championship to give Test series greater context.
An aggregate crowd of 37,000 watched Australia thrash the West Indies, and television ratings were down by up to 25 per cent on the corresponding match last year between Australia and New Zealand.
Sutherland said on Thursday those figures were “on par to our expectations”, and admitted touring sides had “a different level of attractiveness”.
But on the eve of the second Test, in Adelaide starting on Friday, he defended Test cricket and rejected any suggestion the format’s livelihood was under threat amid the Twenty20 boom.
“The game of cricket has never been more popular around the world than it is today,” he said.
“… It’s unfortunate if people are going to judge the popularity of Test cricket or international cricket by the backdrop and by the crowds in attendance.
“Test cricket is played three out of the five days, at least, on weekdays and I think you really need to have a look at the television audiences which confirm the fact that Test cricket is absolutely here to stay.
“The Australian public and cricket lovers all over the world enjoy the game and continue to watch it.”
CA has been at the forefront of pushing for innovations to Test cricket, by pushing for the introduction of a world championship and pursuing day-night matches.
But the introduction of a championship was rejected by other member nations earlier this year, while officials have been stymied in their quest to play Tests after sunset because a suitable ball is yet to be developed.
Sutherland said the International Cricket Council had formed a working committee to consider a Test championship proposal.
“It may well be that a development from that is a Test championship or other sorts, but that’s still a while away and they’re things that will be considered by that committee in the coming months,” he said.
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