Mitchell Marsh looks set to turn down the riches of the Indian Premier League in favour of a summer on the English County circuit. This could prove to be a shrewd career move given the all-rounder’s recent omission from the Australian Test team.
The timing of Marsh’s announcement is particularly apt given the recent release of the cricket film, ‘Death of a Gentleman’.
Cricket writers turned filmmakers, Sam Collins and Jarred Kimber, expose how the global game is now “driven by the pursuit of commerce and human greed”.
Showing similarities to the World Cricket Series in the late 1970s, emerging T20 competitions are now attracting the world’s best talent to the glitz and glamour of the game’s shortest format.
While this appears to be having a positive short-term effect on gate sizes, Collins and Kimber argue that Test cricket is being allowed to wither due to a disproportionate amount of interest shown by administrators towards the faster forms of the game.
With the international cricket calendar becoming increasingly cluttered with franchised competitions, it comes as no surprise that players’ heads are being turned by the money earning potential these competitions hold.
Mitchell Marsh’s decision to shun the IPL in order to develop his Test-playing credentials must be considered all the more creditable in a climate where money dictates such a big role in a player’s decision making.
Visa requirements and ECB rulings have presented Australian players with obstacles in the past, however, with only one overseas player permitted in each side for first-class and one-day competitions. Players must also fulfil criteria regarding top-level international experience to obtain a visa.
While Collins and Kimber’s contention lies mainly with the world’s cricket administrators, there can be no arguments that having multiple forms of the game is crucial to the survival of the sport.
The ODI and T20 formats have pioneered some of the sport’s biggest innovations and developments. Such developments have directly influenced the way that Test Cricket is run and played, contributing to increased player participation in Australia.
Cricket’s current era has led to a new breed of specialist, with players flying around the world specifically to take part in the game’s shortest format. While elements of T20 are creeping into the Test arena, these T20 specialists have a long way to go to prove their ability is ready for the rigours of the five-day game.
Calls for Glenn Maxwell to be included in the Australia Test squad after his 2015 World Cup showing were short-lived, as selectors appeared to be unconvinced as to his red ball credentials. Maxwell appears to be stating his case for a call-up again however after a successful stint in Yorkshire CC’s English County Championship side.
Maxwell’s ability to score runs in the English Championship will be looked on much more favourably by the Test selectors than a quick 40 in the IPL. While competitions like the IPL are integral to the development of cricket as a game, players looking to enhance their Test-playing careers must look further afield than the T20 money merry-go-round if they are serious about improving.
Finding a balance between all formats is something that Maxwell is now using to positive effect, and with Marsh set to follow in his footsteps, it will hopefully pave the way for future Australian Test players to do the same thing.
One of the main issues highlighted during an abysmal Ashes tour of the UK has been Australia’s inability to deal with the local conditions. With this appearing to be a long-term issue, preparations for the England Ashes tour in four years time should be starting sooner rather than later.
With Australia not winning an Ashes series overseas since 2001, who knows, 2019 could be our year… if Test Cricket hasn’t died by then anyway.
Eski
Guest
Johnno I can't speak for every person in oz but I Having spoken to a lot of players in both grade and shires born 1990s on the vast vast majority still say test cricket is the pinnacle with t20 as a terrific extra with the ability to set them selves up when the future they also see it as a way to make a name for themselves like Warner and push for fc cricket , even primary school kids talk about playing test for oz they talk about bbl but Ipl is no existent , it is unfortunate oz don't have a character like a Warne , Steve Waugh etc who is a house hold name at this time but I'm sure that will happen at some stage again About 5 yrs ago I would've agreed but ut has changed last few years
Johnno
Guest
Dalgety If they did a survey of people born from 1990- onwards in Australia today, I’m not sure how many would of heard of Dennis Lillee, such is the time we live in with so many different sports. And blokes like Max Walker, Rod Marsh, David Boon, I’m not sure many would of heard of these guys. I was born in the 70’s so grew up with cricket lat 80’s and 90’s, and I’d barley heard of Doug Walters. In today’s world and generations past, I doubt many would know who David Boon was. There’s very little connect to Test cricket from today’s youth, as there fed T20. I mean I was fed Test cricket and ODI’S growing up, and I was barley told much about Doug Walters. The youth of today, can’t relate nor have heard of David Boon. But plenty will hear about David Warner etc, kids in 10 years time as he was a T20 star. T20 is hear to stay, not sure if Test cricket it. And as for your other parts “There’d be times when it won’t be as watched, than at others, but pure sales aren’t as important as the product’s prestige and heritage.” Ah sorry, pure sales are, otherwise it gets reduced to Horse-polo boutique status. Whose gonna pay for this “prestige” you claim, if sales are non existent in reality. The rich pay for horse-polo despite no profitable and real sales, so there is a legimate group paying and covering the costs, i haven't found a buyer for test-cricket to run at a loss in the future, have you? And the Rolling stones claim, is a bad example. The Rolling stones have been able to evolve as a band, and are massively more modern than the past e.g. 1970’s, they have been tech savvy in there music, evolved there music to younger audiences with technological advancements and more modern styles,and woven in past hits at the same time, and there record sales and concert ticket sales are still massive as, there very modern and tech savvy and have moved with the times. So naturally they are getting signed up by record labels.
Johnno
Guest
Lawrence, you maybe young but your not the majority your view of test cricket in your age group. You are born out of my 1990- onwards range anyway. But if we simplify the range for your age range 1985- onwards, I still reckon you age range 1985-89 age range, more would identify with T20. And no contest after 1990- onwards.
Johnno
Guest
Dalgety If they did a survey of people born from 1990- onwards in Australia today, I'm not sure how many would of heard of Dennis Lillee, such is the time we live in with so many different sports. And blokes like Max Walker, Rod Marsh, David Boon, I'm not sure many would of heard of these guys. I was born in the 70's so grew up with cricket lat 80's and 90's, and I'd barley heard of Doug Walters. In today's world and generations past, I doubt many would know who David Boon was. There's very little connect to Test cricket from today's youth, as there fed T20. I mean I was fed Test cricket and ODI'S growing up, and I was barley told much about Doug Walters. The youth of today, can't relate nor have heard of David Boon. But plenty will hear about David Warner etc, kids in 10 years time as he was a T20 star. T20 is hear to stay, not sure if Test cricket it. And as for your other parts "There’d be times when it won’t be as watched, than at others, but pure sales aren’t as important as the product’s prestige and heritage." Ah sorry, pure sales are, otherwise it gets reduced to Horse-polo boutique status. Whose gonna pay for this "prestige" you claim, if sales are non existent in reality. The rich pay for horse-polo despite no profitable and real sales. And the Rolling stones claim, is a bad example. The Rolling stones have been able to evolve as a band, and are massively more modern than the past e.g. 1970's, they have been tech savvy in there music, evolved there music to younger audiences with technological advancements and more modern styles,and woven in past hits at the same time, and there record sales and concert ticket sales are still massive as, there very modern and tech savvy and have moved with the times.
Lawrence Wisdom
Roar Rookie
I'm 26 and Test cricket will always be regarded as the pinnacle for me. The ultimate vision growing up for me was to play Test cricket. I feel some youngsters still grow up with the same vision, but with the rise in T20 prominence and the money it brings, some players will not be able to ignore the opportunity to cash in. And why shouldn't they make as much as money as they possibly can. Cricketers have short careers in relation to 'normal jobs'. The downside of this is that its got to the point where its to the detriment of Test cricket.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Johnno, some "youth" will always connect with Test cricket, it just a matter of how many. It really is down to the will of the ICC to provide them with enough of the right opportunities to do that. Sure they'll need to be smart with how they market it and how it's placed within the calendar, but it can be done. Reading into the future is a fraught business, plenty of people thought radio might be a dead medium when TV came in, but it's possibly stronger than ever some 70 years later. And by boutique, it basically means a high quality niche version of the game. There'd be times when it won't be as watched, than at others, but pure sales aren't as important as the product's prestige and heritage. There's a fair number of examples you could cite across the commercial world, from Johnny Walker Blue, to a record company signing the Rolling Stones to a record deal etc, sometimes there are more important things than pure sales.
Johnno
Guest
Dalgety, the youth with connect to test cricket history, couldn't care less about Test-cricket. What is test cricket gonnna become a boutique sport for the rich and famous like horse polo lol, is that what you saying?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
It's a great decision for Mitch Marsh's game to spend a bit of time developing his knowledge of English conditions. It's also great for the development of his character to connect with other values such as patience and hard work over easily earned buckets of cash in his cricketing journey. As far as the future of Test cricket, I see no reason why it can’t be sustained as a boutique event, funded primarily by the briefer, more commercial forms. It has qualities that the other forms don’t and definitely serves as a pinnacle form and literal test of skills and application.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I doubt it's just because of the salary in T20 with Marsh. It's because he's been brought up to worship test cricket. Spent a lot of time on tour with his father as a coach and has been around teat teams since he was a small kid. He's in a very different space compared to someone without his background of familiarity and belief of test cricket as the pinnacle.
CGR
Guest
Yeah us Test fans are doomed I'm afraid. DOAG looks interesting but their idea of T20 broadcasting and advertising revenue streams being of equal power to T20 is already assuming T20 doesn't evolve. When T20 salaries come from longer, more lucrative calendar (30 games? 80?), teams will restrict the number of international days like soccer. The pay scales will dwarf national test contracts into near insignificance. Test'll have to get out of the way of the oncoming train to survive. The kids being introduced to cricket have zero contact with Test, except in pictures. Everything is T20-centric and sponsored. CA can trumpet the long game all they like, but their business instincts and approach paint a very different set of priorities. The interesting hypothetical question is would MM have turned to Test if there were T20 contracts worth triple (x4, x5, x6...) than they are now? Because that reckoning is coming.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I can't see tests lasting, if only because 3 formats for any sport is too much. Tests can only be played by a limited number of countries. For the development of the game, the short formats are far more useful. I love test cricket but I very much see it's limitations in the modern world.
Simoc
Guest
There has always been and still are many Australian cricketers playing in English cricket during the off season here, and similarly many up and coming potential England cricketers play their off season here. It has always been that way. But apart from the Ashes, Test cricket is on the way out. There are T20 leagues springing up everywhere so IPL isn't quite as all important now as it has been. When NZ played South Africa in a test a few years back the ground was totally empty of spectators. Hopefully if day night test cricket works, interest may return.
Lawrence Wisdom
Roar Rookie
I think Marsh would really benefit from playing on the English County circuit. Like you said, their schedule is relentless and they play more or less every day. I would love to see more Australian players using a season or two in the UK as part of their cricketing education. Chris Rogers used his experience to show everyone how to do it this series. There needs to be a few more like him in 2019 if we are to have any success. It's about finding a balance between the different formats. If Australian players want to play for the money that's their prerogative, but bearing in mind Australia haven't won an Ashes overseas since 2001, I might be more obliged to having a crack in the county championship. With the currency exchange between the GBP and the AUD being what it is, players might want to start doing some number crunching to see how much a position in the 2019 Test team is really worth to them.
Johnno
Guest
Take, the cahs test cricket is dieing, it will die of in 15-20 years,maybe even 10 years. The youth don't care about it, only 3 countries make any money out of it. Ireland is the only country that has any chance to become a test cricket nation, 1 silly country out of 200 or so in the World, T20 is the only form of cricket that can expand the sport that and ODI'S,not test cricket. 5 days for a result, zzzz. And very expensive to develop as a sport, where as T20 is much cheaper. This has been the worst hyped ashes for ages. Micheal Clarke's retirement,and how crap the aussies are. The youth people born 1990-onwards don't care about Test cricket. I'd take the cash If i was a player.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Good on Mitchell. Test are still the pinnacle of the sport. Plenty of time for IPL later in his career. The most famous players of all time are remembered solely for their test credentials. Learn to play with patience. T20 is ruining test cricketers.
Camo McD
Roar Guru
By the way, the proposals resulting from DOAG are at changecricket.com Collins and Kimber will be protesting outside the Oval before the test match which I mentioned yesterday here: http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/08/19/stand-for-cricket-this-thursday/
Camo McD
Roar Guru
It will be interesting to see how Marsh goes if this happens. The large workload of playing virtually every day will be a new experience and could be the making of him, particularly with the bat. To be fair to the Australian contracted players, they may or may not opt out of an IPL season or two but they are extremely well paid for playing test and international cricket in comparison to players from other nations. I would thoroughly recommend DOAG, it is an intriguing film. My take is that Kimber and Collins love the IPL and T20 but also want to see strong test and international cricket with as many competitive teams as possible. The increased proportion of funds to the Big 3 does not help this. We have recently seen Australia thrash a West Indies team in which most of their IPL players have been either unavailable or retired from test cricket and financially there is little incentive for them to play. In this situation, all fans lose.
Jarijari
Guest
Long as he doesn't make a goose of himself like Jimmy Faulkner. But he'll a better go under Smith than Clarke, an ordinary captain who didn't rate him.