The current landscape of cricket is changing. Fewer people are attending Test matches and 50 over cricket – and more are going to T20 matches.
Outside of India, Australia and England, cricket-playing nations struggle to attract fans to turn up to games that are not in the Twenty20 format. If Test matches are the pinnacle of the sport, then why are so many teams struggling to fill stadiums when these games are played?
The shortest form of the game has overtaken the game. Every cricket playing nation now has a T20 tournament. It has completely overtaken the sport, with youngsters now dreaming of playing T20 cricket rather than suiting up in the whites.
The ICC should consider whether T20 international games are a good thing. So much cricket is played these days. This makes me think international T20 games should not be played at all.
50 over games seem to be less significant to the average viewer. Until there’s a World Cup not as many people seem to care about this form, especially in Australia with more people attending the Big Bash and fewer 50-over games.
Deciding to have no T20 internationals means there should be more interest from the public to see 50 over games.
I am not calling for the death of Twenty20 cricket completely however.
The Big Bash has shown Australia just much entertainment can be had with the sport. While some are upset with this form of the game and consider it to be a novelty, there is obviously interest from the public.
It would give people their fix of the short form, and save the players’ energy for the longer forms of the game. Just think about it – more players would be available for Test cricket which would help the original form of the game.
It’s a question that hasn’t be asked of the ICC, but I think Test and 50 over matches need to be the focus of the next few years. What do you think, Roarers?
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Another option is to remove the 50 over format in its entirety. Are two limited over (20 and 50) games really required? Thought bubble alert, other option: One thing the easily digestable, always forgettable, T20 format does lend itself to is more global tournaments. A single 16 or 20 team tournament held over three weeks could replace all T20Is. If no othjer T20Is are onnthe calendar it could even be held once a year. There are enough franchise leagues around that players get more than enough T20 - how they gel on no build up would be part of the interest. Being ICC tournaments the money could be spread to nations needing development (the poorer fuill members and the associates).
Joemuma
Roar Rookie
Keeping T20s to demestic competitions keeps the fans happy but more fans going to test or 50 over game without 20/20 makes sense or we need to try and see if it helps
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The way cricket works is international match revenue goes to the home nation, the ICC gets its money from the major international tournaments which is only one day and T20 formats.. So what your proposing would wipe out a large portion of the revenue outside of the big three nations, and a large portion of the ICC's revenue which is then redistributed.
Paul
Roar Guru
Yes
Ozibatla
Guest
Agreed. The 20/20 cash cow is too advanced now. Even though the brand appears to be tiring with fans, the exposure and money being realised is still attractive in business terms. Crickets authorities will just remain behind the curve on 20/20 popularity just like they did with odi cricket. Odi cricket is on its death bed, test cricket will be revamped and remodelled all in the name of "evolution" and 20/20 cricket will likely face new competition within the game itself. Circket has become a self-destructive game all in the name of extra dollars.
Matt
Guest
T20 was brought in to help bring new fans to cricket, because numbers were already declining for tests and ODIs. Getting rid of them will not result in enough people switching to the longer forms. Cricket adapted so it didn't die, they won't go back now and miss all that moolah
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
I don't mind. I don't watch it anyway. Players are busy playing leagues. Don't think international t20 is necessary anyway. Let it be in leagues and let ICC concentrate more on how to popularize Tests and ODI. Right now the schedules are crazy.