With the eyes of the nation locked onto the Matildas’ World Cup semi-final last Wednesday, a seemingly immaterial cricket story slipped quietly through the Australian sporting news cycle.
Cricket South Africa announced it would be sending a severely weakened squad to New Zealand for next summer’s Test series against the Black Caps, to ensure all its best players, around 60 in total, would be available for its domestic T20 competition, the SA20.
That this story failed to cause so much as a ripple in Australia is far from surprising. A scheduling conflict between two foreign nations, in a sport that, outside the Ashes, struggles to capture the public’s attention during the winter months.
But like a lifetime smoker who ignores a bloody cough, the announcement is yet another silent dagger in the heart of Test cricket, and with it the Australian summer as we know it.
The T20 game is rapidly marching across cricket’s Gregorian calendar. In 2023, there will be nine elite T20 tournaments staged across the world. The true danger to international Test cricket, however, is not the T20 format itself, but rather the emergence of domestic franchise T20 competitions, namely the Indian Premier League.
Having recently accepted a $6.3 billion media rights cheque, the IPL is now eyeing global domination. The home tournament in India will soon expand from six weeks to three months in length, with the end goal being a six-month fixture akin to a football or basketball season.
IPL team owners, meanwhile, have controlling stakes in 50 per cent of the Abu Dhabi T20 competition, 66 per cent in the US Major League Cricket, and 100 per cent in the SA20.
With a hungry fanbase to feed and rival T20 competitions emerging in places like Saudi Arabia, prime real estate in the form of the Australian summer becomes increasingly tantalising for the IPL and its owners.
I raised this with a few friends at a New Years gathering earlier this year and they, like many casual cricket fans, were shocked by the coming apocalypse. “(Australian) fans remain conditioned to Kerry Packer’s gift,” observes Sam Perry, “which was cricket on our terms: in our summer, over 4-6 weeks, during our holidays, against the world’s best, when it suited us. That was our monopoly. But Australia’s grasp on summer as we know it is diminishing.”
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Kyle Verreynne of South Africa. (Photo by Brett Hemmings – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Indeed, the rot has already set in. Last summer South Africa forfeited all three of their January ODIs in Australia to accommodate for the SA20. The availability of other quality Test nations to play at home also declines as their own T20 responsibilities broaden.
Do you really think it is a coincidence Australia will host a third-rate West Indian Test team two summers in a row?
It is only a matter of time until the IPL begins signing players on lucrative yet exclusive centralised contracts. The Mumbai Indians are paying Cameron Green a hefty $3 million to play for them, after all, not Australia. This year’s Ashes was an enthralling contest, but it would have been less so had it been played between an Australian and English sixth XI.
If Test cricket is to pass into folklore, I will mourn for it for the rest of my days. T20 unlocks a short dopamine rush that tingles the senses, but it is Test cricket that truly nourishes the mind and soul.
As Matthew Engle wrote of the 2005 Ashes, “There was no artificial colouring, no artificial flavouring, no added sugar. Nothing had to be sexed up or dumbed down. It was a triumph for the real thing.”
Or is this simply the rationalisation of an old soul wedded to a game, and a world, that I understand and that suits me. Just because I prefer Test cricket, does that really make it any more worthy, pure, or legitimate than the short-format game? If the question of legitimacy came down to mere dollars and cents, rather than a subjective moralistic code I and others like me determine, then T20 cricket is by far and away the more worthy pursuit.
Cameron Green bats for Mumbai. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
It is also the T20 game that retains the loyalties of the young, and consequently the future. I cannot help but hear the words of American revolutionary figure Thomas Jefferson: “I am persuaded that the earth belongs exclusively to the living, and that one generation has no more right to bind another to its laws and judgements than one independent nation has the right to command another.”
All good things must come to an end. And if, or when, the final red ball is bowled at Lord’s, the MCG, or even down at my local cricket park, the Yarraville Oval, I suggest we reprint the famous 1882 obituary to English cricket as follows:
“In affectionate remembrance of Test cricket, which died at this oval. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. RIP. The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to the Chennai Super Kings in India.”
Micko
Roar Rookie
Kiwis don't support the super smash comp already, so why would NZ BBL franchises be viable???
The tagger
Roar Rookie
I think cricket's administrators definitely need to revisit the play book Dwayne, which has not been altered for some time.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Do ‘tests’ need a different model, don’t play (no offence) West Indies and Pakistan in summer prime time. Play a weaker nation at another time, another venue, smaller city, not have ‘sellout crowd’ expectations? Maybe have a smaller venue, regional city bud for it, get locals/region right behind it as a money making event.
Reddy
Roar Rookie
Test cricket is still popular in NZ but only on TV. Aside from boxing day tests, gate takings are low. T20 gate takings in NZ are much higher. The ashes was on free to air TV in NZ over our winter. I think the bbl and NZ's super smash should merge together into one competition. It might free up space in the calendar everybody to play each other once. After all the only long flight for teams would be when the scorchers play in NZ or vice versa. The NZ test players pretty much don't play in the super smash.
CPM
Roar Rookie
With the advent of a new political dispensation a decision was made to expand the teams to something like 9 or 10 . You alway talking just nonsense. You still think that there were only 5 provinces producing players before the new “political dispensation”. People like you who grew up with Apartheid like to use sayings like “political dispensation” or “political interference”, AKA black people to hide your conscious or unconscious racism. It was a black politician who appointed a retired white judge to run a commission of inquiry into cricket back in 2011 with recommendations to restructure the board and a restructure of the professional game. The funny thing is that former white cricketers were the ones promoting a return to provincial cricket as the top professional tier to destroy your strength vs strength system. The other nonsense your have written is pure bile what you call negative post is actuality disguised racism against black people.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
in a few years time the provincial pipeline will once again developed better players which will lead to improve of the national team meaning more interest better sponsorship and so on.…I see now ..Please excuse my stupidity and ignorance..So in a few years time South Africa is once again going to produce World class Test cricketers again…..I’ll set my watch to be sure ….But I can assure you I wont hold my breath ..We already knew a Kallius , Steyn , De Villiers , Smith etc. were going to be class acts whilst they were still in school . So where are they now that we can develop them into a failing system ..You sound like a spokesman for SA Cricket ..Oh and essentially you simply in more detail ( I tried to keep it as short as possible ) mirrored pretty much what my sentiments are ..So if its hogwash , mmm ..Last tour to Australia it was clear that SAs batsmen wouldn’t get a Sheffield Shield gig ..Name one who would ! Very often when a negative post around SA Sport comes up so do you ..But I’ll urge you through your own propaganda to check the results ..Check the crowds ..Check the sponsors ..It’s easy , there are none ..People are not easily fooled by BS ..Theres a famous quote around fooling some of the people some of the time etc etc . Take a cold bath .
The Idiot
Roar Rookie
Nonsense. The "format" is so different as to be a different game.
The Idiot
Roar Rookie
It's the old story - money talks. Nothing surprising. How many have changed jobs for the $ rather than what we wanted to do? My hand is up
CPM
Roar Rookie
What a bunch of hogwash. Prior to 2004 there were 13 provincial teams plying cricket in different divisions and after that the provincial unions were grouped into 6 franchise teams to create “stronger teams” and better players. That was the theory but the franchise system was not developing cricketers because there were about 25 to 30 players contracted to each franchise from the feeder provincial unions. So some players were playing red ball cricket, some players played 50 over cricket and others only T20 cricket. Cricket greats pointed out this flaw in the system and warned CSA about making structural changes, but for more than 10 years failed to act. Eventually due to CSA shenanigans over the past decade the board led by cricket people from various provincial unions were forced to change CSA’s constitution to allow for an independent Chair with a majority of independent directors not affiliated to any cricket union. The first thing that the new board did in 2022 was dismantle the franchise system and revert back to the provincial system with an 8 team first division and a 7 team second division with automatic promotion and relegation between the two leagues. This means that first division teams are now only an allowed to contract 17 players to play in the three format domestic competitions. Meaning there are no longer only white ball players or red ball players. Players have to play in all competitions and all formats of the game. So in a few years time the provincial pipeline will once again developed better players which will lead to improve of the national team meaning more interest better sponsorship and so on. The second thing that the new board did was to create a second T20 competition and window for it tearing up whatever commitments the previous board made. So the new board not confused by red ball ideology scrutinised the books and know that the only time that test cricket makes money is when either England or India tours, so as a result you will see the Proteas playing more white ball cricket and less red ball cricket. Get used to it.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
If NZ can sustain Test Cricket then surely South Africa with 60 million plus citizens should be able too as well . Its about will not money .
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Is the market speaking or is it being driven in a particular direction ?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I think there are as lot more like minded people sharing your views than most realise ..
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Great article ,I'm a bit late reading it .. So apologies ..Its a very sad situation . At 63 years old I grew up around the longer formats . What's happening in South Africa is understandable but also shortsighted . Its origins lie in mismanagement and politics .. South Africa like Australia built its cricketing strength around a few Provinces (5) A strength vs Strength model which produced and promoted excellence . This was both recognised and supported by the fans . With the advent of a new political dispensation a decision was made to expand the teams to something like 9 or 10 . Forget exactly how many . The argument was to expand the player base ..Which was a cover up . It was to create additional administrations and jobs for pals . Net result today is shockingly low domestic standards and an inability to produce Test Cricketers . Also the fans and have disappeared with the local domestic league now unable to even secure sponsorship. So to pay the bills all that's left is T20 ...Test cricket was always well supported previous years but fans now beginning to lose interest watching 2nd grade cricketers trying to compete with the Worlds best ..Should Test cricket die , T 20 being the only game in town will eventually fade too . Test cricket has always carried itself , its T20 that is dependant on Test Cricket not the other way around ....It has foundations . Its complex and challenging .. T20 is none of this ..The future is bleak .
Donbich
Roar Rookie
I mean, we can have a quick look at some stats if you want. BBL averages 16k IPL averages 26k Australian Population - 25m Indian Population 1.48 Billion So Australia has less than 2% of India's population, and we get 60% of the same crowd they do attending games. By what metric are you suggesting that Australia doesn't get behind the BBL? Because as a % of the population, it seems India is really lagging.
whymuds
Roar Rookie
Bloody Indian fans turning out in huge numbers to LO and test matches around the world always adding colour and cheer to the atmosphere in great spirit. If only we were more like Aussie and English fans who vote with their feet and make sure stadiums are empty for BBL, Hundred and T20 Blast.
The tagger
Roar Rookie
haha I like that one Andrew. Test cricket does have a nasty knack for survival I'll admit!
Andrew
Roar Rookie
Four, don't forget the hundred. Will be sad if test cricket dies, but on the bright side can stop paying my scg membership and free up some more time for me. Mentioned a while back that humanity would end before test cricket. Not sure now...could be close. Will check the doomsday clock and get back to you.
The tagger
Roar Rookie
You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore its consequences.
The tagger
Roar Rookie
I think your key point Gordon is still rooted in the assumption that T20 skills are the same as those of the longer format. To assume that you can only improve your batting or bowling through extended "time in the middle" is based on the predication that you will be playing a longer format. As I mentioned, players who adapt faster, who can adjust their play from less time will thrive, while those who have better endurance but take longer to "get going" will fall away.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've no issue with anyone having a contrary views but I think you missed my key point. Unless players have the chance to really practice their skills which, in cricket, can only come with lots of time in the middle, those skills will deteriorate. It's a bit like a person only driving the same 200 metres to the shops and back once a week, versus those who regularly drive long distances. The second group are far more likely to contend with all manner of conditions and problems compared to the first group. The likelihood of the first group being able to successfully cope with an unexpected issue is massively decreased because, in all likelihood, they've never experienced it before. Ditto with T20 only cricket.