The International Cricket Council (ICC) appears poised to implement an Australian-led initiative aimed at establishing a fund exceeding $15 million to ensure that the world’s top players remain engaged in Test cricket.
This move is seen as a countermeasure against the financial lure of lucrative T20 leagues, particularly the Indian Premier League (IPL), which have drawn many cricketers away from the traditional format.
In response to the increasing dominance of T20 competitions, cricket authorities in Australia, India, and England have united to preserve the sanctity and viability of Test cricket. The proposed fund would raise the minimum match payment for Test cricketers and help offset the costs associated with overseas tours. The wealthier cricketing nations have initiated this action as the popularity of T20 has begun to erode the prominence of Test cricket.
The urgency of this initiative was underscored earlier this year when South Africa named a significantly weakened squad for their tour of New Zealand. Cricket South Africa’s decision to exclude players contracted to SA20 franchises sparked an outcry, with former Australian captain Steve Waugh expressing his frustration.
Waugh described the situation as showing a “lack of respect” and questioned if it marked a “defining moment in the death of Test cricket.”
Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird emphasized the responsibility of wealthier nations in sustaining the Test format. “It’s fantastic to see some momentum behind the Test match fund,” Baird told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“We need to take away the barriers and encourage Test cricket to be the best of the best. To retain that history and that legacy, which goes alongside the newer forms of white-ball cricket.”
Jay Shah, an Indian cricket official poised to be formally elected as ICC president, echoed Baird’s sentiments and expressed his support for the initiative. “There should be a dedicated fund for Tests, whether it’s $5 million, $10 million, or more,” Shah said in an Indian media interview this week.
“It is expensive to host teams for five-day Tests, so we are preparing for it. If the [ICC] board agrees, we are ready to do it.”
Notably, the countries contributing to this fund will not benefit from it directly. Instead, the fund is designed to ensure that all players receive a minimum Test match payment of nearly $15,000.
However, there remains some uncertainty regarding the amount the ICC will contribute to the fund, especially as a dispute with broadcaster Star TV continues to unfold. The broader issue of investment in Test cricket was a point of concern for Steve Waugh, who earlier this year urged governing bodies to prioritize the longer format of the game.
Waugh pointed out that neither Pakistan nor the West Indies sent their best teams to Australia for the Test matches last summer, which he viewed as a troubling sign for the future of the game. “It’s going to happen if the South African Cricket Board are any indication of the future, keeping their best players at home,” Waugh said. He expressed disbelief that New Zealand agreed to play the series under such circumstances, stating:
“If I was New Zealand I wouldn’t even play the series. I don’t know why they’re even playing. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?”
Waugh further criticized the current situation, noting that prominent players like Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder, who are well-suited for Test cricket, are not participating in the format. He warned that without intervention from the ICC or leading cricketing nations, Test cricket risks losing its essence. “If the ICC or someone doesn’t step in shortly then Test cricket doesn’t become Test cricket because you’re not testing yourself against the best players,” he said.
Waugh concluded by highlighting the financial disparity as a key factor driving players away from Test cricket. “I understand why players don’t come. They’re not getting paid properly,” he said. “I don’t understand why ICC or the top countries who are making a lot of money don’t just have a regulation set fee for Test matches which is a premium, so people are incentivized to play Test cricket.”
Without such reforms, Waugh warned that Test cricket could be diminished, leaving fans deprived of watching the game’s best talents compete in the most challenging format.
