David Miller has spent half of the 54 days his child has been alive training, travelling or playing. © BCCI Traditionalists, look away now. Because less than half believe Test cricket is the most important format to play. Less than half of what? The players themselves. It’s cricket, uncle Jim, but not as you knew it. Of the 328 players, most of them internationals, who responded to the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) global survey last year, only 49% thought Test cricket was the primary form of the game to play. That number is plummeting; it’s down from 82% in 2019. That’s a crash of 33%. While that sinks in, consider that the same survey found 68% of players were in support of day/night Tests. Those startling facts are included in a 31-page report from the WCA released on Wednesday (March 26) and entitled, “Protecting History, Embracing Change: a Unified, Coherent Global Future”. It is the product of a six-month review. Happily for uncle Jim’s cohort, the report says 78% of the responding players “believe there should be minimum standards (minimums and maximums) for how much international cricket should be scheduled”. But they shouldn’t get too happy, because 84% “believe there should be ‘ring-fenced’ scheduling windows for international cricket/major domestic T20 leagues to avoid scheduling clashes”. What are we to take from that except that players put tournaments like the IPL on par with turning out for their national teams? This view is gaining hold: in 2022 the believers amounted to 66%. But the traditionalists will nod in agreement, but also concern, about the report identifying as a problem the “lack of overarching leadership in the game providing global direction leading to regional self-interest and an imbalance of power limiting overall commercial and game potential”. That has arisen “due to the ICC’s governance model and positioning as a ‘members organisation’”. Consequently “there is currently no independent or benevolent global leadership body setting global direction and providing clarity, and with an ability to effectively regulate the sport transnationally. This distinction is important, as a members organisation works for the benefit of its own members, whereas an international governing body works for the benefit of the whole sport.” That leads to the faulty power structure, which means “the biggest national governing bodies currently control global cricket and will likely want to retain this control. This is a root cause, and effect, of scheduling and economic imbalances referenced in this report. Smaller member national governing bodies are beholden to those bigger countries, and there is no proportionate say or representation for leagues, clubs, players or women, for example, in any global forum that is commensurate with their contribution and importance to the sport”. Unlike many other organisations in cricket, the WCA has no need to tread carefully around the BCCI – the biggest national governing body of them all, and the financier of the global game – and its subservient satellites in England and Australia. As cricket hurtles into a future uncertain but for the inevitability of a finite calendar crowded by ever more franchise matches, players represented by the WCA should be taken more seriously than any other stakeholders in the game. Because without cricketers there can be no cricket. That seems obvious, but the increasingly outrageous tightness of scheduling means either the suits think players are robots, or the suits have never been players. The latter, which is true at all levels, in all countries and all too often for the good of the game, is a major cause of cricket’s biggest problems. It’s all very well for cricket’s consumers that the Champions Trophy ended 13 days before the IPL started. An almost uninterrupted supply of bat on ball at a broadcastable level is central to the modern game’s appeal, not least to satisfy the betting companies that have become prominent among cricket’s sponsors in many countries. But think of it from the player’s point of view and things are not so rosy. David Miller and Camilla Harris-Miller welcomed their first child into the world on January 30. Five days later Miller captained Paarl Royals in the first SA20 qualifier against Mumbai Indians at St George’s Park. Two days after that, Miller led Paarl in the second qualifier against Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Centurion – where he regaled reporters informally with his experience of some of the messier details of fatherhood, and judging from his glowing smile as he spoke he was plainly enjoying finding his way into one of life’s great adventures. Eleven days later, Miller was in the South African XI who took on Pakistan Shaheens in a Champions Trophy warm-up game in Karachi. His last Champions Trophy match was the semifinal against New Zealand in Lahore. Nineteen days after that he was in Visakhapatnam playing in the IPL for Lucknow Super Giants against Delhi Capitals. Barring injury, Miller will be in India until May 18 at least, and for another seven days should LSG reach the final. When Miller walked out at Vizag on Monday, his son had been alive for 54 days. The new father had spent at least half of those days either training, playing, or travelling to train and play. But, you say, Miller is paid what many would consider obscene amounts of money to do what he does. His career IPL earnings alone add up to almost USD 8.5-million. Consequently he and his family should want for nothing materially once he retires, which will be sooner rather than later considering he turns 35 in June. Thing is, people’s needs and wants go far beyond the material. Miller seems a well-adjusted, functioning, successful, admirable adult who treats those around him – reporters included – as he would want to be treated. Here’s hoping his son is granted enough of his father’s time in his young years to learn how to become the same kind of person.
