One of the issues taxing the minds of administrators is how to retain a cricketer’s interest in Test cricket. It is a complex issue because though the current lot of players and the cricketing associations waxes eloquently on how Test cricket is the pinnacle. However, their deeds prove otherwise.
For example, in a survey conducted last week, cricketers in New Zealand plumped for a contract with IPL as their most cherished objective. If this was alarming, consider the ‘late arrival of’ Gayle, Collingwood and Bopara for the Test that started today.
Closer home we had Dhoni skipping the Test series against the Sri Lankans in order to refresh himself for the ODI series that followed. (A point in his favour is that he was the Captain of the Indian ODI team).
We also have the examples of Scott Styris who retired from the longer format to extend his career. Similarly, Shaun Tait, the shirker, has also tested the waters by suggesting that his injuries may force him to concentrate on the shorter formats. This, to use a cliché, is the tip of the iceberg, we may very soon see many others follow suit.
It is painfully apparent that the money lavished on the cricketers by these proliferating T20 Leagues ( at the last count excepting our immediate neighbours, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, all cricketing nations conduct or propose to conduct one) have proved too tantalizing for them to ignore.
The need to cash in or to put it more prosaically, the need to spread the game and keep afloat has put the cricketing associations between the devil and the deep sea. Neither can they ignore the T20 phenomenon nor can they ignore Test cricket.
To address this particular issue, IPL announced grandiosely a clause in their contract that bars recently retired cricketers from joining the league. However, one wonders how Scott Styris managed to by pass this clause. Once again, it becomes obvious, that the associations, the supposed guardians of the sanctity of Test cricket connive to bypass these checks and balances.
Amongst other suggestions, one finds Collingwood’s suggestion to bring pay parity amongst all formats of the game excellent.
One can almost visualize the knee jerk reaction to this suggestion from the administrators. They are sure to trot out the age-old reason of lack of money. However, it will not hold water as they could plough back the proceeds they get from conducting these T20 leagues to Test cricket.
If that is not practical, why don’t they club sponsorship of all the formats together? For example, a television broadcaster bidding for the rights to telecast a T20 league should by default also bid for the rights for that year’s Test matches.
This is surely only one of the means to make up the difference; one believes there are other means to shore up the finances.
What do you think of Collingwood’s suggestion to bring parity in pay?
For example, in a survey conducted last week, cricketers in New Zealand plumped for a contract with IPL as their most cherished objective. If this was alarming, consider the ‘late arrival of’ Gayle, Collingwood and Bopara for the Test that started today.
Closer home we had Dhoni skipping the Test series against the Sri Lankans in order to refresh himself for the ODI series that followed. (A point in his favour is that he was the Captain of the Indian ODI team).
We also have the examples of Scott Styris who retired from the longer format to extend his career. Similarly, Shaun Tait, the shirker, has also tested the waters by suggesting that his injuries may force him to concentrate on the shorter formats. This, to use a cliché, is the tip of the iceberg, we may very soon see many others follow suit.
It is painfully apparent that the money lavished on the cricketers by these proliferating T20 Leagues ( at the last count excepting our immediate neighbours, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, all cricketing nations conduct or propose to conduct one) have proved too tantalizing for them to ignore.
The need to cash in or to put it more prosaically, the need to spread the game and keep afloat has put the cricketing associations between the devil and the deep sea. Neither can they ignore the T20 phenomenon nor can they ignore Test cricket.
To address this particular issue, IPL announced grandiosely a clause in their contract that bars recently retired cricketers from joining the league. However, one wonders how Scott Styris managed to by pass this clause. Once again, it becomes obvious, that the associations, the supposed guardians of the sanctity of Test cricket connive to bypass these checks and balances.
Amongst other suggestions, one finds Collingwood’s suggestion to bring pay parity amongst all formats of the game excellent.
One can almost visualize the knee jerk reaction to this suggestion from the administrators. They are sure to trot out the age-old reason of lack of money. However, it will not hold water as they could plough back the proceeds they get from conducting these T20 leagues to Test cricket.
If that is not practical, why don’t they club sponsorship of all the formats together? For example, a television broadcaster bidding for the rights to telecast a T20 league should by default also bid for the rights for that year’s Test matches.
This is surely only one of the means to make up the difference; one believes there are other means to shore up the finances.
What do you think of Collingwood’s suggestion to bring parity in pay?
7 comments:
odi and test in that order they will perish .
ODI will perish first. i think tests will survive on for a long time to come. i have myself lost interest in 50 overs matches after watching all these t20 matches.
as for pay parity, Collingwood is talking cock. He is simply jealous and realises that he can never make as much money as others do. So, this way of stirring the pot. His logic is, "if i cant get it, others shouldnt also".
lviss,
I am not as pessimistic as you are. All formats will survive provided the games are interesting and distinctly marketed.
Philip,
Collingwood is contracted to DD hence it is not a case of sour grapes.:)
this is the problem with cricket administration---previously they were played now they are marketed--marketing that is something that is not a commodity has its own twang to it--modi has changed the mindset of everyone about cricket.
lviss,
Now that the deed is done, how do we restore parity?
parity in pay is impossible because the pay masters are different .
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