Todd Greenberg, CEO of Cricket Australia, has raised concerns that Test cricket may become financially unfeasible for certain nations. He has called for a focus on fewer, more prominent matches to preserve the format’s value. Greenberg believes that making Test cricket more exclusive will help maintain its prestige in the modern era.
Test cricket has been facing increasing challenges, particularly with the rise of T20 leagues and global tournaments, leaving many boards struggling. While matches between top teams remain competitive and entertaining, some of the cricket boards often lack the resources to support the demands of the five-day format.
“Not every country in world cricket needs to be committed to playing Test cricket, and that’s perfectly fine. If we force them to participate, we risk pushing some countries into financial trouble,” he told Reuters.
Earlier this year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) set up an eight-member panel to assess the viability of a two-tier World Test Championship. Led by new ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, this group was formed during the ICC’s annual meeting in Singapore.
Greenberg argues that quality should be prioritised over quantity in Test cricket. “Scarcity is an asset in Test cricket, not a challenge. We must focus on investing in the right areas where Test cricket matters and carries real significance.”
Greenberg has shown support for a two-tier system, which would rank teams based on performance to ensure more evenly matched contests. However, the proposal has met resistance from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which is concerned it might lose out on high-revenue fixtures against top teams like India and Australia.
“As England, we wouldn’t want to find ourselves in a situation where we slip into Division Two and miss playing against Australia or India. That simply can’t happen. We need to apply some common sense,” he said.