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Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley on Saturday refuted reports that India, England and his organization had not paid attention to a draft submitted to the International Cricket Council to save Test cricket. A Sydney Morning Herald report said the three powerful boards of directors dismissed a document compiled by New Zealand Cricket president Martin Snedden, who proposed a review of the future tours program (FTP) to save the longest version of the game. “Categorically, I think there were some erroneous reports about that. Certainly the discussions I’m in at the moment are thinking about how we can optimize the schedule and how we can continue to grow cricket around the world,” Hockely told SEN. Cricket.
The changes proposed in the draft document include additional windows for T20 leagues other than the Indian Premier League, alteration in the World Test Championship points system, 40-over ODIs, apprehensions over T20Is and an effort to pool the income from transmission rights for bilateral series.
Hockley, when asked about the report, denied suggestions that powerful nations were turning a blind eye to Test cricket, saying he had met Snedden during the first Test between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington and conveyed to him that Australia was very committed to helping. ICC ensures that all three formats thrive.
“We had a great meeting with Martin (Snedden) here yesterday (Friday in Wellington),” Hockley said.
“We are very involved in that work. I think in Cricket Australia we have a good influence and I think we have a very important role to play around the ICC in terms of the driving strategy.
“I think Cricket Australia has been behind a lot of the developments. Whether it’s the introduction of the World Test Championship. I’m on the FTP working group with the ICC and making sure we keep all three formats healthy and strong, which We are growing the game in all territories,” he added.
Noting the growth of cricket around the world, Hockley said countries like the United States had also embraced the game and would be co-hosting the T20 World Cup with the West Indies later this year.
“It’s just brilliant to see the way the T20 World Cup has been embraced in the US. I understand ticket sales were 20 times oversubscribed than when they launched.
“So I think cricket has a great opportunity to have a format strategy where all formats play a role and they all fit together. That’s really the essence of the work that Martin has started. It’s up to all of us as members to work together to make sure we keep moving forward,” he added.
Hockley added that Australia had great respect for the World Test Championship and that men’s Test cricket was its most prized possession.
“In practice, it is about ensuring that greater importance is given to the World Test Championship so that each Test series has context.
“I think it’s about looking at the economic viability in different territories and how do we make sure it’s economically viable for those countries where it’s not (currently). Still, for Australia… men’s Test cricket is the most valuable. So, it’s really working together.
“Then, in the calendar, you try to configure the calendar so that there is room for all three formats,” he concluded.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated channel.)
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