New Delhi: Australia skipper Pat Cummins wants a fresh look at fixture scheduling to help players make choices regarding their workload.
With the advent of franchise T20 cricket, players are increasingly opoting to play 20-over format over the trditional five day format.
The cash-rich T20 cricket leagues are shorter in duration and are physically less demanding while paying much more compared to national cricket boards.
Hence Cummins feels dedicated windows for Tests and T20 tournaments such as the Indian Premier League will enable players to make better choices.
“Franchise cricket for some countries is more lucrative, more appealing than international cricket,” Cummins was quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.
“If I went and played franchise cricket, I could probably be away for a half or a third of the amount we are for Australia.
“In Australia, Test cricket is from November to January, and basically, no other cricket is going to get in the way of us playing Test cricket then. If we can have specific windows for IPL, but then also Test windows, that makes the decision-making for the players a lot easier,” Cummins said while speaking at the MCC World Cricket Connects 2024 at Lord’s.
The IPL is now played at a specific window of April and May, when not too many Test matches are scheduled but the World Test Championship final are scheduled just a week after it.
The 2025 WTC final is scheduled to be held in June, just after the completion of IPL, leading to Cricket Australia chairman Mike Bird urging to protect test cricket.
“Do you have a smaller amount of Test-playing nations that are sustainable, as opposed to trying to prop up a system with additional cost that is adding to the economic challenges of maintaining Test cricket?” he asked.
Bird said Australia will continue to support Test cricket and stribe to keep it in a healthy state.
“We (Cricket Australia) don’t feel (we) should dictate to any country, but we’re open to ideas and proposals on how to support Test playing full stop.
“There’s a summer to fill, and white-ball cricket can play a role, but (Test cricket) still remains the dominant game in Australia. It is very clear Australia will support and invest and grow Test cricket opportunities as long as we possibly can,” he added.
With the advent of franchise T20 cricket, players are increasingly opoting to play 20-over format over the trditional five day format. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
