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ICC, learn from IPL |
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By: Sanjjeev k samyal |
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Date:
2008-07-24 |
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Place: COLOMBO |
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Ishant Sharma celebrates after dismissing Michael Vandort during the first day's play of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday | The highly successful Indian Premier League has become a favourite punching bag for most Board officials and a convenient excuse for blaming all the ills plaguing the longer version of the game.
But the International Cricket Council General Manager Dave Richardson believes IPL has shown the cricket world how the game needs to be run. The main lesson Richardson feels that the IPL has taught the world is on marketing the game.
Great thing
"IPL is the best thing to happen to cricket. It is a big wake-up call. Look how well IPL was marketed. They must do the same for Test cricket and one-dayers.
"ICC organises the Champions Trophy and should have a five million dollar marketing budget and make things exciting. We have the best teams and the best quality," Richardson told MiD DAY.
He admitted that there are serious concerns about Test cricket's future.
For those who still believe Test cricket is all hale and hearty should have been present on the opening day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and India at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground yesterday.
The stands, the grass mounds, the corporate boxes and the members pavilion were empty.
But for the quality of action in the middle, it could have easily passed off as just another county game in some English town.
The former South Africa wicketkeeper said marketing was crucial for Test cricket's survival.
"T20 has made everybody realise that we cannot just sit back and think that Test cricket will survive. We have to prepare a proper context for it. We have to create a proper Test championship or league cricket and make sure we market it properly."
When a movie comes out we don't just get it out. There is the marketing trail that comes before the release and we must do the same," said Richardson.
Let 'em know
"Suppose there is a Test series coming up in South Africa then we have to market it properly so people are aware when there's a Test match on in their town. We have been spoiled for years," he added.
Richardson agreed that the success of IPL will force cricket board's to be more professional with their players.
"There will be increased pressure on them to talk to their players in terms of finances or reassurances. The planning has be to more professional."
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