Former Australia captain Ian Chappell: Players’ view vital too!

When Jonny Bairstow played a miraculous innings to help England claim a stirring victory on the final day of the second Test it confirmed Ben Stokes previously stated thoughts on captaincyStokes said that England needed to be more attacking It also proved that as much as a failure of technique under Joe Rootrsquos dubious leadership it was a positive team attitude that England were mostly lackingIt was a glimpse of what future players and fans could miss out on if the words of ICCrsquos chair Greg Barclay are proved prophetic In an interview earlier this month Barclay reasoned ldquoTherersquos not a lot we can dordquo when asked about the rapid expansion of T20 leagues around the cricketing worldLonger formats may sufferIn expounding his theory Barclay reckoned it would be bilateral cricket that suffered at the hands of T20rsquos popularity This is both an indifferent and financial view more than one of balance if T20 cricket prospers then according to administrators itrsquos the longer forms of the game that must automatically sufferThis overlooks the major problem with most cricket administrations They largely pay lip service to the opinion of current and retired players To evolve with a positive purpose cricket administrations should be but arenrsquot working closely with FICA the international players associationAlso Read lsquoWe have the self belief says Madhya Pradesh coach Chandrakant Pandit ahead of Ranji final vs MumbaiPlayersrsquo association neededFor instance India by far the largest cricket nation disturbingly doesnrsquot even have a playersrsquo associationThis major problem was highlighted when Australiarsquos women captain Meg Lanning rebutted Barclayrsquos statement ldquoWe want to be ambitiousrdquo she saidCricket administrations are anything but ambitious they slavishly follow the money trail and often shun moves that could be made in the best interests of the gameLong ago the administration should have organised an inclusive debate so the game planned properly for its future The playing of the game is always dependant on current players and itrsquos fans not the older variety If the modern version of Test cricket involves less playing days and a more attacking approach to provide entertainment then the older brigade shouldnrsquot be weeping and whalingCricket has to provide the public with a variety of styles so fans have a choice However the players should also have a say in what type of cricket provides the best entertainment and then itrsquos up to the administrators to properly sell each productTop level cricket is a professional game but itrsquos still administered in a very amateur fashion The basis of cricket administration is often predicated on platforms that are weary from age The game has long been a reactive kneejerk product heavily dependant on the media and the fans generally receive the type of game those people preferThis has resulted in administrators programming more and more T20 cricket with the longer formats naturally squeezed All this despite many young cricketers saying publicly Test cricket is the pinnacle and some fans being spectacularly entertained by the deeds of the more enterprising playersTest and 50over cricket are both very good games entertaining if they are well played However rather than spending time with cricketers to find out what was the best way to present their products the administrators have reacted with financial best interests uppermost in mindConsequently therersquos more T20 cricket greater emphasis on power along with a ludicrous combination of better bats with shorter boundaries Often bowlers are an afterthought virtually being left to ldquotry and figure it outrdquoMore T20 cricket likely If the likes of Barclay have their way then more T20 cricket will be programmed If that occurs it will mean eventually young players are virtually forced to choose a technique that provides for a lucrative T20 contract rather than aiming for a sound allround gameIf this occurs then the great sadness will be that teamsmdashboth men and womenmdashwill miss out on an opportunity to experience the thrill of Test competition Sadly fans will also be deprived of watching a gamemdashdespite itrsquos trials and tribulationsmdashthat has been acclaimed for well over a century