CA's proposal of separate T20 and Test teams will hinder quality players

A couple of major changes of tack proposed during the week have the cricket world resembling an America's Cup race rather than a game played on manicured green fields.


First, CEO James Sutherland was musing about the day an Australian Test team would be competing in one part of the world while the T20 side was performing elsewhere. If that wasn't enough to satiate the appetite for irony the BCCI then conjured up the notion of a string of ODI's against Australia disappearing into thin air and two Test matches and three fifty over games magically appearing in their place.

It seems the explosive growth in domestic T20 attendances has suddenly swayed Cricket Australia [CA] from the idea that Test cricket is priority number one and other forms of the game fall into line. While a number one Test ranking and a couple of ODI losses to Zimbabwe has caused amateur Indian magicians to think they're Merlin.

First up, let's consider the proposition of CA's CEO. The glaring weakness in the proposal is it would hinder the best players and reward one-dimensional cricketers.

For example take a young all-rounder like Stephen Smith; presumably his preference would be to play all internationals that involve Australia. He has the skills to succeed in this endeavour but with Sutherland's proposition he'd be forced to choose between playing in a Test series or a T20 tournament. Any player who has the desire and the pride in his performance to want to excel in both the long and short forms of the game should be encouraged to do so, rather than being forced to choose between the two at an early stage in his career.

Forcing someone to choose between playing Test matches and T20 is going to rob one set of fans of an opportunity to see a good cricketer. Pic/Getty Images

A player who only wants the challenge of playing in the shortest form of the game is either nearing retirement, lacking in some fundamentals or has a flaw in his temperament. This flaw will eventually surface in even the shortest form of the game and once it's exposed, players will circle like a shark scenting blood in the water.
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There's also the paying public to consider. Even if a good proportion of a T20 audience is attending mainly for the entertainment there are still a number who go to enjoy the cricket skills. Smith is the type of player who is a big drawcard for cricket fans because they're almost certain to see him performing at least one of his skills on any given day. Forcing Smith to choose between Test matches and T20 is going to rob one set of fans of an opportunity to see a good cricketer.

Then there's the vital question. Who is going to decide where the talented player performs?

Will it be the player himself, the selectors or one of the hangers on that attach to modern cricket teams like barnacles on a boat? I would hope if this situation does eventuate then at least the player would decide his own fate rather than being told what was best for his future.

It's bad enough that players might decide for themselves that the financial rewards of the T20 game dictate they should concentrate on the shorter version without administrators forcing them to make that career choice.
Players would be entitled to ask the question, preferably sooner rather than later; is this the conclusion of administrators devoid of the will to devise an itinerary that accommodates players who desire the ultimate challenge to prove themselves a good all-round cricketer?

Having hinted at a change of heart it'll be interesting to see how CA react if the BCCI does propose a balanced tour itinerary for later this year. Will they decide it's great preparation for an Ashes series or will the thought of a couple of defeats on spinning pitches condemn the idea as too risky in the lead up to a clash against the "Old Enemy"?

And what has prompted the BCCI to suddenly discover the worth of a balanced tour itinerary over playing a string of revenue producing ODI's that also win votes from local officials who crave international matches?

It's hard not to be slightly cynical after hearing both these propositions. After all, as former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating once said; "Always back self-interest at least you know it's a goer."

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