Test cricket is under threat from the various forms of one-day cricket and players are now retiring from international cricket, some prematurely, to be available for Twenty20 tournaments in India and chase the dollar.
Strong world governance, controlled dialogue and mutual decision-making are needed to prevent the game heading towards chaos, with players taking control by making choices as to their availability to play for their country or their involvement in the Indian Premier League or the ‘rebel’ Indian Cricket League. The world game has to be protected at all costs.
I am a traditionalist and, like many people, will always say that Test cricket is the ultimate challenge and the best form of the game to play and watch. But I am also a realist and acknowledge that one-day cricket is crucial to the game’s overall survival – it pays the bills and caters for a different type of spectator, therefore creating great interest and massive revenue through gate receipts, sponsorship and television rights to broadcast games. Financially I would assume the game is well-off and players are generally being well rewarded for their efforts.
I certainly do not blame the players for the decisions they make to play in India – given the same set of circumstances, if I was still playing, I would be very tempted to be part of it as well. With such large pay packets for a relatively short time, who would not want the opportunity to guarantee their financial future?
But players also need to acknowledge that it is the international game and playing for their country that has given them the opportunity to be recruited into the Indian leagues, and there still needs to be loyalty shown and responsibility to the global game. Some are ignoring that.
rest of entry here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2008/05/15/schadl115.xml
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