Last Updated on 10 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Cricket Australia (CA) has made it clear that the Big Bash League’s growing commercial ambitions will not come at the expense of the country’s traditional Test summer. CA is looking to bring private investment into BBL clubs, but potential investors have been warned the competition will continue to be played alongside Australia’s Test schedule for the foreseeable future.
The assurance comes a day after CA’s decision to allow private ownership in the BBL for the first time. The Melbourne Renegades are expected to be the first club to go to market, with other states to follow and test investor interest.
There are, though, still questions about the finer details of the plan, while discussions between CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association over a new Memorandum of Understanding are some way from completion.
RELATED: Major change: Cricket Australia to proceed with BBL privatisation plan
CA has planned changes to the BBL but has emphasised that Test cricket will remain the priority for centrally-contracted Australian players. The Boxing Day Test and New Year’s Test will both remain a feature of the Australian summer, with CA confirming both matches are protected under its existing broadcast commitments and the next Future Tours Program.
Todd Greenberg: Test cricket will be written in the BBL privatisation rules and regulations
“Let me be crystal on that in the details, centrally contracted Australian players’ primacy is Test cricket, and that is written in the rules and regulations that any buyer will know,” said CA CEO Todd Greenberg.
Greenberg and chair Mike Baird said on Tuesday in Sydney that the BBL’s move towards private investment would not affect the country’s traditional Test season. “We’ve anchored the Boxing Day Test and the Sydney Test into this schedule right through to the end of our contractual obligations in 2032,” Greenberg said.
Baird was asked directly how CA would react if a private investor insisted on Australian Test players being available for the BBL instead of playing Test matches for the country. He said they need to abide by the schedule.
“If you want to be a partner, here’s the schedule currently, and we decide what the schedule is. It’s a very basic protection that’ll be there every step of the way,” Baird said.
“I think that any new partner would understand in terms of the current schedule, the [BBL TV] viewership is often highest in those matches that followed the Test match. So there’s a benefit to them in terms of their league’s viewership and a strong alignment of interests.
“We’re not saying there aren’t risks. There are. You’ve got to be practical and realistic there. We will be very clear upfront that if you want to participate, here are all the protections that we have, and anyone coming in, that’s what they’ll be. We’ll have the control of those protections,” he said.
Greenberg again restated the fact when media personnel asked him whether private investors would have access to contracted Test cricketers. “Let me be clear on that in the details, centrally-contracted Australian players’ primacy is Test cricket, and that is written in the rules and regulations that any buyer will know,” he said.
“We’ve baked the decision-making in the governance of the sport with Cricket Australia. People are coming in at a club level. Of course, they’re going to have a big voice. Of course, they’re going to have opinions, and we’ll respect all those opinions, but we make the decisions on behalf of Australian cricket.”
However, it is unclear what priority Test cricket will hold beyond the next six years.
“Cricket Australia has countered such concerns with vague reassurances that Test cricket will remain a priority, and that it will retain key decision-making powers,” read a hard-hitting opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review earlier this year.
“But investors paying around half a billion dollars for franchise stakes will surely demand real governance rights such as vetoes over key scheduling, branding, and player access decisions.”
Cricket NSW is one opponent of CA’s privatisation plan, stating that structural reform is more important than private investment at this stage. It remains to be seen whether the governing body can get all states on board.
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