Gilchrist: 'T20 can save Test cricket'

Date released: 25 June 2009

Delivering the 2009 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture former Australia star Adam Gilchrist described Test cricket as "redundant as the financial driver of the game".

Gilchrist spoke with passion about the future of cricket The modest Australian, famed for 'walking' (even when not given out) described himself as a "left-handed slogger", gave the annual MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture to a packed Indoor School audience at Lord's on Wednesday 24 June.

The focus of Gilchrist's speech was on the future of the game and, as a man who almost single-handedly redefined the wicket-keeper/batsman role, the audience listened with rapt attention.

A key part of his vision was seeing cricket, probably in the Twenty20 format, as an Olympic sport - spreading the reach of both the game and the Olympics movement.

It was where Twenty20 cricket slotted in to cricket's increasingly busy schedule that was the other focus of Gilchrist's speech:

"Most of us would agree that the 50-over game is slowly starting to feel the pinch. Diminishing crowds, diminishing interest in many countries and as a result diminishing financial returns for the game." Gilchrist said.

"Well some of you might be saying "so what?" Test cricket is the ultimate game and I never really cared much for One-Day cricket at all.

"And that would be fine except for one problem.

Gilchrist: "Test cricket is now redundant as the financial driver of the game" "Even its most ardent admirers would have to acknowledge that Test cricket is now redundant as the financial driver of the game. For the last 30 years, One-Day cricket has clearly been the financial engine of the cricketing world." he continued.

Still an ardent Test cricket fan Gilchrist added: "I am at heart a traditionalist, who firmly believes that Test cricket is the ultimate Test of a player’s and team’s ability."

Gilchrist envisioned a future in which the financial power and crowd-pulling ability of Twenty20 cricket could be harnessed to ensure the stability of cricket, in all formats, into the future.

You can read a full transcript of Gilchrist's Cowdrey Lecture or download the audio and listen back to it in full.