WCC: Exclusive interviews
Date released: 16 July 2009
Following their meeting at Lord's on Monday and Tuesday the MCC World Cricket Committee's (WCC) 'all-star cast' spoke to Lords.org about their ideas for the future of cricket.
World Cricket Committee chairman, Tony Lewis spoke about the need to keep Test cricket as the pinnacle of the sport through marketing as well as the implementation of a World Test Championship:
Tony Lewis has ambitious plans for cricket "We need to get the product right - relaunch it and market it." Lewis said after the WCC meeting.
"It sounds like IPL [Indian Premier League] talk I know, but we feel the longer form of the game needs love and attention and we have to look at that."
South Africa's leading wicket-taker and WCC Member Shaun Pollock addressed the proposal of day/night Tests to reinvigorate interest in the longer form of the game:
"If you can play night cricket or one day cricket in the evening there's no reason you can't play Test cricket - I think it would add to the game.
"The key is to make sure the basics and fundamentals of Test cricket aren't changed in any way. With those adjustments put in place it won't have any impact."
Dravid: "You don't want to die wondering" Former India captain, Rahaul Dravid is also on the WCC and spoke about the need to convert new followers of Twenty20 cricket into followers of Test cricket too:
"Twenty20 does bring new spectators to the sport - the challenge is to convert some of these into followers of the Test Match game.
"The players I know love Test cricket and want to play Test cricket - and they want people to come and watch them play Test cricket.
"Most players would be happy to see efforts made to bring more people into the grounds. An effort has got to be made - you don't want to die wondering."
Waugh: IPL has been "phenomenal" After the success of competitions such as the IPL and the recent ICC World Twenty20 the committee also discussed the marketing of Test cricket and how it can be improved - something former Australia captain and WCC member Steve Waugh said:
"We've also seen what great strides the IPL has made in just two years - it's been phenomenal.
"It's not everyone's cup of tea but they've done it very well and professionally and if you're smart you're going to follow some of the concepts that they've done."
Is the success of Twenty20 cricket a threat to the future of the longer form of the game? Another former South Africa Test player and WCC member, Barry Richards feels it could be:
"There's three or four months where there's no Test cricket, to try and create this window for Twenty20 - so it is a major, major concern.
"It [Twenty20] has really captured the imagination but I think we all realise it has to be managed carefully - you mustn't kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
The dip in entertainment value of Test cricket and the continual struggle to find the right balance between bat and ball was also addressed by the committee.
MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson discussed the committee's thinking on this topic:
Stephenson: "Balance has shifted too much towards the bat" "What we came out with was the lack of pace in pitches throughout the world. It's what this committee is all about - addressing issues not just in England but throughout the world.
"We'd urge the ICC to look into this - what creates pace in pitches? At Lord's we feel the ball carries through pretty well - not every time but pretty well.
"As a general overview of the world game we feel the balance has shifted too much towards the bat.
"One could argue there isn't the talent and depth of bowling skill around as there has been over the last 10 years - there are lots of contributry factors.
"But the pitches that really is where the game starts and finishes - if you don't have good pitches you don't have good entertainment."