ECB chairman Giles Clarke believes England could play host to Test matches between Asian countries as part of its commitment to supporting the five-day game.
Clarke points out that matches between, say, Sri Lanka and Pakistan would be unlikely to attract big crowds in either of the participating countries. But if they were to be played in England, the drawing power could be much greater.
“Indeed it might be said that Pakistan might get a better crowd in Leeds than in Karachi,” Clarke says in a feature on the future of Test cricket in the November issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine. “It’s something we are considering, how we play these types of games and where we can play them. I like the idea of providing the opportunity with our fabulous grounds and our huge ethnic minority populations who are keen to see their own heroes. And it may be in the interests of cricket; that’s the most important thing for me.”
Clarke’s suggestion comes at a time of increased uncertainty over the scheduling of Tests, with the emergence of Twenty20 cricket leading to doubts over Sri Lanka’s tour of England next spring and, in Pakistan’s case, security concerns for visiting teams.
Clarke says that the ICC must rise to the challenge of protecting Test cricket. But he tells TWC: “Clearly I can’t speak for anyone else internationally. Other countries do things slightly differently from us because of the economics from their point of view. We have to respect that but I doubt very much whether we will play fewer than five Tests against Australia and we have negotiated ‘icon series’ status with South Africa and will play five Tests there on our next tour.
“There is a strong awareness within the ICC of how important Test cricket is and of the importance of looking after it. There is only so much I can do.”
The November issue of The Wisden Cricketer, the world’s best-selling cricket monthly, is on sale at leading outlets from Friday 17 October.
Clarke points out that matches between, say, Sri Lanka and Pakistan would be unlikely to attract big crowds in either of the participating countries. But if they were to be played in England, the drawing power could be much greater.
“Indeed it might be said that Pakistan might get a better crowd in Leeds than in Karachi,” Clarke says in a feature on the future of Test cricket in the November issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine. “It’s something we are considering, how we play these types of games and where we can play them. I like the idea of providing the opportunity with our fabulous grounds and our huge ethnic minority populations who are keen to see their own heroes. And it may be in the interests of cricket; that’s the most important thing for me.”
Clarke’s suggestion comes at a time of increased uncertainty over the scheduling of Tests, with the emergence of Twenty20 cricket leading to doubts over Sri Lanka’s tour of England next spring and, in Pakistan’s case, security concerns for visiting teams.
Clarke says that the ICC must rise to the challenge of protecting Test cricket. But he tells TWC: “Clearly I can’t speak for anyone else internationally. Other countries do things slightly differently from us because of the economics from their point of view. We have to respect that but I doubt very much whether we will play fewer than five Tests against Australia and we have negotiated ‘icon series’ status with South Africa and will play five Tests there on our next tour.
“There is a strong awareness within the ICC of how important Test cricket is and of the importance of looking after it. There is only so much I can do.”
The November issue of The Wisden Cricketer, the world’s best-selling cricket monthly, is on sale at leading outlets from Friday 17 October.
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