In 10-15 Years I Still See Test Cricket Being An Integral Part, It May Be That There Is Less Of It – ICC Chairman Greg Barclay

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Greg Barclay has said that although he feels Test cricket will be an integral part of the game in coming years there will be a reduction in the volume of Test cricket.

The domestic T20 leagues are getting increased every year and as a result, there will be a critical challenge in front of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in deciding on the next Future Tours Program.

ICC Teams  Rankings | ICC Players Rankings

Meanwhile, Barclay, who was appointed as ICC chairman in November 2020, said that there will be a squeeze in bilateral cricket and Test cricket with domestic cricket leagues increasing.

“There is a men’s and women’s event every year and the growth of domestic leagues are forcing things from the bottom and … what is getting squeezed is bilateral cricket and so we are trying to fit everything in,” Barclay told BBC’s Test Match Special during the ongoing first game of the three-match series between England and New Zealand at Lord’s.

“There will be some unfortunate consequences from a playing experience and a revenue point of view for some of those countries who won’t get the amount of cricket they might hope to have and they won’t get exposure, particularly against India and to a lesser extent Australia and England. So we will see a squeeze.

“In 10-15 years I still see Test cricket being an integral part (of the game), it may be that there is less of it,” he added.

Greg Barclay Feels India, Australia, England Will Remain Unaffected And Play Test Cricket As They Are Playing Now

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Greg Barclay said that several countries may play less Test cricket in the future but the “big three” of world cricket – India, Australia, and England – will remain unaffected and they will play Test cricket as they are playing now.

“Some countries may have to make room and play less Test cricket. Some of the smaller full members will have to accept that they can’t play the amount of Test cricket that they wanted to, so we may see a lessening of that – four or five a year – whereas England, Australia and India, I think, will be playing Test cricket as they are now.”

Greg Barclay further said that he doesn’t think that the women’s Test cricket will evolve at any particular speed.

“To play Test cricket, you’ve got to have structures domestically that allow you to play long-form cricket and they don’t really exist in any of the countries at the moment, so I can’t really see women’s Test cricket or long-form cricket evolving at any particular speed at all,” he said.

“That’s not to say that those countries that choose to play Test cricket – Australia and England – who provide that to the women can’t do so, but I don’t see it as part of the landscape moving forward to any real extent at all.”

Meanwhile, Greg Barclay also opined that white-ball cricket is the future of the game as it attracts fans and broadcasters.

“If you look at strategically the way that cricket is going, there’s no doubt that white-ball cricket, short-form cricket, is the way of the future. That’s the game that’s sought after by fans, that’s where the broadcasters are putting their resource, it’s what’s driving the money,” Barclay concluded.

Also Read: The Position Of England’s National Selector’s Job Could Be Revived, Ian Bell Is The Front-Runner For the Role – Reports

Get All Cricket match prediction and fantasy Tips – CLICK HERE

Cricket Match Prediction | T20 World Cup Match Prediction | Today Match Fantasy Prediction | Fantasy Cricket Tips | Cricket News and Updates | Cricket Live Score