Michael Slater accuses Cricket Australia of killing Test cricket to schedule more Twenty20

[Karan114]

Michael Slater accuses Cricket Australia of killing Test cricket to schedule more Twenty20 cricket by: Tyson Otto The Daily Telegraph December 14, 2011 AUSSIE cricket great Michael Slater has taken aim at Cricket Australia (CA), accusing the governing body of "killing" Test cricket in order to replace it with more Twenty20. The Channel Nine commentator this morning said the exclusive scheduling of the Twenty20 Big Bash tournament from December 16 to January 28, during which no domestic 50-over or Sheffield Shield cricket will be played, is nonsensical and can only be detrimental to Australia's Test hopes against India this summer. Slater said on The Big Sports Breakfast radio show on 2KY that CA has completely forgotten about Test cricket, despite their claims they do want to see the longest form of the game thrive. "They're killing it. They're absolutely killing off Test cricket," Slater said. "They say that they want Test cricket to survive, that it is the traditional form of the game and should be nurtured. Do you think they're nurturing it?" Slater said CA's intentions to promote the revenue raising Twenty20 Big Bash tournament at the expense of Test cricket is obvious in the situation surrounding Sydney Sixers batsman and Aussie Test hopeful Ed Cowan. Cowan, who plays for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield, will have just one three-day game in a Chairman's side against India in Canberra from Monday to further press a claim for a baggy green. He will miss a two-day match against the tourists beginning tomorrow as he will be playing in the Big Bash opener against the Brisbane Heat at the SCG on Friday night. Other than two tour matches against the tourists, there are no further opportunities for state side players to press their claims for a spot in the Australian team. The way the schedule has been drawn means there will be no four-day cricket played between December 6 and February 2, a total of 58 days. Slater said CA have been so keen to establish a re-vamped Twenty20 competition to rival the Indian Premier League that they have been blinded by the affect it is having on Test cricket. "For me that attention is wrong," he said. Cricket Australia yesterday defended their scheduling of the Big Bash Twenty20 tournament immediately before the Boxing Day Test by saying no player out of the picture could have forced their way in. Also appearing on 2KY Cowan said there were issues that had not been addressed in the Australian cricket fixtures for this summer. However, he believes the two month break for Sheffield Shield means it is up to the individual players to maintain their red-ball form game during the Big Bash. "At the start of the year when the fixture list came out I actually wrote an article on Cricinfo saying it's disconcerting, more so for the bowlers," Cowan said of the Big Bash schedule. "There is a little bit of an issue, I guess it is up to the individual to realise if you are a chance to play Test Cricket then you have to stay fit and keep your red ball cricket very active." http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-slater-accuses-cricket-australia-of-killing-test-cricket-to-schedule-more-twenty20-cricket/story-fn67w6pa-1226221500483

[MCcricket]

Michael has balls to say what he sees, correctly:two_thumbs_up:

[Needforspeed]

Being Cricket fanatics most of us in ICF love Test Cricket. But how many of the General public are really bothered about Test Cricket. No sport can survive without public support. Because stadium spectators and TV audience directly translate into hard cash. Even today Test Cricket is not viable business by itself-it is cross-subsidized by ODIs and T20. One gets the feeling that in 10 to 15 years time Test Cricket will die a gradual death.

[Old guy]

i dont think test cricket will die... come on its matter of time when people would start getting bored of sixes ( i already am LOL) imo threat to test cricket isnt t 20 but flat tracks and negative approach by some teams if there were more matches like mumbai (day 5 ) in india im sure more people would watch it regularly i seriously dont get whts so good abt t 20 it was fun when it came cos it was different ipl was fun cos we saw people like dada and ponting in same teams which we never imagined before or for atleast me that was the attraction of ipl haydos playing with dhoni LOL i think t 20 or odis will die before tests :P

[achilles]

Man who slight others often hit self-goal.

[BERGKAMP]

OZ know they are **** at tests now and there is little chance they will improve so are shunning test cricket. Poor England, the one time they finally become a dominant force and the rest of the world is starting to put less and less emphasis on test cricket.