Only T20 can grow Cricket globally

[chewy]

I think most players, officials and fans will confirm Test cricket is top priority followed by ODIs and T20s (well most will admit in public). But Test cricket and to an extent ODIs will not grow the game globally.  

 

I am not sure what the exact ICC development model to grow the game of cricket globally is but one feels it is not working.

 

Maybe it is time for ICC to focus on T20 to spread cricket outside the current Test playing nations. They should continue to fund grassroots programs but at the same time starting funding/sponsoring domestic T20 cricket competitions in new frontier markets. In alot of these countries (and some current Test nations) officials struggle to get money to organise one day or four day games and to pay the players.

 

Considering the costs involved (rough estimates):

 

First Class game (4 days) - minimum 8 hours to hire ground per day (to include utilities, ground staff, lunch, tea break & drinks) 32 hours total, travel and accomodation (lodging for 4 days), umpire fees for 4 days, player match fees for 4 full days.

 

One day game (1 day) - minimum 8 hours to hire ground (to include utilities, ground staff, lunch & drinks only), travel (maybe 1 night accommodation required), umpires fees for 1 day only, player match fees for 1 full day only.

 

T20 game (4 hours) - minimum 4 hours to hire ground (to include utilities, ground staff, drinks only), travel (maybe 1 night accommodation required), umpires fees for 4 hours only, player match fees for half-day only.

 

You are probably looking at the cost of holding a T20 match at approximately 10% of full 4-day game, and 30% of full one day game. 

Also with t20 games, you can get 2 games in one day on the same ground.

 

ICC should look to fund/sponsor T20 competitions in countries like Ireland, Kenya, Afghanistan, Nepal, Fiji, PNG etc. Get it on TV in these new frontier countries (the short duration is more palatable for media companies).

 

I am not sure why cricket missed out on Olympics again, but next time maybe ICC should offer some funding (to IOC) to help host nation hold T20 cricket matches.

 

Already cricket is losing out to ever expanding Football, but now also to fast growing popularity in Basketball, Tennis and Rugby. 

 

Any thoughts how ICC can grow the game to attract more players, fans and media coverage globally?

 

Note: According to some research regarding popularity and impact of global sporting events (12 years upto 2014) cricket doesn't even feature in Top 10 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/30326825): 

Leading Sporting Events - from 'Global Sports Impact' project
Event/Host	Total Attendance	Total Athletes	Competing Nations	TV Nations
2012 Olympics - London	8,200,000	10,903	204	220
2014 Fifa World Cup - Brazil	3,400,000	736	32	219
2012 London Paralympics	2,700,00	4,237	164	115
2011 Rugby WCup - NZ	1,400,000	600	20	207
2014 CW Games - Glasgow	1,300,000	4,820	71	90
Winter Olympics - Sochi 2014	1,000,000	2,894	85	220
2013 World Student Games - Kazan	800,000	7,980	160	107
2013 World Games - Cali	500,000	3,000	101	120
2011 Pan American Games - Mexico	500,000	6,003	42	100
2014 Asian Games - Incheon	400,000	9,501	45	62
2013 World Athletics - Moscow	361,000	1,974	203	200
2014 Youth Olympics - Nanjing	350,000	3,500	204	160
2013 World Swimming - Barcelona	280,000	2,195	177	211
2014 Ryder Cup - Gleneagles	250,000	24	10	185

 

[Adi_91]

It is. But Test cricket is still the ultimate test of a player, the team. People recognize you in England and Australia if you are a good test player.

[vijay50]

4 hours ago, chewy said:

I think most players, officials and fans will confirm Test cricket is top priority followed by ODIs and T20s (well most will admit in public). But Test cricket and to an extent ODIs will not grow the game globally.  

 

I am not sure what the exact ICC development model to grow the game of cricket globally is but one feels it is not working.

 

Maybe it is time for ICC to focus on T20 to spread cricket outside the current Test playing nations. They should continue to fund grassroots programs but at the same time starting funding/sponsoring domestic T20 cricket competitions in new frontier markets. In alot of these countries (and some current Test nations) officials struggle to get money to organise one day or four day games and to pay the players.

 

Considering the costs involved (rough estimates):

 

First Class game (4 days) - minimum 8 hours to hire ground per day (to include utilities, ground staff, lunch, tea break & drinks) 32 hours total, travel and accomodation (lodging for 4 days), umpire fees for 4 days, player match fees for 4 full days.

 

One day game (1 day) - minimum 8 hours to hire ground (to include utilities, ground staff, lunch & drinks only), travel (maybe 1 night accommodation required), umpires fees for 1 day only, player match fees for 1 full day only.

 

T20 game (4 hours) - minimum 4 hours to hire ground (to include utilities, ground staff, drinks only), travel (maybe 1 night accommodation required), umpires fees for 4 hours only, player match fees for half-day only.

 

You are probably looking at the cost of holding a T20 match at approximately 10% of full 4-day game, and 30% of full one day game. 

Also with t20 games, you can get 2 games in one day on the same ground.

 

ICC should look to fund/sponsor T20 competitions in countries like Ireland, Kenya, Afghanistan, Nepal, Fiji, PNG etc. Get it on TV in these new frontier countries (the short duration is more palatable for media companies).

 

I am not sure why cricket missed out on Olympics again, but next time maybe ICC should offer some funding (to IOC) to help host nation hold T20 cricket matches.

 

Already cricket is losing out to ever expanding Football, but now also to fast growing popularity in Basketball, Tennis and Rugby. 

 

Any thoughts how ICC can grow the game to attract more players, fans and media coverage globally?

 

Note: According to some research regarding popularity and impact of global sporting events (12 years upto 2014) cricket doesn't even feature in Top 10 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/30326825): 

Leading Sporting Events - from 'Global Sports Impact' project
Event/Host	Total Attendance	Total Athletes	Competing Nations	TV Nations
2012 Olympics - London	8,200,000	10,903	204	220
2014 Fifa World Cup - Brazil	3,400,000	736	32	219
2012 London Paralympics	2,700,00	4,237	164	115
2011 Rugby WCup - NZ	1,400,000	600	20	207
2014 CW Games - Glasgow	1,300,000	4,820	71	90
Winter Olympics - Sochi 2014	1,000,000	2,894	85	220
2013 World Student Games - Kazan	800,000	7,980	160	107
2013 World Games - Cali	500,000	3,000	101	120
2011 Pan American Games - Mexico	500,000	6,003	42	100
2014 Asian Games - Incheon	400,000	9,501	45	62
2013 World Athletics - Moscow	361,000	1,974	203	200
2014 Youth Olympics - Nanjing	350,000	3,500	204	160
2013 World Swimming - Barcelona	280,000	2,195	177	211
2014 Ryder Cup - Gleneagles	250,000	24	10	185

 

ICC WC 2015, more than 1 million viewers in stadium and more than 1 billion in revenue.

http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/88460/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-gives-economic-boost-to-australia-and-new-zealand