• Sportzyverse
• Cricket news
• 06/27/2024
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Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has voiced his concerns about the future of international cricket in the face of the rising popularity of franchise leagues. Taylor, who has been a stalwart for New Zealand across all formats, believes that international cricket should remain the pinnacle of the sport rather than adopting a soccer-like model where players primarily represent franchises.

Since the advent of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, franchise leagues have gained immense popularity, leading some players to prioritize their participation in these leagues over international duties. Taylor, however, feels this trend is detrimental to the global game.

The Crossroads of Cricket

Speaking on the 180 Not Out podcast, Taylor said, “I think it’s in for an interesting 5 to 10 years at an international level. We are seeing a lot of leagues pop up around the world, the international game is sort of suffering because of that. I think we are at a crossroads.”

He added, “I hope we can still have international cricket as the pinnacle and we don’t go into a soccer model where you play soccer for your franchise, and international afterwards. I hope it’s still international cricket [first] and then the franchise model.”

Taylor emphasized the need for cricket administrators to navigate these challenges wisely, ensuring that international cricket retains its primacy. He pointed out the uncertainty surrounding the sport’s future, urging a balanced approach to preserve the essence of international cricket.

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, also a guest on the podcast, echoed Taylor’s sentiments, describing the current state of cricket as a “mid-life crisis.” Pietersen highlighted the overwhelming amount of cricket being played, causing players to reconsider their commitment across formats.

“I think there’s a mid-life crisis happening in cricket. Players are starting to wobble between formats, they are thinking to play only one format. There is so much cricket happening at the moment,” Pietersen said.

He criticized the scheduling that sees major events closely following one another, diminishing the value of significant achievements. “I don’t like the fact that Australia can beat India at Ahmedabad last weekend, and the Indian headlines today saying ‘Our revenge against Australia’. It’s so quick. For me, this doesn’t stack up. You should be able to win a World Cup and enjoy the World Cup.”

Concerns for Test Cricket

Pietersen also expressed his concerns about the survival of Test cricket amidst the growing popularity of shorter formats and franchise leagues. He stressed the importance of marquee Test series, such as the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which he believes are crucial for the format’s future.

“My fear and worry is Test cricket. I hope Test cricket survives with the big nations. Here, there’s a huge marquee series, India vs England in a month’s time. Magnificent. The Ashes. Magnificent. India vs SA. Magnificent. If the politics can work, India vs Pakistan is huge, it breaks TV stations. Australia vs India is huge, the Border-Gavaskar trophy. All of these, the iconic [Test] series, I hope they survive, and they really thrive. But there’s so much cricket now. So much,” Pietersen concluded.

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Taylor and Pietersen’s insights underscore the need for cricket’s governing bodies to carefully consider the balance between international and franchise cricket. As the sport evolves, maintaining the prestige and integrity of international cricket will be paramount to its sustained success and global appeal.