Australia’s total domination of world cricket is endangering the sport, according to Malcolm Gray, the outgoing chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“On many occasions I have put it to the Australian Cricket Board that they are living in a fool’s paradise,” said Gray, to The Australian newspaper. “Their team is the best team in the world undoubtedly, they are financially secure, their administration is at least equal to the best in the world. It is very easy in Australia to have a rosy view of cricket and not realise the problems internationally. It’s a very serious problem.”
Gray said that the one-sided nature of many cricket matches was undermining public interest in the game. Australia won the cricket World Cup in South Africa earlier this year and have dominated one-time powerhouses England and the West Indies in their last two Test series.
When they return from their current West Indies tour, Australia’s remaining Tests for the year will be against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, the minnows of the game.
“Previously the Australian public has loved the Australian team playing so well and winning everything,” Gray said. “However, I maintain that eventually the Australian public will tire of that and we may be on the cusp.”
Gray notably pointed to the strong public criticism at home of perceived poor sportsmanship by Australian players during the West Indies tour – particularly an invective-filled outburst by Glen McGrath against Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Gray said that the biggest challenge facing the sport was to help promote the game in struggling Test nations “to ensure that there is a greater evenness within the competition”.
What a bunch of hogwash. Everybody loves a winner and we love watching Australia kick butt. At least I do. They have raised the bar and other nations must improve fast. Go Aussie Go !
All in favor of keeping Malcolm Gray in a sound-proof room for eternity say Aye!
The One day matches are not as competetive as they once used to be (too many one sided affairs nowadays) but Australia has nothing to do with it. I am too sleepy to think of a reason, but I think it's all too frequent batting collapses that are resulting in one sided matches.
Also too many minnows are playing at the international level now. Unlike New Zealand and Sri Lanka, they are not really willing to improve quickly despite all the exposure they are getting.
By the way, when are we going to strip Bore-a-Desh of their test status so they can concentrate on less humiliating (for them) soccer?
Well I for one can can never get tired if Pakistan was winning non stop. Aistralians have proved that they are the best team in the world but they are not unbeatble. West Indies just proved that. South Africa, India, Pakistan, Srilanka & New Zealand are fully capable of defeating Australia. Malcom Gray just want to say something or the other to stay in the news.
yeah its great fun watching the winners. i still enjoy the great cricket played by westindians from 80's every time i watch it. same with old glorious moments of pakistani cricket.
but funguy does not it suck when u subscribe a test match of five day at pay per view and aussies finish it in three day?
with bara-a-desh, i read a news the other day according to which ICC does not plan to take their status back
Yes the article has been posted here at GS, ICC has no plans of taking the Bangladesh's test status back, infact they are trying to iprove the standard of cricket in the country.
As far as Test's finishing within three days, well if Pakistan beat someone in three days I'd still be happy about it and wont mind watching it on PPV. But I normally wont subscribe to matches between Pakisatn and Bangladesh. I mean they are such a pathetic team its not even fun watching them play.
australia keeps winning because they continue to be the best. no one is even remotely close to their talent, professionalism and consistency. so the onus is on other sides to get better, sides like SA, pak, ind, among others. australia is beateble, but they dont really hv any legitimate opposition these days. the way they're playing, even thou they lost last couple games in WI, they mite just take the next world cup as well.
The rest of the pack better play catch-up pretty fast. Raising the competitive level of the game is a major contribution they've made to the international arena. Good on them, and hope they continue to surge ahead.
I just don't understand what he expects the Aussies to do about their winning streak. Should they lose to Bangladesh and Zim? Would that make it better?
I don't think his comments are really fair on the players either. They work their butts off and he's saying that they're only winning because of good circumstances.
The other teams will just have to raise their standards if they want to meet the Aussies on an equal playing field.
Instead of blaming the Aussies, maybe he should criticize other teams for their lack of decent domestic structures.
Countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, both have a pretty horrible system of grooming their youngsters, maybe they can invest some money into poorer countries and help make their domestic circuit decent enough.