CA refusing to lock in Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests to ensure “maximum value” for cricket
Peter Roach, head of operations and scheduling at Cricket Australia, has moved to clarify his comments surrounding the future of the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests being held at the MCG and SCG respectively.
Cricket Australia released the 2023/24 summer schedule on May 14 and whilst Sydney and Melbourne will host their traditional Test matches against Pakistan, Roach refused to rule out the possibility that the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests could find new homes the following year.
Roach said that the suggestion that the Test matches were available to the highest bidder was incorrect and Cricket Australia are continuing to work with venues about locking in fixtures for next summer.
“Up for sale would be a strong word,” Roach said on SEN 1170 Mornings.
“We just don’t have locked-in agreements from our venues and governments for Test matches going forward.
“Although, we have seen Gather Round in the AFL and Grand Finals negotiated for greater outcomes of the sport.
“We know that we can do similarly for cricket.
“There’s nothing wrong with the MCG or the SCG (because) we get great support and crowds at those venues.
“We are just trying to get the maximum value of the sport that flows down to all participants in Australia.”
Roach also defended CA’s decision to start the Test match summer in Perth despite only 42,000 people attending the first Test against the West Indies last year across all five days.
Roach said that a number of factors last season resulted in poor crowd numbers at Optus Stadium and that it wasn’t a true indication of WA’s support of the Australian cricket team.
“It was a condensed start to the schedule last year,” he continued.
“We had to start (the Perth) Test on a Wednesday during the school term which was challenging.
“This year it starts closer to Christmas, on a Thursday and against a strong Pakistan team.
“We need to build Perth because it’s a huge stadium with a large and passionate crowd.
“We want to build it into next summer where they are likely to get a match like India and England.”
Australia will host Pakistan for the first three Tests of the summer before the West Indies return for two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane.