By Daniel Brettig
Global powerhouse India have stunned world cricket by being razed for 46 by New Zealand’s pace bowlers on a grassy pitch in Bengaluru, a matter of weeks before they will face similar challenges against Pat Cummins’ team Australia.
Home skipper Rohit Sharma chose to bat first against the Black Caps, only to be swiftly bowled by Tim Southee and then watch as high-class seamer Matt Henry (5-15) and tyro William O’Rourke (4-22) destroyed the Indian batting, resulting in their lowest ever Test total at home – all out inside 32 overs.
The Australians battled to defeat New Zealand in two Tests in similar conditions earlier this year, where Steve Smith was challenged at the top of the order. But the extraordinary scoreline in India has demonstrated that India will be very vulnerable to the moving ball this summer, after winning on these shores on each of their past two visits in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
New Zealand’s Matt Henry.Credit: AP
These incredible events unfolded after a day that underlined why his Indian summer is Australian cricket’s most important in decades.
Cricket Australia’s cash reserves are at a lower point than they ever got during the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning India’s visit for a revenue-raising season, followed by another bumper summer in 2025-26 for the Ashes, are key to their replenishment.
With $25 million in the bank and a $50 million loan facility, CA and its state association owners are desperate to wring as much revenue as possible out of these two seasons, with the goal of pushing the cash balance into the range of $70-$80 million in two years’ time.
Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj celebrate the 2020-21 Indian triumph that reverberated throughout the cricketing world.Credit: Getty
That sort of figure would provide a better bulwark against the kinds of cyclic fluctuations cricket has always coped with. CA is now also dealing with an increasingly unstable calendar, where privately-owned Twenty20 leagues are hoovering up players and money.
There was a hint of COVID throwback about CA’s annual general meeting, held remotely via video conference, and the slightly grainy figures of chair Mike Baird and outgoing chief executive Nick Hockley speaking on Zoom from the Jolimont boardroom. By their estimate, Covid cost CA $100 million in lost cash.
“Between $70 and 80 [million] is the expectation, so it’s obviously a huge uplift relative to where we have been, and all indications are that the summer is lined up to be a significant success, most importantly for fans and players, but obviously that has an impact commercially,” Baird said of what the next two summers would be worth in cash uplift.
“We’re very bullish about the next two, and it’s reflected in the forecast. This summer is going to be spoken about for years to come.”
Asked about any additional sources of revenue that may be found for cricket, Hockley referenced the provision of additional matches for broadcasters in coming years.
The 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England in March 2027 is not currently part of CA’s broadcast contract with Foxtel and Seven, so can be expected to generate an additional windfall in the tens of millions, plus plenty of additional match revenue in terms of ticket and corporate sales.
The other new content that is still being talked through by multiple countries is the creation of a new women’s T20 Champions League, revenue from which would be split between Australia, India and England.
Among CA’s financial declarations was the write-down of a payment of $1.7 million to Cricket ACT, an associate member of the central governing body that has in recent times faced legal claims related to the convicted sex offender and former coach Ian King.
NSW Premier Chris Minns with former premier and Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird, right, and Australian cricketers Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.Credit: Edwina Pickles
CA also disclosed the collection of more than $4 million in backpay from the BCCI in IPL participation fees, paid as compensation for overseas players taking part in the lucrative Indian T20 tournament.
Baird stated that the current search for a chief executive to replace Hockley was progressing, although “anyone that wants to come to this role for money is not the right person”.
Ahead of a round of International Cricket Council meetings to be held around the women’s T20 World Cup finals in the UAE, Baird also said discussions continued to establish a fund to help countries struggling to afford Test cricket.
“I’m confident we are going to do something to support Test cricket, and we can’t have a position where countries aren’t touring because of the cost,” Baird said. “There’s some very strong Test countries, there’s others who need support in terms of the financial position and just as importantly investment in the first-class game to continue Test cricket.
“So it is something we will be addressing. You’ve seen the incoming ICC chairman Jay Shah acknowledging that, and we have a meeting this weekend at the ICC, so that is something we’ll be discussing there. The ambition is to continue to have Test cricket thrive, and the more competitive countries you have, that naturally is going to support it.”
