Here in Australia they only make money on series involving India or England and domestically, the BBL.

The BBL expansion has been criticised, it has resulted in reduced crowd averaged and some of the big international names have gone to the Bangladesh league rather then the BBL.

International cricket is also stagnating, the recent cancellation of Bangladesh touring here on commercial grounds is an example.

The reduction of the 50 over world cup to 10 teams (to maximize India's number of games) is so shortsighted its not funny and the class systen of Test/ODI/T20I status is also shortsighted, it's an elitist approach that isn't going to help grow the game at all.

I think cricket is built on a house of cards and it all could easily fall over, thoughts?

I am a fossil of a dinosaur who is only interested in one form of cricket- Test cricket. Anything short of that I'd much rather watch MLB.

I think one of the white ball formats, maybe 50 over as it seems to be the most on the nose. There also needs to be more context to series, the ashes for example has history on it's side to keep people interested but the recent Sri Lanka series had absolutely no context, I doubt casual cricket fans will remember it even happened bu next summer.

Maybe splitting teams into 4 team divisions, 3 or even 5 match series both home and away over a 3 year period, points awarded for both individual matches and overall series, at the end of the period last in div 1 relegated to div 2, div 2 winner comes up, 3rd in div 1 hosts a 1 off play off test vs div 2 second for a spot in div 1, the same rolling down through the divisions.

Playing over 3 years and with 3 test series would still allow series such as the Ashes to be played.

Current divisions would be Div 1. India, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia. Div 2 England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies. Div 3 Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland.

Could even allow some of the current non test nations to make up lower divisions.

Test cricket is the only form of cricket, the rest is all Mickey Mouse stuff

TIGER wrote: Test cricket is the only form of cricket, the rest is all Mickey Mouse stuff

I agree but series like the recent Sri Lanka series do not help the cause, test cricket is only compelling viewing if all 4 results are still realistically possible in the 4th innings, the first SL test was over after the second innings and the 2nd by stumps day 1.

Tlazolteotl wrote: But frankly I am amazed that Test cricket has survived this long. A five day sport which might not produce a winner- absolutely bonkers. Frankly I amazed that I like it.  But only if it looks like being a contest. I didn't watch of ball of the Bangla Desh series. Oh, it was Sri Lanka not Bangladesh. That's how little interest I had in it The trouble with cricket is that hardly any serious sporting nations play it at a serious level.

AH Miss Perry your a delight to watch, classy lady.

Very true AA, ......like one hand clapping was the response I got for that little bit of berly I threw out lol, appears not many here watched her maiden ODI century 107 n.o. she's our female version of the great Keith Miller, they don't come along very often and when they do, it's poetry in motion imo.

Keith Miller came from these parts I believe ??

I wouldn't bother watching the Pakis either.

Business is business.

Guaranteed to meet the total attendance in Brisbane on the very first day. Or two.  

WHALE!!! ... clean up in aisle one!

Here you are Doc, although facts have never proven to be of any use to you.

Need to try something different with test matches. Make them 4 days with 4 sessions per day.