Eoin: Short format threat to Tests is already a reality
Eoin Morgan fears the opportunity to salvage Test cricket’s primacy over short formats may already have been missed.
At 31, England’s white- ball captain played the last of his 16 Tests more than six years ago, and has already publicly acknowledged more than once that his international future is exclusive to 50 and 20-over fixtures.
He is nonetheless a notable voice in the debate about Test cricket’s status, and appears in little doubt that the threat from lucrative Twenty20 domestic franchise contracts is no longer a mere talking point but a present and future reality.
Two cases in point reside in his own England team following Alex Hales and Adil Rashid’s decisions in recent weeks to sign white- ball only contracts with their respective counties – and therefore effectively sacrifice any Test ambitions for the foreseeable future.
“Test match cricket has had a lot to worry about for quite a while now,” said the Irishman ahead of today’s ODI against New Zealand. “If something was going to be done about it, it probably should have been done already.”
Proposed measures to come to the aid of Test cricket have, of late, included the advent of day-night pink-ball fixtures and an inaugural four-day match.
Morgan senses, however, that a correction of player finances from global administrators may yet be the mosteffective policy.
“The best ideas probably being bandied around are putting most revenue behind the match appearances or actual prize money towards Test match cricket,” he said.
“Then there’s no influence on what format people choose, simply because of the money they might make.
“Their decision is all down to how good they are at that particular format.”
CROSS-COUNTRY
Welshman Kris Jones gave Dundee Hawkhill Harriers their first Scottish Men’s CrossCountry title since Peter Mccolgan in 1990, with an impressive display of front-running over a 10k course at Callendar Park, Falkirk.
The British orienteering international came home well clear of Shettleston Harrier Lachlan Oates with Andy Douglas (Inverclyde) third.
“I really enjoyed that,” said Jones. Despite being without the injured Andy Butchart, Central AC took the team title for an amazing eighth year in a row, led by former champion Ally Hay in fifth place.
Mhairi Maclennan from Beauly won the women’s 10k title for the first time, chased home by Edinburgh University teammate Steph Pennycook.
Anna Tait ( Victoria Park) was third.