Kiwi tells of a brave new world
THIS Ashes series needs a big finish. A plot twist, a shock hero, a hat-trick, a crazy ploy ... something, anything.
The last thing Test cricket needs in Sydney today is a repeat of the great Bore War in Melbourne or anything close.
When you endure snoozefests like Melbourne, the prediction of former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as to what Test cricket will look like in 15 years comes into focus.
“It could well be global franchises which contract players for three, four or 10-year periods a la football and they are released to play for their countries,’’ McCullum said.
“Maybe not Australia, or England because they have the finances to pay the players competitively but the other countries are definitely at risk. A lot of the national contracts are one-year deals. You can pick up three-year deals in a lot of these T20 competitions.
“I genuinely believe society is demanding something different. That is what we are seeing with the T20 not just at the stadiums but on television.’’
Cricket fans know they’ve had a great Ashes when they finish watching the last Test feeling they’ve just eaten that delicious ice cream which has them craving one extra bite.
This one effectively ended in Perth and has been dragging its heels ever since.