Steve Waugh exclusive: ‘Test cricket is pinnacle, but T20 cricket ensures financial stability’ | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Legendary Australia cricketer Steve Waugh says Test cricket may be facing increasing competition from the financial lure and packed calendar of T20 leagues, but its place at the top of the sport remains unquestioned among elite players.With franchise-based T20 leagues mushrooming across the globe, a new space is emerging for players who excel exclusively in the shortest format. While acknowledging the economic realities that make T20 cricket attractive and sustainable for players, Waugh, a two-time World Cup winner, stressed that Test cricket must continue to be treated as the pinnacle of the game, even as administrators work to balance schedules and build meaningful, high-quality T20 competitions alongside it.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Look, Test Cricket to me is still the ultimate form of the game. And you ask the top players what they want to play, they’ll all say Test Match Cricket,” Waugh told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“But at the end of the day, financially, T20 cricket is really fantastic for players and their families. It ensures stability and it gives them a regular income and a good income, it’s a shorter form of the game.“The authorities have got to work that out. Right now, there’s a structure in place for Test Matches and the schedule. So I really hope that Test Match Cricket will survive and can survive. I’m sure it will because the players want to play,” he added.“There’s work to be done. I mean, the schedule is always tricky. There’s (T20 leagues) so many competitions coming on board. You want it to be meaningful and successful. We want this to be a really good competition that people want to watch. It’s going to be competitive, but a fantastic standard. And it stands for itself. But at the same time, we still want to make sure that Test Cricket is the pinnacle of the sport.”After retiring from cricket over two decades ago, Waugh is owning a franchise in the European T20 Premier League. Waugh co-owns the Amsterdam Flames franchise with legendary Australian hockey Olympian Jamie Dwyer.“I’m learning quickly,” Waugh said when asked about the challenges of being a team owner.
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What do you believe is the pinnacle format of cricket?
“It’s a different challenge. I never thought I’d be a part of a franchise of the European T20 side in Amsterdam. That was like a million to one opportunity. I like to be stimulated, challenged, and excited by an opportunity. And this ticks all the boxes. So for me, it’s something I never thought I’d be doing. And I’m looking forward to the challenge.“It’s probably a lot easier than playing. I mean, you become an expert when you watch. That’s a lot easier watching cricket. You always get things right. But as a player, it’s not quite that easy. T20 is a game that I have never played. So for me, it’s a learning experience being involved in it as well,” he added.
