Rodney Marsh wants �elite group� to oversee game
AGENCIES
AGENCIES, LONDON: Rodney Marsh, the former Australia wicketkeeper, longtime coach and selector, has called for crickets global funding to be overseen by an independent elite group to determine whether administrators are making the right decisions about its future. He also declared Test-playing countries should be suspended if they are deemed to be failing this task.
In a wide-ranging Cowdrey Lecture to a packed Nursery Pavilion at Lords, Marsh also reckoned cricket should place greater restrictions on the size and power of bats, but ease restrictions on ball tampering. Among other proposed changes to the game, Marsh argued for the return of the back foot no-ball law, and the reduction in the DRS to remove ball-tracking technology for lbw decisions.
Starting with his views on the Spirit of Cricket, Marsh offered a raft of suggestions to improve the game itself, but it was in his suggestion for oversight of the games governance and administration that he may have struck a nerve. The way cricket is run has been the subject of much scrutiny around the release of the documentary Death of a Gentleman, and Marshs views reflected discontent about how the game was not healthy enough outside the games most prosperous three nations.
While commending the rejigged ICC for committing $10 million to a Test match fund to subsidise the format in countries other than India, England and Australia, Marsh said the money in the game needed to be better utilised to help it to grow. He pointed to the long-standing struggle to draw crowds to Test cricket in South Africa, despite boasting the worlds top-ranked side, as evidence of his concerns. Free admission to Test matches for children was among his suggestions to grow fan interest and participation.
Along with the $10 million the ICC are giving to the seven countries maybe they should spend a little more by getting an elite group of people together to both suggest ideas and to actually review the way the money has been spent, Marsh said. It may take a little while to get it right in each country but it will become pretty obvious by attendances and revenue streams which countries have embraced ideas and spent the money wisely.
Sadly, those who dont comply and cant get Test cricket moving in their country should be temporarily suspended from playing further Test matches. Another member could then have access to the ICC funding and have the opportunity of playing Test match cricket. How can the Test match crowds in South Africa be so poor? They have a magnificent team with arguably the best fast bowler in the world and possibly the best batsman in the world. Yet no one goes to watch them play at home. Come on you guys get active, there will be a time when your product isnt that good and youll struggle to exist. I do believe there should be a DRS but Im afraid I have little faith in the ball tracking systems, Marsh said. I have witnessed too many predictions on what path the ball will take that just dont ring true to me. I may add they dont ring true to anyone who has played a lot of cricket.
