Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned that some cricketing nations risk going “bankrupt” if they continue to prioritise Test cricket over shorter, more profitable formats.

Greenberg, who took charge in March, said the traditional format should be staged selectively in markets where it retains high value. Citing the Ashes as an example, he argued that “scarcity is our friend, not our foe,” and suggested not every International Cricket Council (ICC) member needs to aim for regular Test fixtures.

Test cricket has been losing ground globally to one-day internationals and the lucrative Twenty20 competitions, including the Indian Premier League. Greenberg said the game must focus its resources on matches that “mean something” and carry genuine stakes for fans and players.

His remarks come as the West Indies, once the most feared Test side in the 1970s and 80s, grapples with a sharp decline. Following a humiliating second innings of just 27 runs in their recent series loss to Australia, the Caribbean side held a two-day crisis summit involving greats Brian Lara and Clive Lloyd.

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Lara described the review as “long overdue,” stressing that rebuilding will require small, consistent steps. “It’s a long road… not something that’s going to happen tomorrow,” he said, urging immediate action to restore competitiveness.

While the West Indies hope to rise again, Greenberg cautioned that for some nations, it may already be too late to sustain Test cricket without risking financial collapse.

Source: Agency