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Ex-NRL leader has ambitious ideas for Australian cricket
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This involves tackling the ICC regarding contentious laws.
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The legislation has faced criticism from figures such as Steve Waugh and Joe Root.
Cricket
Australia
The newly appointed CEO of Cricket, Todd Greenberg, has announced his intention to eliminate what he refers to as the ‘most absurd regulation’ in the sport.
A mere month into his position, Greenberg has emphasized that eliminating poor delays during test matches is his primary focus. He believes it’s essential for the sport to align with contemporary standards and prioritize the audience experience.
“It’s a topic I’m deeply invested in, stemming from my initial premise of asking ourselves, ‘What industry do we belong to?'” Greenberg stated.
‘My view has always been we are in the entertainment business and so if we’re in the entertainment business that means we’re trying to make sure as many fans can enjoy their cricket as possible.’
Season after season, both crowded arenas and TV audiences have experienced frustration as games get interrupted by officials stopping play because of insufficient lighting conditions—even when artificial illumination is present at the venue.
Greenberg, who has moved from
Sydney
To Melbourne to assume the position, he thinks it’s time for international cricket to shoulder more responsibilities.
The disappointment we experience when leaving with poor lighting is that we might be among the few sectors still doing so, ‘ he stated.
Recently, this matter has led to significant disturbances in high-profile games.
In 2023, nearly 30,000 spectators at the SCG left frustrated as players departed the field two times because of poor lighting conditions during the Pink Test.
The ex-Australian skipper Steve Waugh voiced his irritation, stating, “Test cricket must recognize that there’s significant competition around, and failing to utilize lighting when play gets delayed due to poor visibility just doesn’t make sense.”
“Many dissatisfied viewers who can’t grasp the logic behind the lack of action,” Waugh commented.
According to present ICC regulations, an umpire must halt play whenever artificial lighting overtakes natural sunlight as the primary illumination source during a red-ball Test match.
However, Greenberg contends that the game ought to utilize the resources at hand, such as pink balls or advanced technologies, to ensure athletes remain engaged and active on the playing field.
I am a pragmatist and I grasp why this occurs as well as the challenges involved,” he stated. “However, our primary aim is to provide fans with the finest possible results.
‘It can be extremely irritating when you have to stop due to poor lighting conditions, especially since we could continue playing with artificial illumination available.’
This is an issue we need to tackle as a sport, not only Australian cricket, but cricket worldwide.
Greenberg thinks that the answer will necessitate contributions from players along with constant dialogue.
The players are integral to the solution, so we must ensure effective communication with them.
I understand that it won’t be fixed immediately, but honestly, it’s 2025, and we have the ability to operate under various circumstances—I’m sure we can figure out how to tackle some of these issues.
The urgency to take action intensified in 2024 during an Australia-Pakistan Test at the SCG when umpires halted play due to poor lighting conditions without employing a functional light meter.
As per the reports, the choice was made based on intuition – approximately 40 minutes prior to the actual rainfall.
Michael Vaughan, the ex-England skipper, was shocked. ” Seriously, is it really that risky? C’mon,” he remarked live on Fox Cricket.
One of my pet peeves about Test match cricket is that players often find ways to leave the field whenever they can.
He remarked, “Whether it’s T20 cricket or 50-over cricket, once you’re out there, keep going. It’s all about entertainment.”
The Australian Cricketers’ Association has likewise expressed interest in creating balls designed to reduce stoppages caused by lighting issues.
The issue is not new. Back in 2020, England captain Joe Root also called for change after a heavily disrupted Test in Southampton.
I’ve never witnessed a match impacted so significantly by poor lighting conditions as this one; it’s extremely annoying,” stated Root. “There definitely needs to be some kind of solution implemented at some point.
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