Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley has denied reports suggesting that India, England and Australia (collectively known as cricket’s Big Three) did not give much weight to a draft submitted to the International Cricket Council to save cricket from proof.
A recent report by Australian news outlet Sydney Morning Herald claimed that the draft was compiled by New Zealand Cricket president Martin Snedden. In his draft, he proposed a review of the Future Tours Program (FTP) to save red-ball cricket. The report further added that India, Australia and England dismissed the document, a claim which was rejected by Nick Hockley.
Speaking to SEN Cricket, he called the report “misinformation” before saying that boards are currently involved in a discussion to optimize FTP. He also insisted that the focus of the cricket boards is to work for the growth of the game.
“Categorically, I think there were some erroneous reports about that. Certainly the discussions I’m in at the moment are very much about how we can optimize the schedule and how we can continue to grow cricket around the world,” Nick Hockely told SEN Cricket.
Nick Hockley on his meeting with Snedden:
Snedden has suggested a number of changes to his draft. Some of the proposals include separate windows for T20 leagues in addition to the IPL, a change in the World Test Championship points system and reducing ODIs to 40 or more.
Nick Hockley recently met Snedden in Wellington, where New Zealand and Australia are currently involved in the first Test of the two-match series. Sharing the details of the meeting, Nick Hockley said that the cricket boards are working hard on the suggestions.
“We had a great recovery with Martin (Snedden) here yesterday (Friday in Wellington),” Nick Hockley said.
“We are very involved with that work. I think at Cricket Australia we have a good influence and I think we have a very important role to play around the ICC in terms of driving strategy.
“I think Cricket Australia has been behind a lot of the events. Be it the introduction of the World Test Championship. “I am on the FTP working group with the ICC and making sure we keep all three formats healthy and strong, that we are growing the game in all territories,” he added.
Talking about the ongoing Test between New Zealand and Australia, the visitors have set the hosts a target of 369 runs. In reply, New Zealand finished the day on 111 for 3, with Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell unbeaten on 56 and 12 respectively. Early in the game, Australia scored 383 runs before bowling out New Zealand for 179 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, the tourists were bowled out for 164.