Young people are more attracted to cricket these days, reveals ICC
International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson has revealed that these days young people are more attracted to cricket rather than Football or Rugby. He also added, for the time being, there is no appetite, on the ICC's part, to create or add another format to the game of cricket.
Though ahead of 2019 Cricket World Cup, England's top cricket administrator are feeling that young people no longer care about cricket, International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson is adamant that youth interest in this sport is rising worldwide. Recently, Colin Graves, the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, sparked controversy with his comment that young people are just not attracted to cricket and trying to justify his point for a new 100-ball format into the English game in 2020.
However, counter-attacking his point Richardson added that that next year's World Cup in England and Wales represents a brilliant opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.
"That is very much an English viewpoint. Globally we are seeing in our sport, compared to other sports, the average age of the fan is lower than even football and certainly rugby. Market by market, it varies widely - in England, I think, there is a bit of a challenge making sure we re-engage with the youth and grow the game from a participation point of view - but elsewhere in the world, it is quite positive. There is no appetite for a new format,â observed Richardson as reported by TOI.
While domestic limited-overs cricket had been played in a variety of formats in different countries, Richardson was in no hurry to add the 100-ball game to an international schedule where teams already play Tests, ODIs, and Twenty20s.
"Our strategy is clear in that we've got three formats of the same game, which is challenging in itself to keep them from cannibalizing each other. And the 50-over version, I think, is that perfect fit between Test and T20. It provides a perfect day's entertainment, we've seen that around the world and the World Cup has got that prestige which I think will help cement 50-over cricket's popularity well into the future," he noted.
"But certainly there isn't an appetite to increase and create another format," the former South Africa wicket-keeper confirmed.
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