Staring Contest Continues

SP on the privatisation showdown between Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia

Australian cricket’s most consequential call in modern times is still without state consensus, after last week’s monthly conference between Cricket Australia and state CEOs maintained a pattern of “going round in circles”, it is understood.

As New Zealand yesterday signalled a keenness to join the race to own January, the staring contest between New South Wales and the remaining majority of Australian cricket continued.

In the red corner, Cricket Australia, with varying support from Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland, who propose selling the Big Bash to raise capital and ensure Australia isn’t left behind while India aggressively reshapes the game around a global T20 franchise network.

In the blue corner, New South Wales, with grave misgivings about the risks of selling, including the speed of sale. The state that produces around 40% of professional Australian cricketers presented to their counterparts, via Adara consultants, an alternate self-funding model predicated on wagering optimisation, improved sponsorship, increased ICC distributions, and general cost-cutting.