1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,827 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB this. 3 00:00:12,987 --> 00:00:17,267 Speaker 2: Our worth cricket. Could the iconic Boxing Day cricket Test 4 00:00:17,467 --> 00:00:21,987 Speaker 2: at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds be under threat? 5 00:00:22,307 --> 00:00:25,387 Speaker 1: Bye strikes? 6 00:00:25,387 --> 00:00:28,347 Speaker 2: It's taken me thirty two years the New Zealand have 7 00:00:28,387 --> 00:00:30,427 Speaker 2: another Boxing Day wicket at the MCG. 8 00:00:31,107 --> 00:00:33,867 Speaker 3: Well, you mentioned the World Cup Final we start knocked 9 00:00:33,867 --> 00:00:37,707 Speaker 3: over mcvin. How about this for payback? First over we 10 00:00:37,787 --> 00:00:40,427 Speaker 3: said it wasn't quite you build it up to one thirty, 11 00:00:40,467 --> 00:00:42,427 Speaker 3: but we said it had to be accurate. We had 12 00:00:42,467 --> 00:00:44,747 Speaker 3: to make them play and this is a great sign 13 00:00:44,827 --> 00:00:45,747 Speaker 3: because it swung. 14 00:00:45,547 --> 00:00:49,027 Speaker 2: Warning Absolutely, there's a beautiful deliverate nip bark. 15 00:00:49,107 --> 00:00:51,627 Speaker 1: It swung in tramp Bolt right on the money. 16 00:00:51,827 --> 00:00:54,507 Speaker 3: It's all about setting the tone early in tramp Bolt's 17 00:00:54,547 --> 00:00:54,867 Speaker 3: done that. 18 00:00:55,187 --> 00:00:57,627 Speaker 2: How good to hear the voice of Shane Warn in 19 00:00:57,667 --> 00:01:00,147 Speaker 2: that commentary from twenty nineteen. I think that was actually 20 00:01:00,147 --> 00:01:02,947 Speaker 2: the high point of New Zealand's last visit to the 21 00:01:03,067 --> 00:01:05,307 Speaker 2: MCG was Trent Bolt getting a wicket very early on. 22 00:01:05,347 --> 00:01:08,107 Speaker 2: It didn't go as well after that. Some very interesting 23 00:01:08,147 --> 00:01:11,387 Speaker 2: comments though across the Tasman This week eighty four Test 24 00:01:11,707 --> 00:01:17,187 Speaker 2: Australian opener Usmand Kahwaja believes cricket bosses there should consider 25 00:01:17,307 --> 00:01:21,467 Speaker 2: moving the Boxing Day and the New Year's Tests if 26 00:01:21,507 --> 00:01:25,067 Speaker 2: that allows top Australian players to take part in the 27 00:01:25,107 --> 00:01:29,707 Speaker 2: Big Bash every year. Usman Kwaja says, at some level, 28 00:01:29,827 --> 00:01:33,667 Speaker 2: at some stage, everything that grows must change. He goes 29 00:01:33,707 --> 00:01:35,547 Speaker 2: on to say, as much as I love the Boxing 30 00:01:35,627 --> 00:01:38,627 Speaker 2: Day and Sydney Cricket Ground Test matches and I don't 31 00:01:38,667 --> 00:01:41,307 Speaker 2: want to move them, if it's better for the growth 32 00:01:41,387 --> 00:01:44,467 Speaker 2: of the game and allows Australian players to play in 33 00:01:44,507 --> 00:01:47,987 Speaker 2: the Big Bash, I think it's worth talking about and 34 00:01:48,427 --> 00:01:52,747 Speaker 2: exploring the long time voice of Australian cricket Jim Maxwell 35 00:01:52,787 --> 00:01:56,907 Speaker 2: as with as Jim, how would the average Australian cricket 36 00:01:56,947 --> 00:02:00,987 Speaker 2: fan have reacted to those comments from Usman Kowaja. 37 00:02:01,867 --> 00:02:03,707 Speaker 3: Well, I can't speak for all of them, but I 38 00:02:03,747 --> 00:02:05,747 Speaker 3: hope if they've got a bit of common sansum than 39 00:02:05,747 --> 00:02:08,987 Speaker 3: an interest in the future of the game, they'd ignore them. 40 00:02:09,227 --> 00:02:11,507 Speaker 3: I don't think that's on by any stretch of the 41 00:02:11,547 --> 00:02:15,587 Speaker 3: imagination at the moment. At the moment, because we live 42 00:02:15,627 --> 00:02:19,627 Speaker 3: in a rapidly changing world where money, money, money is 43 00:02:20,307 --> 00:02:25,187 Speaker 3: talking the game, and that conflict that keeps growing between 44 00:02:25,947 --> 00:02:29,947 Speaker 3: traditional Test cricket and the ICC running the game and 45 00:02:30,027 --> 00:02:34,587 Speaker 3: the franchises that are getting bigger and more powerful around 46 00:02:34,587 --> 00:02:39,827 Speaker 3: the world is on a collision course. How do you 47 00:02:40,027 --> 00:02:43,147 Speaker 3: work out what is the best program for the year. 48 00:02:43,547 --> 00:02:46,907 Speaker 3: You don't have test cricket on Boxing days of Africa don't, 49 00:02:47,267 --> 00:02:50,027 Speaker 3: but Australia hangs on to it. And as long as 50 00:02:50,107 --> 00:02:53,507 Speaker 3: Cricket Australia have the view that that is the most 51 00:02:53,587 --> 00:02:57,707 Speaker 3: important thing in terms of the Australian team to have 52 00:02:59,307 --> 00:03:03,067 Speaker 3: Boxing Day in particular and a series of next years 53 00:03:03,107 --> 00:03:07,107 Speaker 3: against New Zealand in Australia. I don't think what Usman's 54 00:03:07,147 --> 00:03:11,467 Speaker 3: saying is going to mean much, but it may in time, 55 00:03:11,547 --> 00:03:12,467 Speaker 3: yes it could. 56 00:03:12,747 --> 00:03:15,987 Speaker 2: How important and iconic does the Boxing Day test in 57 00:03:16,067 --> 00:03:22,227 Speaker 2: particular continue to be on the Australian cricket calendar Jim Well. 58 00:03:22,027 --> 00:03:25,827 Speaker 3: It's the biggest earner in the summer in terms of 59 00:03:25,867 --> 00:03:29,507 Speaker 3: what comes through the gate apart from eyeballs on television 60 00:03:29,547 --> 00:03:33,307 Speaker 3: and the holiday period. So it is very very important 61 00:03:34,307 --> 00:03:37,587 Speaker 3: and that's the way it's going to be for as 62 00:03:37,587 --> 00:03:41,947 Speaker 3: long as we can sustain a competitive looking test match 63 00:03:42,267 --> 00:03:46,147 Speaker 3: every Boxing Day and that in itself does become a 64 00:03:46,227 --> 00:03:48,707 Speaker 3: little bit of a problem when you know you move 65 00:03:48,747 --> 00:03:51,747 Speaker 3: away to having Pakistan West Indies dare I say it, 66 00:03:51,987 --> 00:03:54,747 Speaker 3: hopefully not New Zealand because they're okay at the moment, 67 00:03:54,827 --> 00:03:58,707 Speaker 3: But we are moving to a changing landscape in the 68 00:03:58,747 --> 00:04:02,427 Speaker 3: world of Test cricket. I think two divisions may well 69 00:04:02,467 --> 00:04:07,107 Speaker 3: become the order of the day. Fortunately, unfortunate whichever way 70 00:04:07,107 --> 00:04:10,107 Speaker 3: you want to look at it. But yes, Boxing Day 71 00:04:10,787 --> 00:04:14,347 Speaker 3: is a big event. It's not quite the Melbourne Cup, 72 00:04:14,347 --> 00:04:18,267 Speaker 3: but you know you're going to get fifty thousand plus 73 00:04:19,227 --> 00:04:22,107 Speaker 3: you'll get almost one hundred thousand this year with England 74 00:04:22,107 --> 00:04:25,827 Speaker 3: in Australia, so it's a big day and a big 75 00:04:26,267 --> 00:04:29,867 Speaker 3: match in the scheme of things during an Australian summer. 76 00:04:30,307 --> 00:04:33,467 Speaker 2: The reason Osmond Kwaja even made the comments, I think 77 00:04:33,587 --> 00:04:36,627 Speaker 2: was because top players, top top players like Pat commons 78 00:04:36,707 --> 00:04:39,827 Speaker 2: like Travis Head have been offered massive money to quit 79 00:04:39,867 --> 00:04:43,107 Speaker 2: Australian cricket all together and just play franchise cricket full time. 80 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:45,987 Speaker 2: If it is a matter of moving Test matches, but 81 00:04:46,187 --> 00:04:49,347 Speaker 2: keeping players like that, is it worthy of at least 82 00:04:49,387 --> 00:04:50,667 Speaker 2: opening a discussion or not? 83 00:04:52,267 --> 00:04:52,427 Speaker 1: Oh? 84 00:04:52,547 --> 00:04:55,027 Speaker 3: I think I think the other side are going to 85 00:04:55,027 --> 00:04:57,747 Speaker 3: have to make ren for it. I say that advisedly. 86 00:04:57,787 --> 00:05:00,427 Speaker 3: I think there are one hundred and seventy four IPO 87 00:05:00,587 --> 00:05:04,947 Speaker 3: matches coming up next year, so we're looking at it 88 00:05:04,987 --> 00:05:08,587 Speaker 3: an amazing amount of twenty cricket, which you know, for 89 00:05:08,827 --> 00:05:12,947 Speaker 3: a lot of us is more than the corn flax 90 00:05:13,227 --> 00:05:15,347 Speaker 3: can go down in the space of a week. There's 91 00:05:15,387 --> 00:05:17,347 Speaker 3: too much of it, and it's all a bit the same. 92 00:05:17,427 --> 00:05:22,547 Speaker 3: But this is the kind of cricket world where we're 93 00:05:22,587 --> 00:05:25,867 Speaker 3: moving towards more and more, particularly on the back of 94 00:05:25,947 --> 00:05:29,547 Speaker 3: all the corporates in India throwing so much money at it. 95 00:05:29,707 --> 00:05:33,027 Speaker 3: I mean, you know now that the IPL in terms 96 00:05:33,067 --> 00:05:37,587 Speaker 3: of the television side of it in particular, is almost 97 00:05:37,667 --> 00:05:41,787 Speaker 3: as big as American NFL. That's how big it's become. 98 00:05:41,907 --> 00:05:45,387 Speaker 3: And you can see why with that huge audience out there, 99 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:48,147 Speaker 3: it's no wonder that people want to have part of 100 00:05:48,187 --> 00:05:52,347 Speaker 3: it all, you know. Beyond beyond that and all these 101 00:05:52,387 --> 00:05:58,707 Speaker 3: temptations and discussions about other leagues being formed, it's not 102 00:05:58,747 --> 00:06:02,147 Speaker 3: about test cricket there for sure. It's all about T twenty. 103 00:06:02,987 --> 00:06:05,547 Speaker 3: And I suppose if we're going to keep people in 104 00:06:05,587 --> 00:06:08,187 Speaker 3: this game cricket, we're going to have to find a 105 00:06:08,227 --> 00:06:11,227 Speaker 3: way to manage all of that, and that's the difficulty. 106 00:06:12,307 --> 00:06:16,627 Speaker 3: The players, on one hand feel most of them substantially 107 00:06:16,787 --> 00:06:19,667 Speaker 3: Test Crickets what the game is about. But on the 108 00:06:19,747 --> 00:06:23,107 Speaker 3: other the people who run it, who like to collect 109 00:06:23,107 --> 00:06:26,867 Speaker 3: the crumbs and put coins in the bank, they see 110 00:06:26,907 --> 00:06:31,267 Speaker 3: it's far more realistic, longer term to have more and 111 00:06:31,307 --> 00:06:36,147 Speaker 3: more of that which pays the tune, the circus that 112 00:06:36,627 --> 00:06:40,027 Speaker 3: goes around regularly and draws the crowd. But Test cricket 113 00:06:40,067 --> 00:06:43,307 Speaker 3: does pretty well still for Australia and for England, not 114 00:06:43,387 --> 00:06:47,547 Speaker 3: so much for India perhaps in terms of crowds, but 115 00:06:47,587 --> 00:06:50,027 Speaker 3: at least for the time being. I think Test crickets 116 00:06:50,147 --> 00:06:53,107 Speaker 3: are secure, and so's the boxing day Test. But that 117 00:06:53,147 --> 00:06:53,787 Speaker 3: can change. 118 00:06:54,147 --> 00:06:56,187 Speaker 2: Just a word on your Big Besh, Jim. There's been 119 00:06:56,227 --> 00:07:00,347 Speaker 2: ongoing talks about the possible privatization of the franchises, even 120 00:07:00,427 --> 00:07:03,187 Speaker 2: moving the competition into a different window so it doesn't 121 00:07:03,227 --> 00:07:06,467 Speaker 2: have to compete with other overseas leagues for talent. Well, 122 00:07:06,507 --> 00:07:09,547 Speaker 2: what is the current health of the Big Bash in 123 00:07:09,587 --> 00:07:10,067 Speaker 2: your view? 124 00:07:11,747 --> 00:07:15,867 Speaker 3: Oh, I think it's very healthy, But there are, as 125 00:07:15,947 --> 00:07:19,547 Speaker 3: ever in Australia competing interests in this battle to see 126 00:07:19,547 --> 00:07:22,267 Speaker 3: who's going to have ownership, and most of the States, 127 00:07:22,267 --> 00:07:24,107 Speaker 3: as far as I can see, don't want it at 128 00:07:24,147 --> 00:07:29,107 Speaker 3: the moment. But once again, the amount of money that's 129 00:07:29,147 --> 00:07:31,027 Speaker 3: going to be pumped in money from India this is 130 00:07:31,027 --> 00:07:33,867 Speaker 3: where it's going to come from, to corporatize the game 131 00:07:33,907 --> 00:07:37,867 Speaker 3: and have private ownership will be overwhelming. So at some 132 00:07:37,987 --> 00:07:40,747 Speaker 3: point it will probably happen. Happen, but at the moment, 133 00:07:41,427 --> 00:07:45,867 Speaker 3: the States are very keen to hang on to the product, 134 00:07:45,907 --> 00:07:48,547 Speaker 3: if I can call it that, that they've got, that's 135 00:07:48,827 --> 00:07:52,027 Speaker 3: a pretty good earner for them and that makes enough 136 00:07:52,067 --> 00:07:55,867 Speaker 3: sense to keep it as it is, provided of course 137 00:07:56,987 --> 00:08:00,147 Speaker 3: that they can get more access to the best players, 138 00:08:00,187 --> 00:08:02,947 Speaker 3: and that's part of what osmon Kawaja was on about, 139 00:08:02,987 --> 00:08:03,427 Speaker 3: of course. 140 00:08:04,147 --> 00:08:05,987 Speaker 2: And just a word on the Ashes, as you say, 141 00:08:05,987 --> 00:08:08,907 Speaker 2: there'll be huge interest both domestically and from the visiting 142 00:08:08,907 --> 00:08:10,507 Speaker 2: fans as well. I can tell you, Jim, I think 143 00:08:10,627 --> 00:08:12,467 Speaker 2: it's the cricket I'm most looking forward to in the 144 00:08:12,467 --> 00:08:15,027 Speaker 2: summer ahead. We've just got three Test matches against the 145 00:08:15,067 --> 00:08:18,107 Speaker 2: West Indies and December to consume us. As far as 146 00:08:18,107 --> 00:08:21,027 Speaker 2: the red ball is concerned. How much anticipation is there 147 00:08:21,307 --> 00:08:22,867 Speaker 2: around about the upcoming ashes? 148 00:08:24,427 --> 00:08:27,787 Speaker 3: Well from a Stralian perspective, despite the fact that it 149 00:08:27,787 --> 00:08:30,787 Speaker 3: looks like Pat Cummins may not even play a Test 150 00:08:30,867 --> 00:08:33,947 Speaker 3: this summer because of his back problems. The interest in 151 00:08:33,987 --> 00:08:36,627 Speaker 3: the series just a number of people, a bit like 152 00:08:36,707 --> 00:08:39,667 Speaker 3: when the lines we're here recently will be huge, will 153 00:08:39,667 --> 00:08:43,187 Speaker 3: be full houses and a number of days of Test 154 00:08:43,227 --> 00:08:47,427 Speaker 3: match cricket, and I think the expectation is that it 155 00:08:47,627 --> 00:08:52,667 Speaker 3: is going to be a challenging, competitive series. There's a 156 00:08:52,667 --> 00:08:55,387 Speaker 3: lot of speculation about who and white and where and 157 00:08:55,427 --> 00:08:58,467 Speaker 3: why at this point because we're still about five or 158 00:08:58,467 --> 00:09:02,307 Speaker 3: six weeks away from it. I mean, will Bend Stokes bowl? 159 00:09:02,667 --> 00:09:04,667 Speaker 3: Will he be fit enough for the whole series? There 160 00:09:04,707 --> 00:09:09,067 Speaker 3: are so many questions around the injuries on the fringe 161 00:09:09,227 --> 00:09:13,227 Speaker 3: or actual with both sides, about who will be selected, 162 00:09:13,267 --> 00:09:17,307 Speaker 3: particularly in the Australian top three, so we've got a 163 00:09:17,347 --> 00:09:21,027 Speaker 3: lot to look forward to. Its massive expectation always is 164 00:09:21,347 --> 00:09:24,467 Speaker 3: when England come to town, but probably more so this 165 00:09:24,547 --> 00:09:28,947 Speaker 3: time because you're looking at what I've described as a 166 00:09:29,027 --> 00:09:33,907 Speaker 3: redemption series to Smith and Stokes in particular, probably the 167 00:09:33,987 --> 00:09:37,027 Speaker 3: last time we see either or both of them playing 168 00:09:37,067 --> 00:09:40,227 Speaker 3: in a in a Test match series against each other. 169 00:09:40,627 --> 00:09:44,147 Speaker 3: So there's lots of things cranking around as we move 170 00:09:44,227 --> 00:09:48,107 Speaker 3: towards a serious transition stage for the Australian team in 171 00:09:48,147 --> 00:09:50,707 Speaker 3: the next two years. A lot of the fellows will 172 00:09:50,747 --> 00:09:53,987 Speaker 3: gained to watch during this summer probably won't be playing 173 00:09:54,027 --> 00:09:57,547 Speaker 3: again in another year or two from now, and that's 174 00:09:57,547 --> 00:10:00,307 Speaker 3: an interesting thought on its own. Who's going to replace them? 175 00:10:00,587 --> 00:10:03,867 Speaker 3: But yeah, a lot of expectation and hopefully to watch 176 00:10:03,867 --> 00:10:08,467 Speaker 3: some exciting cricket because England certainly always promise to deliver 177 00:10:08,507 --> 00:10:09,907 Speaker 3: that excitement when they're batting. 178 00:10:10,067 --> 00:10:12,027 Speaker 2: Well, well, certainly you have eyes on the side of 179 00:10:12,027 --> 00:10:14,267 Speaker 2: the tessment as well. Wonderful to chat Jim, Thank you 180 00:10:14,307 --> 00:10:15,187 Speaker 2: so much for taking. 181 00:10:14,987 --> 00:10:17,467 Speaker 3: The time, right Jason, All the best man, all the 182 00:10:17,507 --> 00:10:17,987 Speaker 3: best of you. 183 00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:21,027 Speaker 2: Too, Jim Jim Maxwell there. I love the way he 184 00:10:21,147 --> 00:10:24,907 Speaker 2: says the word cricket. It's just so laid back, isn't it. 185 00:10:25,667 --> 00:10:29,867 Speaker 2: You just come'tus up images of sitting on the bank 186 00:10:29,947 --> 00:10:33,187 Speaker 2: at an ASHES test and listening to Jim Maxwell call 187 00:10:33,267 --> 00:10:33,947 Speaker 2: the game. 188 00:10:34,387 --> 00:10:37,587 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 189 00:10:37,707 --> 00:10:40,987 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 190 00:10:41,027 --> 00:10:42,627 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.