The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced its plans to provide a significant boost for Test cricket. The governing body aims to increase match fees and address the outflow of players to lucrative franchise leagues. The ICC is set to introduce a minimum Test match fee of $10,000 $10,000 (£7,600) for players, according to reports in Australia. With this, the ICC is aiming to provide much-needed financial support to national cricket boards which are floundering to compete with the higher wages offered in T20 leagues globally.
According to the Guardian, the new initiative of ICC garnered backing from Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, has expressed his support for a fund ranging from $5 million to $10 million or more.
Notably, the ECB has indicated its commitment to supporting other boards as they present a touring fee for Zimbabwe, who will play a one-off Test in England in May 2025. ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould said last month that Zimbabwe would be the recipient of the fee next year.
“Normally the way things happen [in bilateral cricket] is that the touring team gets itself into the country and then it’s looked after in terms of costs, accommodation, all the rest of it. But there’s no fee for that team that’s touring. Next year when we play against Zimbabwe, there will be a fee for that team that’s touring,” Gould told Sky Sports.
On Thursday, the ECB announced that the Test match betweeen England and Zimbabwe is scheduled to be held at Trent Bridge on 22 May. The one-off Test between these sides marks a renewal of their cricketing relationship, as they have not faced off in a bilateral series since 2004. Notably, the ECB had suspended ties with Zimbabwe in 2008 on government orders due to human rights concerns. The last test between these sides, held at Lord’s in 2003, saw Jimmy Anderson make his red-ball debut for England, where he claimed a five-wicket haul.
“To be welcoming Zimbabwe back for a men’s Test match will be a historic moment, more than 20 years since their last visit. Test cricket is so beloved in this country, and we know that we have an important role to play in supporting developing Test cricketing nations so that this format of the game thrives long into the future,” Gould said in a statement.
