Test Cricket's Decline Outside the Big Three

This summer has highlighted the challenges facing Test cricket beyond the elite trio of India, Australia, and England. With only about 7,000 tickets sold for Sunday's Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, and seats available across all price points, it’s clear that matches not involving India or Australia struggle to attract English fans. This contrasts sharply with the sold-out one-day international against Australia next month.

The MCC has seen decent sales for the first three days of this Test, but the days of expecting sell-outs when the Big Three aren't involved are over. England has traditionally been shielded from the global decline in Test cricket, but this summer has exposed uncomfortable truths. The ECB's schedule reflects a heavy reliance on India and Australia, with one of these teams visiting every summer through 2026 to ensure financial stability.

The West Indies series earlier this year saw good ticket sales, but the team's inability to compete highlighted the growing disparity in world cricket. Sri Lanka faces similar challenges, with fewer stars and less competitive strength at the Test level, leading fans to save their money for the upcoming Australia series.

England's entertaining "Bazball" approach under Brendon McCullum aims to inspire and save Test cricket, but the problems run deeper. The recent appointment of Jay Shah, India's cricket board secretary, as ICC chairman, has further tightened India’s control over the sport. Shah proposed a Test match fund to support poorer boards, but more equitable revenue sharing would have a more significant impact.

India, which generates 80% of the ICC’s income, could afford to share more, especially given its lucrative IPL deal. However, the current power dynamics make this unlikely, leaving smaller nations struggling. This imbalance affects England, as hosting weaker teams makes it harder to sell tickets and generate interest. The ECB, aware of Test cricket's uncertain future, has invested in the Hundred to reduce reliance on bilateral series.

Sri Lanka's current series is their first of more than two matches since 2018, reflecting the financial strain on smaller boards. England isn't scheduled to tour Sri Lanka or the West Indies for Tests in the current cycle, further limiting opportunities for these teams.

Ultimately, addressing these challenges requires collective will, which is currently lacking. While India’s visit next summer will mask the issues, the underlying problems will resurface in future series against less wealthy opponents.