Backflip: Sheffield Shield gets boost from cricket chaos, T20 relegated

Australian cricket is in such a state of confusion it has already backflipped on the lone cultural review change it initially rejected writes Robert Craddock.

Josh Hazlewood is playing Sheffield Shield and the Blues are loving it. Picture: AAP

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Australian cricket is in such a state of confusion it has already backflipped on the lone cultural review change it initially rejected.

Cricket Australia accepted in some form all bar one of the 42 recommendations of the Longstaff Cultural Review handed down this month but stood firm that players would not be excused from international T20 games to play Sheffield Shield matches as was recommended in the report.

Josh Hazlewood is playing Sheffield Shield and the Blues are loving it. Picture: AAP

Yet in the Australian T20 team that will play India at the Gabba on Wednesday, Australia’s best four bowlers — Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon — plus allrounder Mitchell Marsh will be missing due to Sheffield Shield commitments deemed a more appropriate warm-up for the Test series against India.

Some of them would have played in the three-match T20 series had they not been groomed for the Tests.

In its response to the report CA said it remained committed to the primacy of international cricket in all three forms and “notes the increasing important of T20 internationals with a T20 World Cup every two years’’.

It said there were also broadcast and sponsors commitments which stopped players being sent to the Sheffield Shield when there was T20 cricket being played.

NSW’s Test quick Pat Cummins. Picture: AAP

NSW’s Test spinner Nathan Lyons. Picture: AAP

The importance of T20 internationals remains a constant discussion point on the world tour with South African captain Faf du Plessis the latest big voice to question their value.

“T20 is a strange one,’’’ du Plessis said.

“My opinion is that the strength of the leagues around the world has taken a real focus for the game of cricket. T20 internationals have gone the opposite way to what they were supposed to.

“South Africa’s T20 over the last couple of years has been a case of bringing in young guys and giving them an opportunity. Other teams are the same.

“Fans want to watch the strongest teams. We never play our strongest team — ever. That is not great for the international game.

“You should not be trying to compete with the leagues because they are so strong at the moment so you have to try and find a space.’’

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