The Future of Cricket 

First played in the 16th century, cricket is the second most popular sport in the world. With formats ranging from the traditional test matches to Twenty20, it’s a sport, and a business, that continues to grow. 

So, what does its future look like? 

Last month, host Robin Chipperfield was joined by three cricket experts as part of our GIS Insight Series to explore this question, providing students with industry-leading insight into the world of sport. 

During the webinar, one topic the panel discussed was the future of cricket’s various formats. While the test and Twenty20 formats were deemed beneficial for the game, the same could not be said for One Day Internationals, which consist of 50 overs.

On this, James Rosengarten, General Manager of Big Bash League club Melbourne Renegades, remarked: “I think 50-over cricket needs a serious investigation to see if it’s the right thing for our sport.” 

James, who is Chair of the GIS APAC Industry Advisory Board, added: “We saw from the West Indies about 10 years ago, where they had a strong cricket system but moved away from the longer-form test matches in favour of short-form cricket, and it hurt them as a cricketing nation.” 

Aman Jain, GIS graduate and sports agent, shared a similar perspective, noting that cricketers often prioritise test cricket.

“Indian cricketers are quite vocal about test cricket and think there’s still a big market for it, 99% of Indian test-playing cricketers prioritise test matches over any other format. 

“The BCCI and ICC have also been vocal because they don’t want it to die as a format – a concern often discussed in global cricket media. I don’t think it is dying, but I would agree with James that 50-over cricket does need a lot of investigation.” 

Having studied our International Sports Management course, Aman briefly worked in the UK before returning to India, where he works with 40-50 high-level cricketers. He believes India will be a hotspot for cricket-related jobs in the future:

“There are a lot of opportunities coming up now.

“Sports management as a career option is emerging. While Ireland, Australia, and the UK are quite developed when it comes to marketing, India is a great opportunity now. Many companies are becoming sports conglomerates that own teams globally, creating numerous job opportunities.”

Aman explained his decision to return to India, stating,

“There’s a lot of work that can be done in India when it comes to cricket – that’s why I left the UK and came back to India.” 

Another expert highlighting the need for more jobs in cricket is Chantella Perera. The General Manager of Kojo, a sports, events and entertainment company, Chantella discussed a different region: the USA. 

“Major League Cricket in the US is a great example of starting from scratch in a country where people generally don’t know the game or any of its formats. Finding people to work with us to deliver cricket has been incredibly hard.  

“We’re taking a lot of Australians over there to deliver that tournament. With the LA Olympics and then Brisbane, I can only see us needing more and more people who understand cricket.” 

As a member of GIS’ APAC Industry Advisory Board and Vice President of Women’s Sport Australia, Chantella also spoke about the growing opportunities for women in sport:
“I think we’re finally at a moment in time where brands and consumers understand women’s sport is a huge business,” she said. “That’s really important because, yes, it’s about equality, but men’s sport is a massive business that generates revenue, and people need to see that women’s sport can do the same.”

Reflecting on her own experiences, Chantella added,

“I didn’t grow up with many female role models, so I look at sport today and think a little girl should be able to have that.” 

Approaching his sixth year in the industry, Aman also commented on the state on women’s cricket in India:

“A lot of our women cricketers are stars in the country and are often earning as much as male cricketers. When we reach out to franchises, they’re interested in investing in women’s cricket because they know this is the right time to do so.  

“In 5-7 years, women’s cricket will be very, very big in India.” 

To read more about opportunities in women’s sport, click here, and to attend any of our upcoming Insight Series sessions, click here.