The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to make history by becoming the first host board in the modern era to pay a touring fee in bilateral cricket. This unprecedented move will occur when Zimbabwe arrives in England for a one-off Test match next year, according to ECB chief Richard Gould.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, Gould emphasized the ECB’s commitment, alongside other financially robust boards like those of India and Australia, to maintaining the competitiveness of Test cricket. He highlighted the challenges faced by the longest format of the sport, which has seen a decline in popularity outside its traditional strongholds. This decline is largely attributed to the global rise of lucrative Twenty20 leagues and the financial struggles of smaller cricketing nations to sustain the costs associated with Test cricket.
Gould pointed out that the traditional model of bilateral cricket is outdated, where the touring team covers its own travel expenses and is then provided with accommodation and other necessities without receiving any fee for their participation. “Normally, the touring team gets itself into the country and then it’s looked after in terms of 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,” he said.
The historic Test match is scheduled for May 2025 at a venue yet to be decided. This will mark Zimbabwe’s first bilateral cricket tour to England since 2003, adding a significant milestone to the cricketing calendar.
The decision by the ECB to pay a touring fee underscores a broader responsibility among wealthier cricket boards to support and promote the sustainability and competitiveness of Test cricket, ensuring the format remains an integral part of the global cricketing landscape.
