Johnson pushes back on Greenberg’s call to reduce Test cricket footprint
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has sharply criticised suggestions that Test cricket should be limited to just a few top-tier, financially strong nations. Writing in his column for The West Australian, Johnson responded to recent comments from Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg, who implied that a smaller pool of Test-playing countries may be necessary for the format’s survival.
Greenberg, as quoted by The West Australian, said, “I don’t think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be Ok.” He added: “Literally we’re trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket.”
That sentiment did not resonate with Johnson, who offered a passionate defence of Test cricket’s universality and long-term value to the global game.
“The answer isn’t to reduce Test cricket to just three or four wealthy nations. It’s about helping the others develop. Players want it, fans want it so why are we making it so difficult? What these nations need isn’t passion, but support. If the ICC and the so-called big three truly want to safeguard the future, they must stop monopolising the privilege and begin sharing the responsibility.”
— Mitchell Johnson wrote.
“Test cricket isn’t exclusive — it’s about opportunity”
In his column, Johnson repeatedly emphasized that Test cricket is not just for the elite — it is a dream shared by players from all backgrounds, and its preservation requires inclusion, not exclusion.
“Here’s the thing — if that’s the fear, then we’ve already missed the point. The solution to saving Test cricket isn’t to scale it down to three or four rich countries. It’s to lift the rest up. Help them. Grow the game. Back them.”
“This is where real leadership starts — not by pulling up the ladder, but by building a stronger base. Because let’s be clear: these nations want to play Test cricket. The players want it. The fans want it. So why are we making it so hard? I’ve been to countries where cricket isn’t backed by billion-dollar TV deals — but the passion is still there.”
“Because here’s the reality: if we only leave Test cricket to the wealthy, it dies a slow death. Fans see through that. Players lose hope. And one by one, countries quietly drift towards the formats that pay quicker and hurt less. West Indies cricket has been an example of this. But Test cricket is supposed to hurt. It’s supposed to demand more. That’s the beauty of it. You don’t earn a baggy green or a Test cap because you’ve bowled four overs, including a couple in the powerplay.”
“You earn it over years — through bruises, setbacks, second-innings spells in 40C heat when your body says no and your heart says yes. And that feeling isn’t exclusive to Australia or India or England. It lives in the soul of every young cricketer from all parts of the world. The only difference is opportunity.”
Financial logic questioned as T20 leagues rise
Greenberg’s comments were rooted in the financial strain that five-day cricket can place on smaller boards — an argument that Johnson doesn’t dismiss outright, but reframes. Instead of cutting back, he urges the redirection of resources toward the traditional format.
“A series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan may not set streaming records, but for the players and fans, it’s everything. You don’t preserve that by limiting it; you preserve it by investing in it.”
“The money is available – it’s simply being directed in the wrong direction.”
With major investments continuing to pour into domestic T20 leagues, Johnson argued that a portion of those revenues — particularly from marquee series like the Ashes — could and should be redistributed to sustain Test cricket in less commercially powerful nations.
A fork in the road for the global game
The clash of views between Johnson and Greenberg highlights a growing divide in world cricket: between the commercial realities of modern sport and the traditional values that many still cherish.
Johnson isn’t naïve to the financial complexities but believes the solution lies in expanding the game’s foundation — not narrowing it.
At a time when Test cricket faces growing pressure from the shorter formats, his message is clear: protect the format by investing in it, sharing its benefits more equitably, and ensuring no nation is left behind simply because it doesn’t yet have the resources.
