Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has made a bold proposal to safeguard the future of Test cricket, suggesting that top international players take pay cuts to help support financially struggling cricket boards. His comments were published in Test Cricket: A History by journalist Tim Wigmore.
The remarks come at a time of increasing concern over the financial viability of Test cricket, particularly in nations outside the “Big Three” (India, England, and Australia), who receive the lion’s share of ICC central funding.
“We’d all be open to it”
Cummins indicated he and other senior players would consider reduced central contracts if it meant the longer format could survive globally.
“We’d all be open to it, if it was a really good plan. You’d look at it and see how we go through. We’ve got to find a way to keep investing in the systems that create really good Test cricket,” Cummins said.
He highlighted how Australia’s domestic structure benefits from significant investment and how similar systems should be nurtured elsewhere.
“In Australia we support all kinds of domestic cricket because we know how important that is to future generations and for our Australian team set-up. I think everyone’s quite open-minded, because we’re one of the lucky nations.”
ICC revenue model under fire
Cummins’ remarks add weight to the growing criticism of the ICC’s revenue-sharing model. Under the current structure, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) receives $230 million annually—more than one-third of the ICC’s $600 million pot. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia follow with $41 million and $37 million respectively.
Meanwhile, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan all receive less than $30 million. The funding disparity directly affects the number of Test matches smaller nations can afford to play. For example, South Africa’s men’s team has no home Tests scheduled until October 2026, despite qualifying for the World Test Championship final.
Governance challenges and global player pressure
Cummins’ comments coincide with intensifying scrutiny of the ICC’s leadership. In the 2025 edition of Wisden, editor Lawrence Booth described the World Test Championship as “a shambles masquerading as a showpiece.”
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has responded by launching a new annual summit, World Cricket Connects, aimed at addressing systemic challenges. ICC chair Jay Shah and other prominent cricket leaders are slated to attend the June gathering at Lord’s.
Adding further momentum is the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), whose 2025 Global Game Structure Report revealed a 10% drop in men’s Test matches from 2017–19 to 2021–23, while international T20s rose by 87%.
Alarmingly, 60% of top players surveyed said they would consider quitting international cricket for franchise leagues. The WCA has called for significant reforms, including:
- Reducing India’s share of ICC revenues
- Forming a Global Game Leadership Committee
- Implementing promotion and relegation in all international formats
A fork in the road for Test cricket
With franchise leagues dominating the commercial landscape and smaller cricket boards stretched thin, Test cricket faces an existential threat. Pat Cummins’ proposal to sacrifice personal earnings for the greater good is a rare and radical call to action from one of the sport’s leading figures.
Whether cricket’s power brokers act on his suggestion remains uncertain—but the urgency for change has never been clearer.
