Sutherland expresses his views

James Sutherland is keen to see one-day cricket fully retained

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Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has urged world cricket leaders not to lose sight of the fact one-day internationals have been the foundation for the financial success of the modern game.

Sutherland believes the sport is in a healthy state but requires all three forms - ODIs, Test matches and Twenty20 - to be a continued success.

“Unfortunately, in my view, there is currently too much talk of ODI cricket as the problem child or the ugly duckling,” he told world cricket leaders at an International Cricket Council members’ forum.

“The financial success of the modern game has been built on ODI cricket.

“Within this current bundle of commercial rights, our short-term future includes pinnacle World Cup events in 2011 and 2015; we owe it to ourselves to ensure that ODI cricket continues to be a popular force in the game.”

Sutherland recognises, however, that Twenty20 has reinforced the sport’s strength and popularity.

“In Twenty20, we have a vehicle that can take the game anywhere and everywhere,” he said.

“Twenty20 is a format of the game that is popular in traditional cricket markets but it may well make its biggest mark in new and emerging markets - hopefully in markets that can make a material contribution to the global interest in our game - and ultimately impact favourably on cricket’s economy.

“Twenty20 is a winner. It’s here to stay and the challenge for us is to find the context and the balance to ensure that we don’t trip over ourselves (or each other) in our enthusiasm to ride the wave and capitalise on it.”

Despite the success of the inaugural IPL, though, Sutherland does not want to see Twenty20 cricket completely take over.

“In this context, we should never lose sight of the fact that international cricket is the foundation on which this game has been built,” he added.

“It is not only our foundation, but for all members, possibly with the exception of India, we couldn’t survive without it. International cricket is our lifeblood. We compromise it at our peril.

“To that end, Twenty20 cricket, whether it is IPL, Champions T20, Pro20, The Big Bash, whatever, Twenty20 must be designed, structured and promoted so as to complement, not compromise international cricket.”