Sport News

Collingwood wants Test safeguard

category: Cricket

12.06.2008 20:26

Collingwood said Test cricket should not be forgotten as investors continue to pump money into the Twenty20 game.

"Twenty20's blowing everything out of the water, but we must decide what we want in the future," he said.

"The big picture is if Test cricket is going downhill because of it? We've got to keep Tests in the forefront."

England have agreed to play five winner-takes-all £10m Twenty20 matches in the Caribbean in the autumn, with the money provided by Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford.

Winning players will receive £500,000 each, with another £1m split between the rest of the squad and coaches.

Collingwood also stressed the importance of ensuring that money did not become the decisive factor in the future of the game.

"Twenty20's taken off big style because of the money involved," Collingwood said.

"It'll be nerve-wracking to play for that kind of money. But it's the next generation we've got to look after and Test cricket's got to be the objective of the hierarchy.

"When I was a kid, all I thought about was playing in the World Cup or winning the Ashes.

"We don't want kids growing up just dreaming about winning Stanford matches to earn some money or playing in the Indian Premier League.

"That dream is a massive thing for kids.

"If there's any way we can get Tests up to the lucrative deals being offered in Twenty20 that would be great.

"It's a real major issue that we have to have a look at from the very top, on what direction cricket goes in."

Collingwood also said that the massive stakes mean it is more important than ever that players were honest about things like their fitness to play.

"In many ways we're going into a grey area - no-one's ever played for this kind of money in this sport before so hopefully everyone will keep their feet on the ground and do the right thing and be as honest as possible," he said.

Original text is here

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