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England, Australia and India are the success stories, financially speaking, of the cricketing world. They really, really don't need counsel on how to run their business from a country and a fan base that can't fill stadiums.
Of course they realise that they must keep playing Test cricket, home and away, against all-comers. If they failed to grasp such Sports Marketing 101 principles, they would never have been able to build the wealthy and popular series that their countries engage in.
However, taking on all-comers does not mean playing any and everybody, nor does it mean playing equal numbers of fixtures against everybody. How many games do our rugby players play per annum against NZ/Aus opposition as opposed to Six Nations opposition, let alone the likes of Canada or Romania?? That we play franchise rugby against Aus/NZ, and then play them again at RC level, playing far fewer fixtures against the rest, does not mean that SANZAR's approach is fatally flawed. Instead, it is balanced between historical rivalries vital to the sport, and equally vital bankability.
So yes, the Big Three will continue to favour playing against each other mainly while accommodating the rest, just like SANZAR play against each other mainly while accommodating the Six Nations sides and, very occasionally, the minnows. It is the most viable way to sustain and grow the business.
Of course they realise that they must keep playing Test cricket, home and away, against all-comers. If they failed to grasp such Sports Marketing 101 principles, they would never have been able to build the wealthy and popular series that their countries engage in.
However, taking on all-comers does not mean playing any and everybody, nor does it mean playing equal numbers of fixtures against everybody. How many games do our rugby players play per annum against NZ/Aus opposition as opposed to Six Nations opposition, let alone the likes of Canada or Romania?? That we play franchise rugby against Aus/NZ, and then play them again at RC level, playing far fewer fixtures against the rest, does not mean that SANZAR's approach is fatally flawed. Instead, it is balanced between historical rivalries vital to the sport, and equally vital bankability.
So yes, the Big Three will continue to favour playing against each other mainly while accommodating the rest, just like SANZAR play against each other mainly while accommodating the Six Nations sides and, very occasionally, the minnows. It is the most viable way to sustain and grow the business.
