Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg wants solution for cricket's bad light problem
"The frustration that goes when we walk off with bad light is we may be one of the last industries left that would do that," said Todd Greenberg.
Cricket Australia’s new Chief Executive Todd Greenberg has acknowledged the need to find a solution to bad light interruptions in play and emphasised the importance of prioritising fans' interests. His comments came during the first round of ICC meetings held in Harare. Greenberg recently took over the role from Nick Hockley, who stepped down last month.
Greenberg believes cricket is a part of the entertainment industry, and the stakeholders should prioritise fan experience. He highlighted the frustration caused when play is halted due to bad light, and remarked that few industries still operate that way. He stressed the need for innovation and finding solutions to prevent such interruptions in the future.
"My view has always been we are in the entertainment business and so if we're in the entertainment business that means we're trying to make sure as many fans can enjoy their cricket as possible. The frustration that goes when we walk off with bad light is we may be one of the last industries left that would do that. We need to find ways to innovate and figure out solutions so that doesn't happen in the future,” Greenberg told the Daily Telegraph.
Innovation needed to tackle the disruptions: Greenberg
Greenberg acknowledged the complexities of bad light interruptions in cricket but emphasised the need to find better solutions for fans. He believed that with evolving technology and the option of playing under lights, the issue could be addressed, even if not immediately, through strong collaboration with players and stakeholders.
"I'm a realist and I understand why [play stops for bad light] and I understand the difficulties, but ultimately we want to give fans the best outcomes and there is nothing more frustrating than having to go off for bad light, particularly in an environment where we can play under lights be it with different coloured balls or different technologies.
"The players are part of the solution and we need to communicate really well with them. I'm a realist to know that it won't be solved overnight, but geez, it's 2025 and we can play in different conditions, I'm certain we can come up with a way to solve some of those challenges,” he added.
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