Cricket Australia defends $11.3m loss arising from India visit amid criticism from Victorian chair

Cricket Australia (CA) insists record numbers are ahead despite losing more than $11 million in a summer that included a five-Test tour from goliath India.

Announcing a loss of $11.3 million for the 2024/25 financial year, CA received strong criticism from Cricket Victoria chair Ross Hepburn during the annual general meeting on Thursday.

It comes just two days after CA confirmed it was cutting operational and financial support for indoor cricket.

"It is disappointing that for yet another year CA is presenting a financial loss, with a balance sheet showing member funds in deficit," Hepburn said.

"It is especially disappointing that since FY2019, CA accounts have shown a significant cumulative loss excluding COVID-related impacts and World Cup revenue.

"Despite significant and costly reviews, little financial improvement seems to have yet materialised on the commercial front with sponsorship revenues in decline."

CA chief executive Todd Greenberg "welcomed" Hepburn's comments, acknowledging Australian cricket had gone through a difficult period.

"In saying that we're looking down the barrel of what I think will be the biggest summer in Australian cricket history by way of viewership, crowds, revenues," Greenberg said on Thursday.

"So [I'm] very optimistic [that] when I stand in front of you in 12 months' time, there'll be a significant injection of cash into the game."

The loss was significantly less severe than in 2023/24, when more than $30 million went out the door.

But the numbers appear staggering when considering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was bumped from four to five Tests, with huge crowds and TV audiences watching Australia win a thrilling series 3-1.

However, India did not play any white-ball games last summer, instead playing ODI and T20s in Australia currently.

The eight men's matches against India will then be followed by the Ashes, starting in Perth on November 21.

"In a normal scheduling you'd have the white-ball cricket as part of that [Test] tour, but that's being played in this financial year," CA chair Mike Baird said.

"If they were in the same financial year, you would have seen a different position.

"We're in a position where it's a significant uplift, an over $20 million improvement.

"Hang on to your hats because next year we are going to have a record year in cricket.

"You're going to see the most attendance, the most viewership, the most sponsorship.

"It is undoubtedly going to be the biggest year that cricket has ever seen."

CA is also considering whether to accept private money coming into the Big Bash League.

After starting in 2011, the BBL could undergo a radical change if the likes of Indian Premier League owners become involved in the competition.

"It's the biggest decision in generations," Baird said.

"We have to get that right.

"We're only interested if it's great for fans, it's great for players, and ultimately, unless it is, we're not interested.

"So we have to consider it, and we are considering it."

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