Scrapped Australian Test cricket functions anger past players

Past Australian cricketers have been left disillusioned by the scrapping of hospitality functions traditionally held at men’s home Test matches, replaced by the offer of a ticket and a $30 food and drink voucher.

At a time of considerable friction between past players, the current team and cricket administrators more generally, the decision of the Australian Cricketers’ Association to downgrade the former cricketers’ invitations to Test matches has been poorly received.

The victorious Australian Ashes touring team of 1989 during a ticker-tape parade in Sydney. Credit:Craig Golding

International and state players are used to being invited as ACA life members to a function at their home Test match each summer, customarily capped at 50 attendees, where past playing generations can catch up, sit back and watch the current team.

So, there was understandable angst when informed earlier this month that invitations to the Tests in Perth this week and Adelaide next week against West Indies, then Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney against South Africa, would now only get them a ticket in the stands and a voucher.

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