Paul Marsh Returns as ACA Boss Warns International Cricket Is ‘In Trouble’ Amid T20 Boom

Paul Marsh has officially returned as the head of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) and issued a stark warning about the future of international cricket. According to the newly appointed ACA chief, international cricket is at serious risk unless structural changes are made to protect its scheduling from the relentless expansion of domestic T20 leagues.

Marsh calls for structured international windows

Speaking shortly after resigning from his role as CEO of the AFL Players Association, Marsh emphasized the need to create dedicated international windows to ensure a balance between national commitments and franchise-based tournaments. Highlighting the increasing conflict between domestic T20 leagues and international tours, Marsh called for urgent reforms and collaboration between cricketing boards worldwide.

“If we don’t get the scheduling sorted out in international cricket so we actually work out how international cricket will co-exist with the domestic Twenty20 competitions, then international cricket’s in trouble,” Marsh said in a candid statement.

His return comes at a pivotal time for the sport, with international fixtures frequently clashing with cash-rich leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), SA20, and others. One of the most glaring examples was South Africa sending a second-string squad to New Zealand due to the SA20 schedule, despite having qualified for the World Test Championship final.

Focus on global scheduling reform

As chair of a sub-committee under the World Cricketers’ Association, Marsh has been part of recent proposals that call for structural reform in the global cricket calendar. The aim is to create defined windows for international cricket, especially for marquee tournaments and bilateral series.

Marsh also acknowledged the complexities involved in global scheduling, stating, “Cricket Australia may want to have a schedule that’s a certain way, but you’ve then got to get the countries to come. So I’ll deal with that when I get started.”

Australia’s 2027 cricket calendar is already a concern, with three of their major commitments—the India tour, Ashes series, and ODI World Cup—coinciding in a single year. Marsh warned that such intense scheduling every four years is not sustainable for players’ physical and mental wellbeing.

Return to cricket after a decade

Marsh previously held the top post at the ACA over a decade ago before transitioning to the AFLPA. The son of legendary cricketer Rod Marsh, Paul said the decision to return to cricket was both emotional and professional.

“Cricket’s in my blood,” he remarked, adding that it was the right time to take on a new challenge as the AFL’s collective bargaining cycle nears its end.

Todd Greenberg, former ACA boss and now CEO of Cricket Australia, welcomed Marsh’s appointment. “Paul brings a wealth of cricket experience to the role and a passion for the game and the welfare of our players. A collaborative and productive relationship between CA and the ACA is important for the wellbeing of Australian Cricket,” Greenberg said.

With the next Future Tours Program concluding in 2027, Marsh’s tenure at the ACA begins with an urgent mission—to safeguard the primacy of international cricket in an era increasingly dominated by the franchise model.

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