Todd Greenberg praises Sri Lanka A-touring to Australia, highlights their role in Australia’s win in Sri Lanka
Source: Cricket Australia – CA Multicultural Media (eLanka)
Melbourne, June 3 — Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Todd Greenberg has underlined the importance of A-team tours as a key development pathway, praising Sri Lanka A touring to Darwin this year.
“I’ve got to make sure, well, that cricket’s not just seen as a sport that we play in December and January here in this country.”
“We want to make sure that we utilize the other months. And in that part of Australia at that time of the year, the weather and the wickets, I think, will be very conducive to good cricket. So, it makes sense for us to try to utilize some of those markets where we can.
“I think the concept of a tour provides great development and learning for both our players and the Sri Lankan players. So, it’s an important exercise.”
Greenberg also citing Australia’s recent success in Sri Lanka as a direct result of prior A-series exposure.
“Everyone saw how our men’s team performed in Sri Lanka earlier this year when we won that series. But what people don’t always see is the amount of preparation through A-series cricket that helped get them there,” Greenberg said during a media session on Tuesday.
He stressed that while A-tours may not be revenue-generating like full international series, they remain critical to the long-term health of the game.
“A-series matches are a significant investment. They might not bring in broadcast dollars, but they give younger players vital experience in tough conditions—especially in the subcontinent,” he said.
“It’s an investment in the pathway in a lot of ways, but a great opportunity to take that into some of those, lesser-known markets. And as I said, I think the weather will be conducive to really good cricket. And, again, it’s us being innovative in trying to evolve the sport so that we can do some things that are slightly different than maybe we’ve done over the previous generation. “
With schedules becoming increasingly congested due to ICC windows for major leagues and international series, Greenberg admitted it’s becoming harder to slot in A-team tours. However, he said the commitment remains strong.
“We’ll continue to work with other countries to find meaningful windows. These tours are where players learn, grow, and build confidence before taking the next step.”
Greenberg’s emphasis on development through competitive tours like those in Sri Lanka reaffirms Cricket Australia’s belief in nurturing talent not just at home, but through global exposure.
