ICC president receptive to Buchanan's idea

Ray Mali, the ICC chairman, says John Buchanan's plan for a greater flow of players between countries has merit and he hopes to meet Buchanan in the next couple of months to discuss the idea. Buchanan, Australia's coach until their World Cup triumph this year, suggested that a franchise-based system might create a more competitive international scene and allow other Test nations to catch up to Australia.

"I have always believed that cricket, as a global game, cannot remain static," Mali told the Sydney Morning Herald. "With what John Buchanan is proposing, we must study it and look at its merits. John is a student of the game and he has spent a large part of his career devising new ways of improving things. We need to explore it further and see if it possible to move forward with it.

"We should be using the expertise in Australia to improve cricket around the world. We cannot close the door on new ideas, new thinking about the game. The ICC needs to talk and listen to John. I will be in Australia for the Adelaide Test [starting on January 24], and I will attempt to meet with him while I am there to discuss his ideas further."

Mali said he was not necessarily advocating a change in the way Test cricket operated, but that all options should be considered. "At the end of the day, Test cricket is about the pride of one country playing the pride of another," he said.

"In 2005, we tried the World XI game against Australia, which everybody was unhappy about. But that does not mean we should not be looking at ways to improve the game worldwide. I don't believe it is unhealthy for the game that Australia is very strong. Other countries need to understand and try to copy what it is the Australians are doing."