Sacred International cricket will become a permanently diluted product unless the ICC implements critical changes to its scheduling, says world players’ union boss Tony Irish.

The competing demands of different formats will again be a talking point early next year, when an Australian XI hosts Sri Lanka in a T20 in Adelaide on February 22.

Sixteen hours later, a different XI will play India in the first Test of a four-match series in Pune.

Cross-format stars Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc are almost certain to be unavailable for the three-match T20 series as they prepare for an assault on the Border-Gavasker Trophy.

Cricket Australia has repeatedly stated Test cricket is top priority, with players echoing this mantra.

Irish, who is the executive chairman of the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA), has long been a critic of the ICC’s approach to fixturing and an advocate for sweeping changes.

“We are opposed to the concept and have made that clear in discussions at ICC level,” Irish told Foxsports.

“I think it is dangerous territory because it forces players to choose one format of international cricket over another, and international cricket starts competing with itself.”

The scheduling conflict is hardly surprising and was forecast in early August by Fox sports. Nor is it the first time two Australian teams have competed concurrently in different countries.

In January, the entire one-day squad travelled to New Zealand to prepare for the Chappell-Hadlee series. It left the bare remnants of an Australian team to take on India in the third T20 at the SCG, a match which the Aussies lost on the final ball of the match.

Similarly, Australia finished a Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on November 3, 2014, two days before a T20 against South Africa in Adelaide.

None of the players who took part in that Test made it back in time to don the colored gear against the Protease.

“Players around the world are strong in their view that all international cricket should be the best versus the best and this needs to be the case to ensure the international product is as good as it can be for players, fans and broadcasters,” Irish said.
“Best versus the best will not happen when elite players who play all formats are not available because the national team is playing different formats at the same time.”

Earlier this week, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland shared Irish’s sentiment that the international cricketing calendar needs a renovation.

“Scheduling is something that cascades down a little bit, where what happens here in Australia is very much a function of what happens at international level,” Sutherland said.

“And there’s a lot of work being done at the moment to revamp the structure of international cricket, to bring more context and relevance to matches.

“Those conversations are well advanced and I think there are some exciting things in the mix there that will be good for the game.”

Earlier this week, former Test star and Australian Cricketers Association consultant Simon Katich suggested wearing the green and gold was not what it used to be.

“Scheduling issues are having a major impact on everyone involved in the game and putting both players and selectors in unenviable positions,” Katich said.

General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard said in August he expected similar fixture clashes to continue unless the ICC can ratify a new structure.

“I don’t apologize for putting Test cricket first,” Howard, who notched 20 caps for the Wallabies, told Foxsports.

“We have to give the guys every opportunity to play well in India, which will mean guys will get an opportunity to play T20 international cricket here.”

“The preparation clashes which happened in the past, I can absolutely see happening again.”

Australia’s jam-packed summer of cricket:

Nov 3-7: Australia v South Africa (Perth)
Nov 12-16: Australia v South Africa (Hobart)
Nov 24-28: Australia v South Africa (Adelaide D/N)
Dec 4: Australia v New Zealand (Sydney)
Dec 6: Australia v New Zealand (Canberra)
Dec 9: Australia v New Zealand (Melbourne)
Dec 15-19: Australia v Pakistan (Brisbane D/N)
Dec 26-30: Australia v Pakistan (Melbourne)
Jan 3-7: Australia v Pakistan (Sydney)
Jan 13: Australia v Pakistan (Brisbane)
Jan 15: Australia v Pakistan (Melbourne)
Jan 19: Australia v Pakistan (Perth)
Jan 22: Australia v Pakistan (Sydney)
Jan 26: Australia v Pakistan (Adelaide)
Jan 30: New Zealand v Australia (Auckland)
Feb 2: New Zealand v Australia (Napier)
Feb 5: New Zealand v Australia (Hamilton)
Feb 17: Australia v Sri Lanka (Melbourne T20)
Feb 19: Australia v Sri Lanka (Geelong T20)
Feb 22: Australia v Sri Lanka (Adelaide T20)
Feb 23-27: India v Australia (Pune — 1st Test)