Sports finance expert Professor Rob Wilson has warned the England and Wales Cricket Board and English cricket fans that giving up ‘Bazball’ could bring the national team back despite failures in the Ashes this year.
In an interview with Grosvenor Sportssponsor of TNT Sport’s live English cricket coverage, as the final series against Australia draws to a close, Wilson, Professor of Applied Sports Finance and Head of Executive Education at UCFB, has also looked at the potential costs associated with replacing Brendan McCullum with Justin Langer.
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Can the England Cricket Board afford to sack Brendon McCullum?
Yes. The ECB’s revenue position is strong enough to absorb a management payout of £4 to £6 million.
However, the risk is not financial, but strategic. McCullum is closely associated with the identity and renewed commercial appeal of the England Test team.
Removing him would invite scrutiny regarding stability and long-term vision.
Could ECB replace McCullum with Justin Langer, and what would that cost?
The ECB has the resources to recruit Langer without too many problems from a financial perspective.
Convincing him might be a different story. His contract would likely be around £1-1.5m per year, including bonuses, and around £7-10m over four years, including support staff.
The real question is cultural fit. Langer’s stricter leadership style may not reflect the environment England has worked hard to create.
Does Bazball help or hurt the commercial value of English cricket?
Bazball was a net positive for the England and Wales Cricket Board. I would say it has contributed to higher stadium attendance, stronger broadcast figures and wider international interest in Test cricket.
The tactical unpredictability can draw criticism if results disappoint, but from a sponsorship perspective, excitement and distinctiveness are highly commercial.
It makes England a product that people make time to watch.
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