Senior figures in world cricket "have warned of the growing threat of corruption" within the "vulnerable" women’s game, with an "explosion in interest making it more attractive to fixers," according to Tim Wigmore of the London GUARDIAN. The warnings come in the wake of a "successful World Cup" and as England prepares in Australia for the Women’s Ashes, which begin on Oct. 22. Federation of Int'l Cricketers' Associations Chair Tony Irish warned that the women’s game "is particularly at risk." He said, "expressing concern about how the quality of anti-corruption measures differs" between nations, "Women's cricket is receiving more attention and is more and more on TV so it is likely to be targeted. As with the men's game there are very different standards of anti-corruption education received by women across the world." Irish called on the Int'l Cricket Council to "do more to safeguard the integrity of the sport for both genders" (GUARDIAN, 10/11). In London, Nick Hoult reported FICA warned that cricketers are "traditionalists" and "unlikely to support four-day Test cricket" as the game’s governing body meets this week to "finally" give the go-ahead for a World Test championship. The ICC's meeting from Wednesday until Friday in Auckland "is expected to announce separate league structures" for Test and 50-over cricket after years of discussions and failed attempts to introduce change. Irish warned his players remain skeptical "about the need for four-day Tests." He said, "We urge the ICC and boards not to look at ad hoc solutions to Test cricket in isolation" (TELEGRAPH, 10/10).
