Death of a Gentleman: 5 Key Talking Points from Cricket's Controversial New Film

Journalists Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber share a common love: cricket. To be more specific, Test cricket.

They also were united in their concern for the future of the longest form of the game, so they combined with director Johnny Blank to produce the documentary film Death of a Gentleman.

Per the film's official website, they "embark on a journey across the cricketing empire to find the answer to the question ‘Who really cares about Test cricket?’"

However, during the process, the storyline shifted, as the trio delved into the world of cricket administration. What they discovered should raise concerns for fans everywhere, no matter what their allegiance.

The journey saw Blank, Collins and Kimber speak to all manner of people from the cricketing world, including those who either are or formerly were in positions of power, as well as a host of players with international experience.

Now, the final product has been released in cinemas, with a number of screenings taking place in England, as well as two nights in Edinburgh.

Here we pick out five major talking points raised by the film.

The Future of Test Cricket Looks Bleak

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While an Ashes summer has shown the popularity of Test cricket in England, the format is not in such rude health everywhere in the world.

It is a common sight these days to see five-day games played in stadiums that are almost empty.

This is not a new issue.

Back in 1992, in the Independent, Tony Cozier wrote a well-researched piece about the decline in popularity of Test matches in the face of competition from limited-overs games.

The rise of Twenty20 cricket has seen that become the goose that lays the golden egg, with the excitement of the short format bringing in spectators of all ages.

T20 competitions have popped up all over the place, with Test matches now competing in a crowded market for exposure.

As Sam Collins explained in an interview with Tom Fordy of the Telegraph:

"

There’s a sense of insecurity about cricket, because of the perception that it’s boring.

But the reality is that while satellite TV has brought more and more money into the game, Test cricket doesn’t make the money the shorter formats like Twenty20 make.

It’s like plate tectonics. In an ideal world everything would just work together, but they’re rubbing against each other causing friction.

"

Instead of working as one, Collins' quote makes clear the different forms of the game are competing against each other. And considering the lack of money it is making, Test cricket is struggling to cope.

The Power of 3

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After the initial intention of looking into the state of Test cricket, the filmmakers explored another topic: the dominance of three nations on the world game.

Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India—the Big Three—have gained greater control of the International Cricket Council.

Per BBC Sport, the move meant the trio would get the "lion's share" in a new revenue agreement.

While the rich get richer, the other ICC member nations—those that require more financial support to survive, never mind flourish—are left to fight over what remains in the pot.

The sheer size of the Indian market means the BCCI holds sway.

The Indian Premier League has been a huge hit, while the national side attract big crowds wherever they go. They are the draw in the international game.

According to Lawrence Booth of the Daily Mail: "The ECB and Cricket Australia claim India would have walked away from the international game had they not been allowed to gobble up funds that would be better employed spreading cricket's gospel. Its global economy, they insist, would have collapsed."

Tthe triumvirate at the top has managed to increase its stranglehold on the game.

The Need for Clarity

Governing bodies can be complicated things.

However, fans of cricket would like the chance to be able to understand a little more about how the International Cricket Council works.

They don't need to know everything to a minute detail, just a basic idea of what is going on.

To have that, though, requires some clarity. They need to see that what is being done is for the benefit of the many rather than the profit of a few.

On the ICC's own website—under the headline "Strategic Direction"—it says: "A bigger, better, global game targeting more players, more fans, more competitive teams.

Why, then, is the next Cricket World Cup being reduced to 10 teams?

Rather than expand and push the boundaries as they suggest, they instead seem to be shutting the door on some of their members.

In his review of the film for the Guardian, Andy Bull summed it up nicely: "The ICC is a magic eye painting in reverse. The more you look, the less clear it becomes."

Failing to See the Bigger Picture

England and Wales Cricket Board president Giles Clarke is one of the many people who was questioned during the lengthy filming process.

During his interview, Clarke ruled out the idea of cricket becoming an Olympic sport. According to George Dobell of ESPN Cricinfo, he said:

"

It's a tournament too far. We don't have the space in our calendar.

The Olympics takes place during the English season. It's impossible for us to set aside time for it. It would have an enormous economic impact on the game in this country.

It's a complete non-starter. We're not going to be playing Olympic cricket for men.

"

It is worrying that the head of one of the most powerful national bodies in the ICC seems unconcerned with seeing beyond the boundaries of his own back garden.

In his review of Death of a Gentleman for Cricket365, journalist Peter Miller wrote: "In an interview that is painful to watch, Clarke admits that his primary interest is the good of his board, not the good of the game."

Associate Nations, in particular, need help.

According to the figures released by the ICC, the 2015 Cricket World Cup was a success. That was helped, from a viewing point of view, by the performances of Afghanistan and Ireland.

Now, though, both countries may not get the chance to play at the next edition.

Per Stephan Shemilt of BBC Sport, Ireland captain William Porterfield said the following about the decision to cut the number of teams in the next tournament: "Why don't 10 teams just play cricket and every other country in the world not bother?"

Cricket needs to look at expansion into areas of massive potential—North America and the Far East, for example—even if that means having to spend some of their profits.

The Love for the Game Remains Strong

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Death of a Gentleman may not have found the definitive answers it was looking for, but in asking the big questions, it has raised awareness of the issues facing cricket.

With the aid of social media, fans of the game all over the world can unite over the common cause of seeing changes made.

What Blank, Collins and Kimber have done, though it wasn't their intention at the start, is expose areas of concern at the top that need to be addressed.

It can only be hoped the film has opened the door rather than just peeked through the window.

The strong support for the documentary on Twitter—just put the title in, search and read some of the feedback it is receiving—shows how passionate cricket lovers can be.

Maybe it doesn't have to be the death of a gentleman but the start of a resurrection instead.