A new documentary exposing self-interest at the top of cricket should “embarrass” the England and Wales Cricket Board and their “arrogant” new president Giles Clarke, according to one of its makers.
Jarrod Kimber, who made Death of a Gentleman with fellow cricket journalist Sam Collins, believes the impact of the film could spark a revolution in how the sport is run.
The 99-minute film, released a week tomorrow, alleges that cricket has been carved up to serve the interests of three nations; India, Australia and England.
Clarke, who stood down as chairman of the ECB earlier this year, has a number of barbed exchanges with Kimber and Collins in the film.
This includes a moment when he refuses to address a question about the ill-fated Twenty20 match between England and a West Indian All-Star XI which was bank-rolled by fraudster Allen Stanford.
Kimber told Standard Sport: “What Giles Clarke has done in the film shows the arrogance of these men [that run cricket] and their thought process.
“But it shouldn’t be about him, it should be about how the game is run.”
Death of a Gentleman examines dwindling interest in Test cricket around the world, weakened international cricket associations and claims the sport is contracting, due to the decisions that have been made principally by three men — ICC chairman N Srinivasan, Cricket Australia’s Wally Edwards and Clarke, who has since been replaced as ECB chairman by Colin Graves.
“Cricket shouldn’t be run by three men without accountability,” added Kimber.
“I think Clarke’s position should be weakened. He clearly still has a lot of power since being made president but our film is an embarrassment to the ECB.”
Kimber and Collins hope interest in the film could lead to cricket fans demanding change and have launched a campaign and petition.
Kimber added: “Cricket needs to be made transparent and these organisations must look after players and fans first.
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“There are many things that can be looked at to improve cricket’s financial position and engage with fans but almost none of them can be done until the game is run better.”
The ECB declined to comment.
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