Cricket 2035: Formats, Technology and the Fans of Tomorrow

Predicting the future of a sport is a dangerous game, as anyone who foresaw the rise of Twenty20 in the 1990s would admit. Few would have guessed that a three-hour format would transform the finances and the geography of the game within a generation. So any look at the next decade should be offered with humility. But the trends already visible, in formats, technology and audiences, give a reasonable sense of the direction cricket is moving, and of the questions it will have to answer.

The format question

The most obvious tension is between the long and the short. Twenty20 has proved immensely popular, and franchise leagues in many countries will probably continue to expand. Shorter formats suit busy lives, fit neatly into television schedules and attract new audiences. The experiment with a 100-ball game in England showed that administrators are willing to innovate to reach people who might not otherwise watch cricket.

At the same time, the longest format will not disappear overnight. Test cricket retains a devoted following and a central place in the sport's identity. The likeliest outcome is a Test game that is more focused, with fewer but more meaningful series, protected windows in the calendar and ways of supporting nations that cannot easily afford it. The one-day international is the format with the most uncertain future, squeezed between the other two, although the global 50-over tournament continues to attract huge interest.

• Twenty20: expanding in leagues and at the Olympics.
• Test cricket: smaller in volume, but protected as the sport's prestige format.
• One-day cricket: searching for a clear role, though still valued in World Cup years.
• Experiments: new formats and shorter competitions will keep appearing.

The rise of women's cricket

Few areas of the sport have more momentum than the women's game. The introduction of professional women's leagues in several countries, including a high-profile competition in India launched in 2023, has transformed opportunities for players. Crowds at major women's matches have grown, and television audiences have followed.

Another strand to watch is the relationship between international and franchise cricket. If leagues continue to grow, the sport will need clearer agreements on player release, scheduling and revenue sharing, so that the global calendar makes sense for fans as well as for owners. How well that conversation goes may do more to determine cricket's shape in 2035 than any single innovation.

Over the next decade, more players are likely to become full-time professionals, with better pay, facilities and coaching pathways. That should raise standards and widen the pool of talent, making matches more competitive and the stars more recognisable. The Olympic inclusion of women's cricket in 2028 will provide a global stage. Expect the women's game to become not an add-on but a central part of cricket's identity and commercial strength.

Technology and the viewing experience

Technology will continue to change how cricket is watched and played. Ball tracking and detailed data are already widely used, and the next step is likely to be even richer analysis, with artificial intelligence helping coaches to identify patterns and plan tactics. Wearable devices will monitor players' workload and fitness, and could help reduce injuries.

For viewers, streaming has already altered habits, allowing fans to watch on phones and tablets wherever they are. Future coverage might offer greater personalisation: choosing camera angles, statistics or commentary languages that suit the viewer. Augmented graphics, immersive replays and interactive features could make the experience more engaging, especially for younger audiences accustomed to digital media.

There is a caution here. Cricket's appeal lies partly in its rhythms, its pauses, and the conversation that fills them. Technology that enhances those qualities will be welcome; technology that overwhelms them will not.

New audiences and places

Cricket's audience is already vast, largely because of its popularity in South Asia, but the next decade should see it spread. The United States, which co-hosted a men's T20 World Cup in 2024 and will host the sport at the 2028 Olympics, is the most prominent new market. Continental Europe and parts of Asia and Africa are also developing their cricketing cultures.

Growth will bring challenges, including how to fund and organise the game in new places and how to keep the established nations engaged. It will also bring opportunities: new rivalries, new stars and new ideas about how cricket can be played and presented.

Grounds, climate and community

Environmental pressures will affect how and where cricket is played. Heat, heavy rain and water shortages will push venues to adapt, with better drainage, more efficient resource use and schedules that protect players and fans. Grounds that act as community hubs, open to all, will probably prove more resilient than those used only for occasional big matches.

What will stay the same

For all the talk of change, much about cricket will endure. The contest between bat and ball, the drama of a close finish, and the sense of occasion that comes from a full ground on a sunny afternoon are not tied to any format or gadget. The best predictions for the decade ahead may be about continuity as much as revolution.

If the sport can keep its soul while embracing new formats, technologies and audiences, it could emerge more global, more inclusive and more exciting than before. That is the challenge for administrators, players and fans alike, and it is why the next ten years may prove among the most interesting in cricket's long history.