He has criticised Cricket Australia for scheduling the Big Bash - their version of the HRV Cup - during the holiday period, so it clashes with the time of year normally reserved for the showpiece test series.
He has plenty of sympathisers across the Tasman, not least Australian skipper Michael Clarke and under-pressure opener Phil Hughes. Clarke has forgone the riches on offer from the Indian Premier League to concentrate on his international career and has expressed frustration that discarded players have only the Big Bash to play for at the height of their test summer. Hughes has cancelled his Big Bash contract with Sydney Thunder to try to play himself back into form in grade cricket.
New Zealand Cricket has long given up any pretence of the holiday period being anything other than cash-in time. By the time South Africa rolls in for an eagerly anticipated three-match test series, young fans will long be back at school, scribbling nonsense in their 1B5s while using their smart-phones to get Cricinfo updates.
It is the day, said Richards, of the independent contractor, the Chris Gayles, who travel the world playing for fat fees for several different franchises.
"Because the money's so good - who can knock back $700,000- $800,000 for sitting on the bench in the IPL and not having to hit or bowl a ball?" Richards asked the Sydney Morning Herald.
"We're going to see a lot more of these players."
Step forward Muttiah Muralitharan.
The world record-holder for test wickets (800) rolls into town tonight in preparation, if you can call it that, for the start of the HRV Cup.
Also appearing for Wellington will be the well-performed Zimbabwean and current test player Brendan Taylor but be under no illusions - all eyes will be on the Sri Lankan twirler when Wellington open their campaign against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park tomorrow.
Muralitharan is on a short-term contract with Wellington, leaving after their January 4 match against Northern Districts at Mt Maunganui.
He will be replaced by the less exotic, but hyphenated, Rory Hamilton-Brown.
Muralitharan will provide an interesting case study in whether high-priced imports actually provide value for money both on and off the field.
Given he can't field for toffee, is hopeless with the bat and is carrying a few more kilos than when he was at his fighting weight, really what Wellington are banking on is a couple of wickets and that he'll lift their profile and get a few more through the gate for the two home matches he will appear in.
If he is a complete shower against Auckland tomorrow, how much pressure will Jamie Siddons be under to play him at the Basin Reserve anyway?
The defending champion Aces have the ever-reliable (and undoubtedly cheaper) Andre Adams as one of their imports. Their wildcard is Pakistani allrounder Azhar Mahmood. Given that he hasn't played a test for 10 years and an ODI for four, you can safely put him in the category of a T20 pay-for-play specialist. It is, as Richards fears, the modern way.
And if people keep rolling through the gates and if broadcasters keep lapping up the short format, it's going to continue to hog the limelight at the best time of year.
Purists be damned.
Tomorrow
* Auckland v Wellington, Colin Maiden Park, 2pm (Sky TV)
* Canterbury v Northern Districts, Rangiora, 2pm
* Otago v Central Districts, Dunedin, 2pm.
Winners
Specsavers contest winners
* Nagin Dahya, Avondale; Brett Anderson, North Shore; Karla Buchanan, Papakura; Gary Burns, Half Moon Bay.
Your prizes are in the post.
