Do we need a test series?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Back in the 1960s, Australia toured South Africa in 1966-67 and 1969-70. In those two seasons, the best standard of cricket available in Australia was the Sheffield Shield.
Although we never saw our test team in action, the Shield competition was extremely entertaining. Also, those seasons saw the debuts of Dennis Lillee, Greg Chappell, John Gleeson, Jeff Hammond among others.
Over the past few seasons we have witnessed some very one-sided test series in Australia, and I have wondered if we really need a test series every year in the Australian Cricket calendar.
Just for one season, I'd love to see the ACB try this format as an alternative:
Each of the 6 states would recruit 2 International cricketers, thus bringing 12 of the best players to Australia for the summer.
We have a Pura Cup competition in it's current format, as well as a series of 3 Supertests between Australia and the visiting International players.
A full on One Day series with each state playing each other twice, and maybe a series on one day Internationals at the end.
Would others like to see somethinfg like this for a change, or would they prefer to see Australia playing test cricket against another nation?

 

[DaveW]

Would love to see it, but it is a pipe dream. At least two problems spring to mind:
a) We are supposed to host nine test nations every five years in line with the new Test program.
b) Other countries have their domestic seasons at the same time, so why would those players come out here? We don't have the advantage that English cricket has of being the off season for every other cricket nation, hence getting the overseas stars.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by DaveW
Would love to see it, but it is a pipe dream. At least two problems spring to mind:
a) We are supposed to host nine test nations every five years in line with the new Test program.
b) Other countries have their domestic seasons at the same time, so why would those players come out here? We don't have the advantage that English cricket has of being the off season for every other cricket nation, hence getting the overseas stars.

I concede point 1, I didn't realise that was the case. As for point 2, you ask why players would come to Australia? The same reason why all test countries bust their guts to get to Australia ... money. They would earn more money playing in a series like this than they would at home ... just ask the West Indians.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Adelaide Hawk


I concede point 1, I didn't realise that was the case. As for point 2, you ask why players would come to Australia? The same reason why all test countries bust their guts to get to Australia ... money. They would earn more money playing in a series like this than they would at home ... just ask the West Indians.

Well with the high volume of international cricket we have now (currently India are hosting West Indies, South Africa are hosting Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are hosting Pakistan) a lot of the top overseas players are going to be unavailable. On top of this aspiring test players in those countries will be wanting to prove themselves in their domestic leagues. Note that Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson have effectively turned their back on playing Test cricket for Zimbabwe by playing in Australian and South African domestic cricket respectively.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by Brett Li


I can't believe any English cricketer would go to Australia for that reason. Why do you think so many aussies have played county cricket?

Many English county players frequent Australia in the English off-season, just as Australian players go to England. However, not many English players are good enough to play 1st class cricket in Australia.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by Brett Li


so you agree its not for the money, rather to improve their game?

I really don't understand the point you are trying to make. These guys are professional cricketers, or trying to be, and if money is on offer they will take it.

 

[Bomber Spirit]

There's only 10 Shield games for each team in a summer. Not enough to be worth the expense of flying international players in for - what would they do the rest of the time?

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Bomber Spirit
There's only 10 Shield games for each team in a summer. Not enough to be worth the expense of flying international players in for - what would they do the rest of the time?

There's 10 ING matches as well.