Test Proposal to split test cricket into two divisions

[Kennedy Parker]

Not sure why the ECB would even consider this concept.

Unless there is a special carve out to keep them in the top tier then the 6th placed in the WTC, have not achieved anything in test cricket for a decade English cricket team will soon be relegated.

 

[Teen Wolf]

I say a bit more than some scribe trying to big note himself. His editor certainly would not be happy if it turned out to be speculation. Something like this was mooted back before WTC came into being.

You clearly haven't read the article. The body text, written by the journalist, doesn't provide specifics about a proposed structure.

Things like the insert outlining a possible structure aren't created by the reporter. He would've had as much input into that as the headline and photos. Which is to say none.

 

[JackOutback]

... was clearly just something thrown together by an editor at The Age without insight.

Disagree... this proposal has been around in one form or another for eight years. They way journalism works in situations like this is they often find a friendly journo to float the idea to gauge public reaction, while having plausible deniability if the reaction is bad.

 

[Seedsfan]

World rugby is going through something similar with the proposed, World Rugby Nations Championship.

The sticking point was the promotion relegation side of things as the tier one nations were always guaranteed.

If the rankings are decided upon on the merits of the team and not the wealth of the cricket boards involved I don’t see an issue. I just fear the self interest and corruption

 

[Seedsfan]

Furthermore I’d look to it being a 7:7 split instead of 7:5 and trying to help include more nations the play tests.

If they are going to split it teams need to be able to earn promotion in a fair and just way that ensures any of Australia India and England could fall out of the top tier if their performances didn’t warrant them being there

 

[Teen Wolf]

Disagree... this proposal has been around in one form or another for eight years. They way journalism works in situations like this is they often find a friendly journo to float the idea to gauge public reaction, while having plausible deniability if the reaction is bad.

1) In one form or another, it's been around a lot longer than 8 years. Here's an article from 2004.

2) The structure rejected in 2016 is the one which an editor has regurgitated. The journalist referenced that for context and background info, but certainly didn't report the Big 3 + ICC are reconsidering that specific structure.

 

[Cmarsh]

Obviously impractical, but I'd love a summer of Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe coming to Aus to play Tests against Australia and also one another. A Zimbabwe v Afghanistan Test at a local ground would be great for the game.

And then an old school ODI series between the four nations in January.

Sure, if you want to see empty stands as well.

 

[Rabish Binney]

No no no

 

[PhatBoy]

Sure, if you want to see empty stands as well.

Some of us watch the game not the seats

 

[Cmarsh]

Some of us watch the game not the seats

When it comes to the proposal I was replying to, "some" is the operative word.

 

[glengowan]

The current 4 year cycles of 5 Test match series against each other home and away for India/England/Australia is perfect IMO. It’s traditional and regular enough. Don’t oversaturate it.

I’d change the WTC to be hosted in England only, over a period of 1 month (either June or late Aug/early Sept) each year, with the top 8 nations to play each other over a 3 year cycle. 3 Tests each for the first 2 years. The 3rd year of that cycle would include the 7th match of the cycle, so everyone played each other once, plus Semi Final and Final. The 3rd year would also include 8th playing “9th” for promotion/relegation to the next cycle.

I’d also change the ODI World Cup to run on a 3 year cycle and T20 to be the same. The ODI WC one year, the T20 WC the next and TWC Finals the year after that.

 

[cricketnut14]

Bangladesh against proposed tier 1 nations:

• drew last series with England 1-1
• drew last series with NZ at home 1-1
• drew last series with NZ away 1-1
• won last series with Pakistan away 2-0
• drew last series with Australia 1-1

They also drew their last series away with the West Indies who drew THEIR last away series with Australia and beat England at home last time they hosted them.

How the f**k is this fair on them

while all of the above is true , you can paint stats anyway you please:

bangladesh v australia, england, india 2-27 (2 draws)
bangladesh v pakistan, new zealand, sri lanka, west indies south africa 10-75 (13 draws)
total 12-102 (15 draws) of which 5 were v WI.

bangladesh v zimbabwe, irealnd, afghanistan 10-8 (3 draws)

tier 2 seems about right.

 

[PhatBoy]

while all of the above is true , you can paint stats anyway you please:

bangladesh v australia, england, india 2-27 (2 draws)
bangladesh v pakistan, new zealand, sri lanka, west indies south africa 10-75 (13 draws)
total 12-102 (15 draws) of which 5 were v WI.

bangladesh v zimbabwe, irealnd, afghanistan 10-8 (3 draws)

tier 2 seems about right.

And why would you do this RIGHT as those results are starting to turn.

‘Ok so we can see that in your recent outings against all these sides you’ve actually shown the necessary level to compete with them, but after a quarter of a century as their punching bags, it’s now that you’re starting to beat them or match them that we are going to stop you playing them.’

It makes absolutely no sense.

It’s like letting amateurs play professional golf tournaments and continually miss cuts for 20 years and then after they spend a few years finishing in the top 10 at tournaments including the odd major, telling them they can’t play pro events at all.

 

[cricketnut14]

And why would you do this RIGHT as those results are starting to turn.

if i go back in recent times, since the WTC began they are 5-24 (2 draws) in WTC matches OR 1 series win in 16 series.

FWIW i think all 12 test nations should be treated equally , otherwise why grant them test status.

we should be playing all nations as evenly as possible.

it's ridiculous we haven't played ireland or afhanistan(home or away) in their 8 year history.
zimbabwe have toured here once for a test series in their 34 year history and bangladesh once (and in winter - top end) in their 26 year history.

 

[PhatBoy]

if i go back in recent times, since the WTC began they are 5-24 (2 draws) in WTC matches OR 1 series win in 16 series.

FWIW i think all 12 test nations should be treated equally , otherwise why grant them test status.

we should be playing all nations as evenly as possible.

it's ridiculous we haven't played ireland or afhanistan(home or away) in their 8 year history.
zimbabwe have toured here once for a test series in their 34 year history and bangladesh once (and in winter - top end) in their 26 year history.

Absolutely, and not winning series doesn’t equate to not being competitive or being worthy of playing these other sides.

Richmond went 2-21 last season and will probably be the same or worse this season. And they get a lot more chances against other ‘bad’ teams to win games. Likewise with WCE in recent seasons. We don’t talk about promotion relegation for afl or nrl.

Cricket is different I understand that and for a team like Zimbabwe there is a very real chance that they will literally never get better.

But the others all have that scope if they are treated with the respect and development they deserve and Bangladesh are finally showing that

 

[StingBitten]

They just need to combine a lower-level team with a higher performing team as they did more regularly about a decade ago but with more intent. Something like:

South Africa 3-tests/Pakistan 3-tests
New Zealand 3-tests/Sri Lanka 3-tests
England 5-tests/Bangladesh 1-test
India 5-tests/Zimbabwe 1-test
West Indies somewhere in there.

Wouldn't something like that work better?

 

[jannissary]

laughable proposition. it’ll kill test cricket if it goes through

 

[Westend]

No

 

[Westend]

All about the money

So if West Indies v the big three atm are struggling to make money how are they going to make money playing zim bangers on a regular basis ??

Stupid Idea

If they are going to shake up test cricket would rather look at 4 day tests instead

 

[BGman]

then it wouldn't be possible for an Aust v Ind, Aust v Eng or Eng v India final

It wont happen for that reason, as imagine the empty stands for a WTC final against say, Ireland v Sri Lanka. ICC will loose $$$$ in revenue. This is a pipe dream as already ICC has dropped the AM Intercontinental Cup prob over the cost, that and the players were likely up in arms over being paid a pittance.

No

Why Westend.

 

[eaglevision]

All about the money

So if West Indies v the big three atm are struggling to make money how are they going to make money playing zim bangers on a regular basis ??

Stupid Idea

If they are going to shake up test cricket would rather look at 4 day tests instead

A profit sharing model where the smaller nations are no worse off and receive a generous share of revenue, even from series they aren’t involved in.

 

[Westend]

It wont happen for that reason, as imagine the empty stands for a WTC final against say, Ireland v Sri Lanka. ICC will loose $$$$ in revenue. This is a pipe dream as already ICC has dropped the AM Intercontinental Cup prob over the cost, that and the players were likely paid a pittance.


Why Westend.

Because it diminishes to standing of cricket to chase the mighty dollar

I would hate to see the ashes every 2 years ..4 years has more meaning for me

Short term the model would most likely work but long term I reckon cricket will suffer

And what happens if India England Aus play poorly for a two year period will they be relegated ?? I guarantee they will not

It’s just a cash grab before we know it India will be known as MRF India some commercial bullshit Australia the Telstra kangaroos

 

[BGman]

This was proposed a few years ago to likely cover the loss of the Intercontinental Cup, wonder if it ever saw the lite of day.

In April 2021, the ICC looked at the possibility of multi-day matches between Associate Members with One Day International (ODI) status, and Test teams who were not part of the WTC.

 

[eaglevision]

Because it diminishes to standing of cricket to chase the mighty dollar

I would hate to see the ashes every 2 years ..4 years has more meaning for me

Short term the model would most likely work but long term I reckon cricket will suffer

And what happens if India England Aus play poorly for a two year period will they be relegated ?? I guarantee they will not

It’s just a cash grab before we know it India will be known as MRF India some commercial bullshit Australia the Telstra kangaroos

It would be every 3 years (with same home team) and the big 3 100% have to be prepared to get relegated. It undermines the entire proposed system otherwise.

 

[BGman]

Because it diminishes to standing of cricket to chase the mighty dollar

I would hate to see the ashes every 2 years ..4 years has more meaning for me

Short term the model would most likely work but long term I reckon cricket will suffer

And what happens if India England Aus play poorly for a two year period will they be relegated ?? I guarantee they will not

It’s just a cash grab before we know it India will be known as MRF India some commercial bullshit Australia the Telstra kangaroos

I see its only merit is the chance for a couple of the minnow nations to play Test cricket against the big fish if the promotion/demotion model is introduced. And behind Ireland and Afghan, there are some 96 other Associate Members across all continents perpetuating the sport. Some have been members for over 50 years. Specially deserving of a crack at the Test big time are those 8 with current ODI/T20-I status.