Series We'd Like to See

[Richard]

It'd also be interesting to see New Zealand when they first acquired test status play Bangladesh (I'd assume the former had been trained to contemporary levels of fitness for the sake of fairness). Would finally settle those "are they worthy of test status/are they the worst test side ever" hypotheticals.

This too would be interesting. Neither of these sides, for mine, remotely merited Test status but consensus suggests New Zealand were probably at least a little better than Bangladesh.

Also, I've learnt recently that the ability might have been there in NZ, but selection let them down.

 

[andruid]

This too would be interesting. Neither of these sides, for mine, remotely merited Test status but consensus suggests New Zealand were probably at least a little better than Bangladesh.

Also, I've learnt recently that the ability might have been there in NZ, but selection let them down.

Bangladesh are an indictment to the lack of practical thought that goes into determining who deserves test cricket and who doesn't. They got away with Sri lanka and seemed to be getting away with it with Zimbabwe but with Bangladesh they were pushing their luck too far. How the hell do you give Test status to a country with no functioning FC structure? Really!!!

Rant over... I would like to see the Ireland team from the 2007 WC, the Kenya team from the 1996 WC taking on the Zimbabwe team from 1983 WC, and the Sri Lanka team fro the 1975 WC in a quadrangular to see which side had the most potential when they entered the global stage.

 

[Richard]

Bangladesh are an indictment to the lack of practical thought that goes into determining who deserves test cricket and who doesn't. They got away with Sri lanka and seemed to be getting away with it with Zimbabwe but with Bangladesh they were pushing their luck too far. How the hell do you give Test status to a country with no functioning FC structure? Really!!!

'Twas truly crazy. TBH, though, I don't know a lot about the structures of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at their times of promotion (had thought I'd read that Zimbabwe's was actually semi-decent mind ) and really, particularly in SL's case, times were different. What worked in 1981 (or even 1975) might very possibly not work now.

BTW - on some vaguely related note - did you still think you'd consider CW staff application?

 

[gunner]

the pakistan side that faced india in 2006 tests and the aussie side of 2007 ashes

 

[andruid]

'Twas truly crazy. TBH, though, I don't know a lot about the structures of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at their times of promotion (had thought I'd read that Zimbabwe's was actually semi-decent mind ) and really, particularly in SL's case, times were different. What worked in 1981 (or even 1975) might very possibly not work now.

BTW - on some vaguely related note - did you still think you'd consider CW staff application?

Well I am soon writing a blog on Domestic cricket but as I am aware from the research I have done, whether or not the structure was there was not really factored by the ICC when dishing out test status, and in my more paranoid moments I suspect that the last three test nation got there as a long term ploy by the BCCI to take over the ICC, so that SL and Zimbabwe had strong foundations was more down to the countries themselves than any concious efforts by the ICC to prepare them for Test cricket. In fact apparently Zimbabwe's Logan cup was only converted into a fully fledged FC tournament after Zimbabwe got test status and therefore had the additional funding to make it work. Right now Kenya are preparing to launch a 3 day tournament which starts at the end of the month and personally I am shocked at how this rather crucial development has been overshadowed by the cash cows that are the IPL and the ICL.

on the application, does it pay?

 

[Richard]

Well I am soon writing a blog on Domestic cricket but as I am aware from the research I have done, whether or not the structure was there was not really factored by the ICC when dishing out test status, and in my more paranoid moments I suspect that the last three test nation got there as a long term ploy by the BCCI to take over the ICC, so that SL and Zimbabwe had strong foundations was more down to the countries themselves than any concious efforts by the ICC to prepare them for Test cricket. In fact apparently Zimbabwe's Logan cup was only converted into a fully fledged FC tournament after Zimbabwe got test status and therefore had the additional funding to make it work. Right now Kenya are preparing to launch a 3 day tournament which starts at the end of the month and personally I am shocked at how this rather crucial development has been overshadowed by the cash cows that are the IPL and the ICL.

I'm not sure about Sri Lanka, certainly, and probably not Zimbabwe. Only after WC96 did the BCCI start their "voyage of conquest". Certainly back in 1981 the game was still completely controlled by England and Australia's boards, as well as MCC. I doubt their elevation was anything much to do with India.

on the application, does it pay?

No, 'fraid not. If you wanted to write, it'd be purely because you wanted to reach an audience with your work. There's no pay and no immediate prospect of it.