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ICC seriously considers 2 divisions,7/5 split.
- Thread starter brockley
- Start date
watson
Banned
Agree with Richardson that two Test divsions must be implemented by 2019 to add more "meaning and context" to each Test match.
The article doesn't appear to say how the points system will work though. I assume 1 points for a win, and zero for a draw or loss. A bonus point for a series win also seems appropriate otherwise a 1-0 victory will be equal points wise to a 1-2 loss.
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TheJediBrah
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It's going to be so tricky though. There's a reason different Test nations play different quantities & ratios of Tests/ODIs. Very important financial reasons that can't be ignored.
But if you have such a "points system" it's obviously going to have to be normalized if, say, England play 14 tests in a year and Sri Lanka play 7
But if you have such a "points system" it's obviously going to have to be normalized if, say, England play 14 tests in a year and Sri Lanka play 7
andruid
Cricketer Of The Year
They could use the points system from the Intercontinental Cup. I am sure Ireland would love that.
I suppose then that is whey there was a suggestion of setting aside a part of the calendar for Test Championship series and the rest for other incidental matches. Kinda like how FIFA has days for qualifiers of various tournaments and nations are free to schedule their own firendlies outside of that?
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TheJediBrah
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Then that creates it's own problems. For example, what if England get relegated because they finish just below another team on the "Test Championship" table, even though they were actually a better Test team but some of their best wins didn't count because it was the Ashes or something?
It's very, very difficult
andruid
Cricketer Of The Year
I suppose then a series like the Ashes could operate outside of the test championship?
cnerd123
likes this
A 7/5 split means there will be two new Test nations.
I want to know how they determine who those new sides are.
The obvious two candidates seem to be Ireland and Afghanistan. They're on top of the Intercontinental Table, have been the strongest associates in recent times, and have a large amount of support from fans outside of their own countries. But I see major issues facing both these sides.
In the case of Ireland, would becoming a Test Nation mean all their players now count as Foreigners in County Cricket? It's hard to imagine the ECB would be cool with players from a rival Test Nation making use of their domestic structure as heavily as Ireland do now. It's been fine so far while the Irish have been limited to Associate and ODI status, but I'd be surprised if it stayed this way once Ireland became a Test playing nation. And if they do get cut off, is their domestic structure good enough to sustain a Test playing nation? Can the board afford to go professional? How much support is the ICC giving them here? Will it be enough?
As for Afghanistan, their only issue is with security and logistics. It's hard for Afghanistani to get visas for most countries, and downright impossible for others. And naturally they're going to have to host all their games in the UAE; and given their main domestic cricket sponsor is Etisalat, this should be pretty easy for them. It's very much the Pakistan situation, and once again, while not a big deal as an Associate side, how is this going to play up once they become a full blown Test team?
I want to know how they determine who those new sides are.
The obvious two candidates seem to be Ireland and Afghanistan. They're on top of the Intercontinental Table, have been the strongest associates in recent times, and have a large amount of support from fans outside of their own countries. But I see major issues facing both these sides.
In the case of Ireland, would becoming a Test Nation mean all their players now count as Foreigners in County Cricket? It's hard to imagine the ECB would be cool with players from a rival Test Nation making use of their domestic structure as heavily as Ireland do now. It's been fine so far while the Irish have been limited to Associate and ODI status, but I'd be surprised if it stayed this way once Ireland became a Test playing nation. And if they do get cut off, is their domestic structure good enough to sustain a Test playing nation? Can the board afford to go professional? How much support is the ICC giving them here? Will it be enough?
As for Afghanistan, their only issue is with security and logistics. It's hard for Afghanistani to get visas for most countries, and downright impossible for others. And naturally they're going to have to host all their games in the UAE; and given their main domestic cricket sponsor is Etisalat, this should be pretty easy for them. It's very much the Pakistan situation, and once again, while not a big deal as an Associate side, how is this going to play up once they become a full blown Test team?
ECB should be fine with Irish players using the CC. Until it gets to a point that they are in the same division as us, then a change should be made. However in the meantime a proper first class competition should be built in Ireland.
Two or three team Irish first class tournament with the best Irish players playing at either the start or the end of the English season. The Irish players would be heavily compelled to play it (international selection penalties otherwise) and once it is complete (play it over 3/4 weeks) then they can play in England again. This would start to create a competitive Irish first class competition that could slowly be expanded.
Two or three team Irish first class tournament with the best Irish players playing at either the start or the end of the English season. The Irish players would be heavily compelled to play it (international selection penalties otherwise) and once it is complete (play it over 3/4 weeks) then they can play in England again. This would start to create a competitive Irish first class competition that could slowly be expanded.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
This competition already exists; it's in its fourth season. it just doesn't have First Class status yet.
Grumpy
U19 Vice-Captain
I'm not a big fan of divisions. This 7/5 split would hardly improve the current scenario of Test cricket having no context apart from bilaterals in the 1st division and could make struggling boards even worse off if they are in the 2nd.
Instead I would like to see a proper scheduled Test championship over the span of 3-4 years where each Team plays a series of 3 Tests against each other - home and away. That might be impossible to schedule given cricket can only be played in certain months in each country.
So instead, why not split the current 10 Test teams into 2 groups of 5. The members in each group play each other in 3 match series home and away, and the top 2 from each group qualify for a play off championship.
Instead I would like to see a proper scheduled Test championship over the span of 3-4 years where each Team plays a series of 3 Tests against each other - home and away. That might be impossible to schedule given cricket can only be played in certain months in each country.
So instead, why not split the current 10 Test teams into 2 groups of 5. The members in each group play each other in 3 match series home and away, and the top 2 from each group qualify for a play off championship.
Grumpy
U19 Vice-Captain
There is debate regarding Day Night cricket. Given that the pink ball requires a green pitch to remain in tact, it is plausible most of these matches won't last longer than 3 days.
I know this idea goes against Tradition, but instead of 3 x 5 Day Test matches in a series, how about 5 x 3 Day-Night Tests instead? This could make the format marketable going into the future.
I know this idea goes against Tradition, but instead of 3 x 5 Day Test matches in a series, how about 5 x 3 Day-Night Tests instead? This could make the format marketable going into the future.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
I wouldn't overreact too much on the back of one day-night Test.
Not many of the best Irish players play in it, so no the first class competition with the best Irish players playing that ahead of CC that I described doesn't exist.
Rankin, Stirling, Porterfield, Adair, Balbanie, Wilson, Murtagh all playing in that 3 team competition would greatly elevate the standard and help develop younger players by playing them against proper FC standard players.
A divisional split seems like a great way to end up without a single West Indian playing Test cricket any more.
"Oh, we're only in Div 2 and have Test series against Zimbabwe, Nepal and Hong Kong as preparation for our play-off for promotion? Nah, screw it, BBL cash it is."
"Oh, we're only in Div 2 and have Test series against Zimbabwe, Nepal and Hong Kong as preparation for our play-off for promotion? Nah, screw it, BBL cash it is."
indiaholic
International Captain
Not a huge loss, is it?
turnstyle
First Class Debutant
There's two divisions in County and it works fine stats wise.
smash84
The Tiger King
You mean now you will have to watch cricket?
