WTC Schedule

[loterry1994]

They should try even out the number of fixtures teams play to make this competition more even and serious . I know England, Australia and India will play 4-5 tests series against each other every cycle. But teams like Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka should play in at least 3-4 test series against each other and then play at least 2-3 test series against whoever in the top 3 per cycle

this will even it out more and not having teams playing like 12 test cycles which I think is ridiculous compared to say England that play like 20 tests this cycle. Think the icc as well as Indian, Aussie and English boards should try fund more tests for the other countries. Otherwise I don’t see the WTC ever being that serious and worthy.

 

[Molehill]

The problem is, it's not financially viable for many of those countries. How many people watched the WI v India Tests at the grounds? Compare that to how many will watch the T20's. I'm guessing they could get more in for that than they did for the whole 5 days of a Test.

To be honest, I think the WTC will probably end up being ditched. It's impossible to come up with a format that works. The Final being played straight after the IPL doesn't work with the Indian players. And judged by what we've just seen, the results of individual series matter about a million times more than winning WTC points.

 

[Ali TT]

Yeah, think people need to differentiate between a fair competition in a perfect world and the reality we live in where test cricket is little more than a curiosity. I don't think we should be completely driven by "the market" but can't force everyone to play loads of games they don't want at expense of playing more lucrative shorter formats.

 

[Andy19]

New Zealand not playing as many games worked for them perfectly.

It's percentage based so teams don’t need to play same amount of games as New Zealand have showed.

Pakistan are 2nd right now on WTC table could end up making the final.

Playing less games work in a teams favour sometimes.

I love WTC cycle and we already great start with the ashes.

WTC brings meaning and progress into test cricket now series not just random and played for history.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

New Zealand not playing as many games worked for them perfectly.

That's not actually true. It makes it more stressful as a random (rain-affected) draw or overrate penalty can scupper your hopes far faster in a 2 match series % wise than in a 4 or 5 match series.

If Santner hadn't taken that c & b with 3 or 4 overs left on day 5 v Pakistan, the world's no 1 test team wouldn't have made the final.

 

[Andy19]

That's not actually true. It makes it more stressful as a random (rain-affected) draw or overrate penalty can scupper your hopes far faster in a 2 match series % wise than in a 4 or 5 match series.

If Santner hadn't taken that c & b with 3 or 4 overs on day 5 v Pakistan, the world's no 1 test team wouldn't have made the final.

I think Random is Good for Cricket and slow overrate is bowling team Fault nobody else.

Rain not WTC cycle fault it’s just bad luck.

I understand your point but if team plays great cricket during WTC cycle. it's not going to Matter if have few less Tests.

If New Zealand played 5 more tests during winning cycle. it could have been 5 Extra losses which would bring their percentage down. Meaning they could have lost out on top two spot.

It's not reality for non big 3 teams to play same amount of tests because of lack of interest and investment.

 

[Shady Slim]

The problem is, it's not financially viable for many of those countries. How many people watched the WI v India Tests at the grounds? Compare that to how many will watch the T20's. I'm guessing they could get more in for that than they did for the whole 5 days of a Test.

To be honest, I think the WTC will probably end up being ditched. It's impossible to come up with a format that works. The Final being played straight after the IPL doesn't work with the Indian players. And judged by what we've just seen, the results of individual series matter about a million times more than winning WTC points.

it certainly is financially viable for the icc and bigger boards to cross-subsidise the struggling countries financially though and that’s a self inflicted wound by the icc which they need to dress if they wish to grow the game outside of big three

 

[loterry1994]

That's not actually true. It makes it more stressful as a random (rain-affected) draw or overrate penalty can scupper your hopes far faster in a 2 match series % wise than in a 4 or 5 match series.

If Santner hadn't taken that c & b with 3 or 4 overs on day 5 v Pakistan, the world's no 1 test team wouldn't have made the final.

I don’t know think it works in your favour especially away you can sneak a few wins and it goes a long way. Like I remember New Zealand winning that short series in England right before the first wtc final. Imagine India having only a 12 test cycle theyd barely lose at home and would need a few away wins to make the final. Yeah rain and thay can affect you but don’t feel like that’s a big an issue anywhere in the world apart from
England.

 

[ataraxia]

I agree totally. To make the WTC fair it is utterly necessary for New Zealand to play more tests. While we're at it, perhaps outlaw 2-test series completely.

 

[Flem274*]

I don’t know think it works in your favour especially away you can sneak a few wins and it goes a long way. Like I remember New Zealand winning that short series in England right before the first wtc final. Imagine India having only a 12 test cycle theyd barely lose at home and would need a few away wins to make the final. Yeah rain and thay can affect you but don’t feel like that’s a big an issue anywhere in the world apart from
England.

I see your general point even if I don't agree, but that's a poor example. That England series had no points involved and the test NZ won was with their B side.

That series was arguably more of a piss take from NZ than people think the WTC could do to test cricket. The 'injured in the first test' Colin de Grandhomme spent like 2-3 days fielding in the second.

 

[loterry1994]

I see your general point even if I don't agree, but that's a poor example. That England series had no points involved and the test NZ won was with their B side.

That series was arguably more of a piss take from NZ than people think the WTC could do to test cricket. The 'injured in the first test' Colin de Grandhomme spent like 2-3 days fielding in the second.

Thought it did count for points guess your right it didn’t

 

[Line and Length]

The whole WTC concept needs overhauling. The current system heavily favours certain sides that have more home tests. Because of the unequal number of Tests played by various teams a percentage system is necessary but how many fans closely follow the progress in this department? I believe they are more interested in head-to-head series.

 

[Victor Ian]

everyone should play long series. they make all the money from tv anyways and there are enough of us around the world that will watch stuff if its on. all they need to do is just make sure their games arent being played at the same time as other tests. the icc funcding should be distributed on the proviso that you play minimum of 4 test series, except against minnows (currently ireland, afghanistan and zimbabwe) and they should be minimum of 2.

 

[Qlder]

I think all series should be 4 tests max. Then Australia won the Ashes 2-1

 

[GIMH]

In an ideal and completely unpragmatic world, the WTC Final wouldn’t be a one-off Test but a series. You don’t prove yourself the best team in Test Cricket by winning matches, you prove it by winning series.

Obviously even without the whole modern cramming of calendars with white ball cricket, this wouldn’t be a realistic option but it’s for this reason more than anything IMO why the WTC will never be to Tests what the WC is to ODIs

 

[ashley bach]

New Zealand not playing as many games worked for them perfectly.

It's percentage based so teams don’t need to play same amount of games as New Zealand have showed.

Pakistan are 2nd right now on WTC table could end up making the final.

Playing less games work in a teams favour sometimes.

I love WTC cycle and we already great start with the ashes.

WTC brings meaning and progress into test cricket now series not just random and played for history.

It's the most random thing I've witnessed in a lifetime.

 

[loterry1994]

In an ideal and completely unpragmatic world, the WTC Final wouldn’t be a one-off Test but a series. You don’t prove yourself the best team in Test Cricket by winning matches, you prove it by winning series.

Obviously even without the whole modern cramming of calendars with white ball cricket, this wouldn’t be a realistic option but it’s for this reason more than anything IMO why the WTC will never be to Tests what the WC is to ODIs

I’d be all for a 3 match series as the final 2 games at both the finalists homes and 1 game at a neutral ground. But think they scheduling probably a big issue for it. Also i think it’s not taken as serious because a big factor of it is how a lot of teams are pretty strong at in their home conditions and the way home teams doctor their pitches. While in world cups that’s not really a factor.

 

[Molehill]

I’d be all for a 3 match series as the final 2 games at both the finalists homes and 1 game at a neutral ground. But think they scheduling probably a big issue for it. Also i think it’s not taken as serious because a big factor of it is how a lot of teams are pretty strong at in their home conditions and the way home teams doctor their pitches. While in world cups that’s not really a factor.

What is the issue with this? If you're at home, why not give yourself the best chance of winning? I used to get really annoyed with Agnew when he suggested England should create more spin friendly pitches to prepare for trips to the Sub Continent.

 

[loterry1994]

What is the issue with this? If you're at home, why not give yourself the best chance of winning? I used to get really annoyed with Agnew when he suggested England should create more spin friendly pitches to prepare for trips to the Sub Continent.

I swear cricket would be way better if the captains had no influence on the pitch and the curator does whatever and no one else knows till first days play

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Pitch doctoring owns actually