Ireland and Afghanistan awarded Test status by ICC

[Athlai]

This is some of the best cricket news in years. Actually a bit proud to be a fan.

 

[_Ed_]

Fantastic news.

Really makes the 10-team World Cup in 2019 seem even more ridiculous, though.

 

[Gnske]

I anticipate great things for Afghanistan and Ireland in the second division. England and Bangladesh will be hard opponents but they can overcome.

 

[Daemon]

Teams touring India and England should definitely squeeze in tests before the series starts. Would be good warm up too and they wouldn't have to put up with the farce that tour games are these days.

 

[Starfighter]

Just seen that the same meeting decided to kick out USACA. Nothing official yet though.

Edit: Yup here we go

Not surprised. Their administration makes the WICB seem competent and transparent.

The only snag with this is having to redefine what constitutes a Test Class cricketer. After years of ridiculing Derek Pringle he's now fully worth his place in the hall of fame.

You won't find any argument from me there. Apparently England thought he was class enough to play 30 tests.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Good stuff, I'm still of the opinion that new/weak teams should basically play each other and concentrate on home Tests against stronger teams - tours should be against the A sides when you're involving the big countries. Ireland playing a tour in Australia is pointless, likewise how Bangladesh touring England, South Africa etc. in their early days was utterly futile. Ireland and Afghanistan can be competitive at home but they've got to show more before the likes of India, Australia, England etc. are obliged to host them.

Ireland will have an advantage to get home Tests because not much Test cricket gets played May-August aside from in England (& at that ****** Ashes Test stealing Welsh ground).

 

[social]

Apparently Oz are scheduled to tour Afghanistan in 2021

In other news, I have just seen a pig fly past my window

 

[mr_mister]

Great news

I don't want the tier system however



It's also 5 years too late for Ireland. Theyl get 2-3 years out of their vets before they are old and washed up, will be tough moving forward. Afghanistan however will be beating the windies and NZ in no time, great news for them

 

[mr_mister]

Also, this makes that ongoing minnow tournament where the winner was meant to be granted test status a little pointless lol

 

[TheJediBrah]

Presumably Afghanistan will be playing in neutral venues for "home" matches? Can't imagine too many sides touring Afghanistan

Good stuff, I'm still of the opinion that new/weak teams should basically play each other and concentrate on home Tests against stronger teams - tours should be against the A sides when you're involving the big countries. Ireland playing a tour in Australia is pointless, likewise how Bangladesh touring England, South Africa etc. in their early days was utterly futile. Ireland and Afghanistan can be competitive at home but they've got to show more before the likes of India, Australia, England etc. are obliged to host them.

Ireland will have an advantage to get home Tests because not much Test cricket gets played May-August aside from in England (& at that ****** Ashes Test stealing Welsh ground).

If Ireland were to tour Australia it would be something along the lines of a 2 Test series over the winter like what Bangladesh did when they toured. In decades of Test cricket Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have toured Aus once each for a grand total of 2 Tests. I wouldn't expect Ireland to suddenly get a full tour.

 

[Prince EWS]

It'll be interesting to see who their first opponents will be.

Hopefully each other. It'd be immense.

 

[Athlai]

Hopefully each other. I'd be immense.

One of Ireland and Afghanistan have won the ICC Intercontinental cup every tournament since 2005 and thats unlikely to change for this one which is lined up to be Ireland vs. Afghanistan. Should make the final a Test match.

 

[NZTailender]

Hopefully each other. It'd be immense.

This would be pretty great.

I mean, the teams they will play first will involve India (as a big 3 rep), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

 

[Burgey]

West Indies too I'd reckon.

 

[jimmy101]

Great news to wake up to. The world is a slightly better place.

 

[straw man]

 

[morgieb]

Terrific news. Wonder when we'll see them in a Test.

Does seem a bit ridiculous that we'll be missing at least 2 Full Members in the next World Cup.

 

[andruid]

As a Kenya fan, this is a proper gut punch.

 

[jimmy101]

Damn straight. But let's face it, the Kenyan board did nothing to help the team reach test status. Based on performance, kenya should have been a Test nation in 2004.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

out of interest, does Afghanistan have a functioning board? Or is the whole operation being administered from Dubai?