Test Championship Postponed (read Scrapped)

[Redbacks]

Test cricket doesn't suit a knockout format.

maybe not, but we'll never know unless it is given a go. Maybe it would have attracted more people to the game outside the solid base.

I think you made a good point about the ODI WC completely overshadowing all other series and this is the last thing we want in test cricket. I'm in favour of the top 2 having a playoff every few years. This way respects the ranking system, ensures that teams bother to play one another if the rankings require so, and puts at least some sting into dead rubber tests. When Aus were domininant playing for #2 would have been interesting just like trying to be the side to take on England now would be.

 

[Spark]

How about something like a 3 Test series between #2 and #3 to decide who plays the top ranked team in a 5 Test series? Draw in the 3 Tests sees #2 go through, draw in the 5 Tests sees #1 win.

 

[Furball]

maybe not, but we'll never know unless it is given a go. Maybe it would have attracted more people to the game outside the solid base.

I think you made a good point about the ODI WC completely overshadowing all other series and this is the last thing we want in test cricket. I'm in favour of the top 2 having a playoff every few years. This way respects the ranking system, ensures that teams bother to play one another if the rankings require so, and puts at least some sting into dead rubber tests. When Aus were domininant playing for #2 would have been interesting just like trying to be the side to take on England now would be.

I think as soon as you introduce a tournament, you undermine the idea of a ranking system. Why put in the effort to win difficult series home and away to climb to number 1 when you can be crowned champions by getting to number 4 and winning 2 Tests?

The most broken thing about Test cricket is 2 Test series. Eradicating them is far more of a priority than a championship.

 

[GotSpin]

I think as soon as you introduce a tournament, you undermine the idea of a ranking system. Why put in the effort to win difficult series home and away to climb to number 1 when you can be crowned champions by getting to number 4 and winning 2 Tests?

The most broken thing about Test cricket is 2 Test series. Eradicating them is far more of a priority than a championship.

Indeed

 

[Hurricane]

This whole devaluing of existing test series is a weak concept. If only the top teams make it into the tournament then it will add value. I have a sneaky suspicion that Australia are pretty ho hum about a series against NZ - if it meant the difference between getting a better opponent to play in the playoffs they might be more interested in it. Who knows they may even condescend to play Bangers.

I agree the concept of a one off test match for a semi final and a final is garbage. I prefer Spark's idea or something similar.

 

[Redbacks]

Gidoen Haigh weighs into the debate (behind a pay wall):

ICC's Test playoff pull shot a stroke of spineless greed | The Australian

There were, however, complicating factors. One was the T20 Champions League, a joint venture of Cricket Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Cricket South Africa, which pits winners of domestic T20 tournaments from around the world against each other so forgettably that you could have a gun held to your head a week afterwards and be unable to remember who won.

Broadcast rights to the Champions League were auctioned three years ago at the peak of T20 euphoria after the inaugural Indian Premier League, and ESPN-Star splurged $US950m on them.

For cricket, it was a stupendous windfall; for ESPN-Star, it has been a money pit. It's a poorly kept secret that the broadcaster is losing heavily on each instalment, perhaps as much as $50m.
So it was a bad time to be asking ESPN-Star for a favour. Having lost one shirt to cricket, it could hardly be expected to throw a suit in as well

That left the ICC's 10 full members to decide whether it was worth about $3m to each of them to proceed with the playoffs. Given that ICC distributions have actually outstripped projections for the past three years, it was not a cost that they were entirely ill-placed to incur.

For some boards, to be sure, $3m is a very great deal indeed: New Zealand, Pakistan, beleaguered West Indies and busted-arse Sri Lanka.
But what about the boards, for instance, profiting mightily from the Champions League? After all, Cricket Australia has been an arch-proponent of the World Test Championship.

Only last week, vice-president Rajeev Shukla proclaimed the BCCI's unswerving commitment to "doing our level best to promote Test cricket now". CSA's boss Gerald Majola likewise insists that "Test cricket remains in our view the ultimate pinnacle of the game". Alas, not if deeds are required to match words.

 

[ganeshran]

The SC teams already tried something on these lines back in 1998. Was scrapped after two installments.

 

[sreeku7]

The format of Test cricket is not suitable for conducting a championship as in the case of other games.Without changing the current 'home and away series' format of Test cricket,Champions' crown can be bestowed on that team which has won and is retaining rubber against all the other Test teams.The present Test rankings provide a pointer in this direction.If England regains Rubber from SA while retaining the same in the forthcoming series against SL,PAK and INDIA during next year,it would become the World Champion of Test Cricket.England can remain at the top until some other team regains its rubber from them.The great West Indian team of the 80s and the Australian team that followed it,became World champions by winning rubbers against all other teams.I think this is the only way to find out the True Champions of Test Cricket

 

[ganeshran]

The number one team is already given an ugly trophy like thing to commemorate it.

 

[keeper]

The number one team is already given an ugly trophy like thing to commemorate it.

It's a shocker isn't it?

Wonder what the players do with it back in the dressing room seeing as how you can't actually put it down properly.

I see no need for a test Championship. I don't find it practicable at all, although I see how it meets the needs of a certain type of cricket fan. The current system, however, needs good, strong series between the top sides. The England-SA schedule is a joke. Even 4 Tests for India was borderline given what they've achieved over a decade or so.

 

[jashan83]

It is the most ardent fans like us who care about Test Championship, but as a common man is he crying about the Postponement of it. Already over killed by so much cricket the answer is no.

 

[Prince EWS]

It'd be enthralling to watch so I'm pretty disappointed, but like others I was very concerned about it taking meaning away from other series. Each Test series is sacred and should be treated with the immediate respect it deserves. We're already starting to see teams rest players from supposedly unimportant Test series and we've long seen teams "build for the future" with their selection policy; two things I think undermine the sanctity of Test cricket which would no doubt get worse with a tournament like this in place.

 

[Furball]

ICC news: Test Championship not until 2017 - Haroon Lorgat | Cricket News | Cricinfo ICC Site | ESPN Cricinfo

Thank goodness for that.

 

[Wrong un]

Not a shock

Do more people around the world really watch the 7th ODI between Australia and India rather then a Test Semi Final between the same sides?

 

[Cabinet96]

I think it's because they already had the champions trophy scheduled for the same summer.

 

[Furball]

Not a shock

Do more people around the world really watch the 7th ODI between Australia and India rather then a Test Semi Final between the same sides?

Depends if India are in that semi final.