WTC 2025 Final : Qualifying scenario

[SteveNZ]

If only there was a direct way for Australia and NZ to compete in Test cricket hmmmm

There's never been a way for us to compete

 

[Coronis]

There's never been a way for us to compete

Too bad that one bloke was born about 25 years too early. And that other bloke couldn’t take 5 consecutive steps without breaking something.

 

[Molehill]

And also

(a) We were ranked world no 1 at the time
(b) Australia didn't go to SA as Covid was just starting. They would've needed to beat the Saffas 2-0 or 3-0 in a 3-test series to make the final.

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I think they only needed a one Test victory max, possibly even a draw. The percentages at the end were NZ 70% and Aus 69.2%. Didn't slow over rates cost them a place in the Final too?

There isn't a single farce in all of that, really (in my opinion). The team who plays the best cricket from here - whether it's India, us, South Africa, Sri Lanka - will make the final.

I think there's a bit of a farce in that SA have played just 2 Tests against India at home, and none at all against Aus or Eng. That they still have a chance of making the Final having sent a Reserve Squad to NZ because the rest were playing domestic T20 must surely question the validity of the whole thing.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I think there's a bit of a farce in that SA have played just 2 Tests against India at home, and none at all against Aus or Eng. That they still have a chance of making the Final having sent a Reserve Squad to NZ because the rest were playing domestic T20 must surely question the validity of the whole thing.

Something like this will always happen if they insist on having cycle every 2 years, when every team has drastically different schedules and opponents

 

[Yeoman]

This wouldn’t happen, however I would go with two divisions of six, all play all home and away over a four year cycle. This leaves plenty of room in the schedule to play your favourite opponents if you are in different divisions.

At the end of the cycle, top team are champions. No final as not really in keeping with the test format and rewarding the team who has performed the best in differing conditions. Bottom in division 1 relegated, top in division 2 promoted.

 

[Molehill]

Something like this will always happen if they insist on having cycle every 2 years, when every team has drastically different schedules and opponents

It probably shows where the WTC sits in the list of priorities, that despite having a very favourable schedule, SA still sent a bunch of reserves to NZ.

You half wonder if they would even want to qualify for the Final given the cost of sending a squad to London for a couple of weeks.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

This wouldn’t happen, however I would go with two divisions of six, all play all home and away over a four year cycle. This leaves plenty of room in the schedule to play your favourite opponents if you are in different divisions.

At the end of the cycle, top team are champions. No final as not really in keeping with the test format and rewarding the team who has performed the best in differing conditions. Bottom in division 1 relegated, top in division 2 promoted.

Sorry, but that is much worse.

The Windies (2nd greatest cricket nation of all time) would be in Div 2.

Over 4 years teams change far too much. Many players would be well retired earlier in the comp.

The final is the key part. It shows a team/individual performing under pressure. Jamieson's spell and Head's knock were both unbelievably good.

No offence, but the old way of giving out the mace each year before the Big 3 tried to ruin cricket was better than a proposal to run the comp without a final.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

It probably shows where the WTC sits in the list of priorities, that despite having a very favourable schedule, SA still sent a bunch of reserves to NZ.

You half wonder if they would even want to qualify for the Final given the cost of sending a squad to London for a couple of weeks.

They did because otherwise they would've been financially ruined. They needed their T20 league to succeed in order to pay their players well and keep them in test cricket.

Prior to their upset wins (thrashings) in Bangladesh, the SA schedule wasn't seen as that favourable. Also, with 2-test series they have less wiggle room than sides who play longer series.

The proceeds for reaching the final and potential growth in sponsorship and playing numbers would be huge.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Over 4 years teams change far too much. Many players would be well retired earlier in the comp.

I disagree with this as a factor. The imbalance caused by having a cycle shorter than every 4 years is a much bigger issue than "some players from the start of the cycle might have retired". Nor should the earlier results not be relevant just because a team has changed a bit

 

[andruid]

Also, if we're living in an ideal world, all WTC series should be mandated to be 3 tests. For the Ashes, BGT and other 4+ test series, only the first 3 games should count to the WTC.

and all test nations would be involved

 

[Flem274*]

2 years could squeeze in if we stop spamming bilateral T20.

World tournaments are also tripping over each other atm to an extent that some teams arrive at ODI wcs every 4 years with much less games than they should.

Overall a 4 year world cycle for each format is best. I like a 2 v 3 semi as well.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Sorry, but that is much worse.

The Windies (2nd greatest cricket nation of all time) would be in Div 2.

Over 4 years teams change far too much. Many players would be well retired earlier in the comp.

The final is the key part. It shows a team/individual performing under pressure. Jamieson's spell and Head's knock were both unbelievably good.

No offence, but the old way of giving out the mace each year before the Big 3 tried to ruin cricket was better than a proposal to run the comp without a final.

If the WTC became 2 divisions, how much would the lower-ranked teams focus on Tests? To use the West Indies as an example, a Test nation struggling enough as it is to entice their best players to the format, if they get stuck in the second division and are blocked them from playing the big teams, what is that going to do for the profile of Test cricket over there? I’d prefer a 4-year cycle just like the 50 over World Cup, if players retire during the cycle, so be it, but ideally get teams playing everyone (though it’ll still be uneven, does anyone outside of the so-called Big 3 even play 5-match series? Do they even play 4 match series anymore?)

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Just went and checked, Sri Lanka have never played a 4-match series, mind blown!

 

[Yeoman]

If the WTC became 2 divisions, how much would the lower-ranked teams focus on Tests? To use the West Indies as an example, a Test nation struggling enough as it is to entice their best players to the format, if they get stuck in the second division and are blocked them from playing the big teams, what is that going to do for the profile of Test cricket over there? I’d prefer a 4-year cycle just like the 50 over World Cup, if players retire during the cycle, so be it, but ideally get teams playing everyone (though it’ll still be uneven, does anyone outside of the so-called Big 3 even play 5-match series? Do they even play 4 match series anymore?)

I think that the last 5 test series that England scheduled against anyone other than Australia or India was against South Africa in 2004-5.