The ICC - Test divisions and 2018 20/20 world cup

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1022445.html

Surely the ICC aren't actually going to implement something that makes sense and will help the game grow?!

Sounds positive but conveniently set for a date of 2019 easily far enough away for it to fall by the wayside, especially as Aus and England in particular would find it unpalatable to ever be in a different division. ICC World Test Championship anyone?

The mooted concept is a 7 - 5 split.

As it stand at the moment that is where a ntural split in ratings occurs, between Sri Lanka and West Indies.
With one team being relegated and one promoted that would leave one of the "big 7" at risk of demotion every 2 years. However the way Sri Lanka are going, and with little to suggest that they will change this, it seems more likely that by 2017 we will have a pretty well established top 6 with a gulf to 7/8/9 and then whoever gets the three spots (Ireland plus?) struggling to catch up with them.
Isolation in a lower division would likely increase that gulf. Most probably we would see the same teams taking it in turns to get promotion and relegation and a points system designed to avoid the top 6 getting sucked into it just by a short term dip. The big interest series would likely be pretty well protected. Frankly if England or Aus did become long term div 2 teams then the whole thing has probably long collapsed anyway.


A big threat is T20 .. theres also a move to make the woirld cup every 2 years, on top of the increased importnace of domestic competitions.

I have a feeling.....WI, Lanka would relish being in 2nd division...Gayle ( or his successors) clobbering and bashing the daylight out of 120kph medium pacers.....

and Afghanistan / IRE would have a burning desire to move up and compete.

The question that remains and does not get even remotely answered by this 2 tier structure:

How does test cricket become financially more viable through this 2 tier structure?

Anurag Thakur new BCCI chief-....pointed out how Pujara, India's most prolific first class player and one with most accomplished test match tempermanent earns only $10,000 per test match and no IPL takes.

a bits and pieces FC player called Negi .....earned a $ 1.2M IPL contract this year.

a TRAVESTY

Thats the big problem KPF. That said with a small 5 team 2nd division there will be less tests played by those nations, so costs drop. Most likely they wont have the full expensive DRS for starters.
Its not like testa gainst the big boys are cash cows anyway, the stadia will be just as empty. And they can still get ODI and T20 stadium fillers against the test D1 sides.

The smaller test nations are struggling to get players to be availabel for the test schedules as they are, regardless of opposition. So cutting that down may help them get more commitment from players. Or being in a urine poor second division may allow them to get away with fielding a side of second rate test only players...while Gayle and his ilk go off and earn their lilt in IPL etc.

Its a plan that based mopre on cememting was is already happening and reflecting reality than on creating a utopian test league

The ODI/T20 stadium filler point raises an interesting question. Say SL drop into D2 in Tests - why would say India or England ever be touring there to play ODIs which would give SL chance to make some money

Or will we be left with independent and potentially confusing separate calendars for Tests and ODIs. So England have a Test tour to India but then follow with ODIs in SL. But the BCCI would want England to stay on for ODIs as that is where they would make the money from England touring

The more I think about the whole idea, I can't see anything but a complete all-format marginalisation of those not in the top division

to make test more economically viable.....

--ICC must look at common ranking points.-..i.e juts one ranking adding up points from across the formats

--Do something more to "juice-up" test cricket
Pink Balls , night cricket is one step

--forcing 4 innings of 120 overs each in conditions that are sporting...i.e batting sides don't get rolled over in 50 overs because of too much spin or seam or bounce....

--and giving additional ICC points for overseas wins and innings win.

I know some of the values and strength tests might be eroded...but atleast we will have a 5 day format....

Unlike the Dinosaur...that must have been like test cricket..... an animal with amazing qualities and uniqueness and wonderful in many ways...but went extinct

VTR wrote:The ODI/T20 stadium filler point raises an interesting question. Say SL drop into D2 in Tests - why would say India or England ever be touring there to play ODIs which would give SL chance to make some money

Or will we be left with independent and potentially confusing separate calendars for Tests and ODIs. So England have a Test tour to India but then follow with ODIs in SL. But the BCCI would want England to stay on for ODIs as that is where they would make the money from England touring

The more I think about the whole idea, I can't see anything but a complete all-format marginalisation of those not in the top division

Its more common for teams to do ODI only tours than it is test only tours.
We already have seperate calenders. Its only England that dont do limited overs only visits.

KP_fan wrote:to make test more economically viable.....

--ICC must look at common ranking points.-..i.e juts one ranking adding up points from across the formats

--Do something more to "juice-up" test cricket
Pink Balls , night cricket is one step

--forcing 4 innings of 120 overs each in conditions that are sporting...i.e batting sides don't get rolled over in 50 overs because of too much spin or seam or bounce....

--and giving additional ICC points for overseas wins and innings win.

I know some of the values and strength tests might be eroded...but atleast we will have a 5 day format....

Unlike the Dinosaur...that must have been like test cricket..... an animal with amazing qualities and uniqueness and wonderful  in many ways...but went extinct

---The mixed points for a series I get. For rankings? as a sperate table maybe..but that wont really work if tests are two division
--- Pink balls? Is that what juices you up?
---Its a double edged sword with the long innings. We had even more protests of tests being ruined by pancake flat pitches, and we permanetly hear about how the contest has been weighted too far in the bats favour and that genuine pace has been eradicated by slow pitches. They got rid of uncovered pitches, clamped down on ball tampering, and now theyve gone after chuckers...at some point batsmen will have the learn how to bat. Certainly you cnat blame conditions for the debacle that is Sri Lanka ... both sides managed 400+ scores in an innings in the second test.
---I didnt realise there wasnt an away weighting. That really is ridiculous

Gooseberry wrote:

VTR wrote:The ODI/T20 stadium filler point raises an interesting question. Say SL drop into D2 in Tests - why would say India or England ever be touring there to play ODIs which would give SL chance to make some money

Or will we be left with independent and potentially confusing separate calendars for Tests and ODIs. So England have a Test tour to India but then follow with ODIs in SL. But the BCCI would want England to stay on for ODIs as that is where they would make the money from England touring

The more I think about the whole idea, I can't see anything but a complete all-format marginalisation of those not in the top division

Its more common for teams to do ODI only tours than it is test only tours.
We already have seperate calenders. Its only England that dont do limited overs only visits.

True, but the divisional approach to Tests will most likely create more regular but shorter series between certain more influential countries, so more chance to tack a thrilling 7 game ODI series on the end