The second tier of test cricket

[BoyBrumby]

The Zimbabwean cricket team is nothing more than a political pawn of Mad Bob.

The whole country needs the Apartheid treatment, and being ostracised from International relations.

Spot on.

When Davey Houghton is saying Zim aren't up to it at test level anymore you know there is something in it.

I don't think Bangladesh should have their test status removed, but also shouldn't be part of the ICC test championship rota until they're more competitive. Gradual exposure rather than forcing them blinking into the spotlight was what was needed.

 

[Langeveldt]

The Zimbabwean cricket team is nothing more than a political pawn of Mad Bob.

The whole country needs the Apartheid treatment, and being ostracised from International relations.

Im not sure about that now.. Consisting now of 4 or 5 whites, are you certain that is true? Would Mad Bob want to assosciate himself with it?

 

[Neil Pickup]

Im not sure about that now.. Consisting now of 4 or 5 whites, are you certain that is true? Would Mad Bob want to assosciate himself with it?

Whilst Mugabe is still patron of ZC...

 

[Deja moo]

Well, just so we don't keep going round in circles :

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=11158&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=10208&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=9659&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=9435&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=8075&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=7889&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=7806&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=4181&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=1003&highlight=tier

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=986&highlight=tier

 

[chaminda_00]

It is undoubtedly the future for teams stepping up to Test level in the future, but for Bangladesh, demotion will only set back the profile of the game in the country and hurt its development.

If Bangla or Zimbabwe got dropped then it would reduce their game slightly but the inprovement to the other teams would out value that. How much would Scotland, kenya and Holland improve if they got regular games aganist Bangla and Zimbabwe, as well as matches aganist A Teams. The improvement to the our teams is more impotent then a drop in profile to Bangladesh

 

[Neil Pickup]

Why will Australia get better through not playing Bangladesh?

 

[Retox]

If Bangla or Zimbabwe got dropped then it would reduce their game slightly but the inprovement to the other teams would out value that. How much would Scotland, kenya and Holland improve if they got regular games aganist Bangla and Zimbabwe, as well as matches aganist A Teams. The improvement to the our teams is more impotent then a drop in profile to Bangladesh

How about have

All the minor teams (Zim,Bang,Scotland,USA,Holland,Kenya,ETC,ETC) Have there own test arena kinda thing where they don't play the likes of Oz or NZ but play them selfs. Its no use playing them vs Oz or NZ all the time cause they will get there ass's kicked each time. I am sure the fans in these countries would rather see a close game between Scotland and Zim then Aussie thrash them in 30 mins.

 

[chaminda_00]

How about have

All the minor teams (Zim,Bang,Scotland,USA,Holland,Kenya,ETC,ETC) Have there own test arena kinda thing where they don't play the likes of Oz or NZ but play them selfs. Its no use playing them vs Oz or NZ all the time cause they will get there ass's kicked each time. I am sure the fans in these countries would rather see a close game between Scotland and Zim then Aussie thrash them in 30 mins.

That sounds ok but impotent thing if they drop from Test Cricket and from thier own group is that they get games aganist A Teams, that will fast track their development. Also if they play matches they shouldn't be test matches just FC Matches.

 

[chris.hinton]

Thinking about it

Would it be better for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to play A teams

 

[Neil Pickup]

That sounds ok but impotent thing if they drop from Test Cricket and from thier own group is that they get games aganist A Teams, that will fast track their development. Also if they play matches they shouldn't be test matches just FC Matches.

ICC InterContinental Cup

 

[Black Thunder]

I've always been in support of second tier test competition - with the games being touted as first class matches.

The teams in the top tier would be the top 8 at the moment - Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. The teams would contest test matches against each other.

The following teams could make up a second tier - Bangladesh, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Netherlands, Scotland and Canada. These teams would meet consistently in one-day clashes counted as List A matches (occasoinally the top teams invited to participate in ODI's against the top tier), and would also play a handful of four-day matches a year which would be counted as First Class matches. The top second tier could also play against the national 2nd XI of the top tier teams - good results in these matches over a consistent period of time would see a second tier team moving into full qualification for test cricket.

 

[chaminda_00]

I've always been in support of second tier test competition - with the games being touted as first class matches.

The teams in the top tier would be the top 8 at the moment - Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. The teams would contest test matches against each other.

The following teams could make up a second tier - Bangladesh, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Netherlands, Scotland and Canada. These teams would meet consistently in one-day clashes counted as List A matches (occasoinally the top teams invited to participate in ODI's against the top tier), and would also play a handful of four-day matches a year which would be counted as First Class matches. The top second tier could also play against the national 2nd XI of the top tier teams - good results in these matches over a consistent period of time would see a second tier team moving into full qualification for test cricket.

I totally agree with this, the current 2nd Teir Competition (InterCont. Cup) is ok but there are some small problems with it. The teams only play a minium of 2 games a year, not enough. Also the matches only last 3 days, they really should be 4 days at least. Also the teams that play in the InterCont. Cup don't get any fixtured matches aganist the A sides.

 

[Richard]

Why will Australia get better through not playing Bangladesh?

Because they won't get any false things like MacGill looking like a good bowler by playing Bangladesh - and instead they'll drop MacGill and pick someone better (if, of course, there is anyone)?
Test-cricket, as a whole, would undoubtedly be stronger if Bangladesh weren't included.

 

[Richard]

Spot on.

When Davey Houghton is saying Zim aren't up to it at test level anymore you know there is something in it.

I've known there is something in it LONG before Davey Houghton said anything.
I've known it since Zimbabwe were thrashed by a weak England side - and even more so since they conceded a World-record score.

 

[garage flower]

I've known there is something in it LONG before Davey Houghton said anything.
I've known it since Zimbabwe were thrashed by a weak England side - and even more so since they conceded a World-record score.

Of course you've known it for ages Richard, but mere mortals like Dave Houghton can't hope to be as preternaturally perceptive as you.

 

[Richard]

No, they can just be more lenient than it's good for the game to be.

 

[garage flower]

No, they can just be more lenient than it's good for the game to be.

Richard, just try and keep that razor-sharp wit of yours in check please, before you rip us all to metaphorical shreds.

 

[Richard]

Don't accuse someone of failing to use something they're clearly not even trying to use.

 

[garage flower]

Don't accuse someone of failing to use something they're clearly not even trying to use.

Which implies, rather optimistically I think, that you could if you wanted to.

Just trying to get you to lighten up a bit. It seems to me that the more seriously you take yourself, the less seriously everybody else takes you and your often eccentric theories.

Clearly though, trying to coax any semblance of wit or humour from you is an impossible task.

 

[Richard]

No, I'm no expert at being funny and I wouldn't ever claim I could be.
I'm just not one of those guys who can think of the funny liners on their feet.
I'm relatively happy that most people on here take me pretty seriously, though.