World Cup: Makeover

[Rich2001]

The number of teams taking part in the next Cricket World Cup in 2007 is to be increased to 16.

The International Cricket Council has decided to add two extra teams However they also plan cut the overall length of the tournament by almost two weeks.

There will be four first round groups, with the top two from each progressing to a new Super 8 second round format.

Thoughts?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

So basically they're planning to make it an even longer affair...

 

[Rich2001]

So basically they're planning to make it an even longer affair...

Um no, if you read what I wrote :P

It says the ICC are introducing 2 new sides but are cutting the overall lenght of the WC by 13 days

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

So basically they're going to make it an even more tiring affair....

 

[marc71178]

The number of matches will be cut I would think. Groups, Quarters, Semis, Final - 6 or 9 games as supposed to 11

 

[Langeveldt]

Well I loved watching Namibia in the last world cup. But surely yet more minnow teams would be over egging the pudding a bit?

Really the only matches that matter are the ones between ODI playing nations...

 

[Neil Pickup]

CricketWeb Article

http://www.cricketweb.net/articles/EpyFAyEyluxFOwdGFh.shtml

World Cup to Expand?

The ICC Cricket Management committee, meeting at Mumbai, have outlined a plan for an increase in the number of teams at the 2007 World Cup from 14 to 16 and a reduction in its length.

The idea will include four first-round groups of four, with the top two in each progressing to a "Super Eight" stage. The thinking involved is that the tournament will flourish as the top sides all play each other in a similar way to the successful nine-team tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, as well as cutting its length from an exhausting 53 days to a much more manageable 40.

The downside is the number of one-sided matches that are likely to occur in the group stages, with more than one group likely to go straight to form in a wholly predictable style - and Australia v UAE may not be for the squeamish...

Possible Groups for World Cup 2007*

Group A
Australia
India
Zimbabwe
UAE

Group B
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Kenya
Scotland

Group C
England
New Zealand
Bangladesh
Canada

Group D
Pakistan
West Indies
Holland
Namibia

A plan for a biennial "Super Series" between the Highest-ranked Nations and Rest of the World XIs was also suggested. The concept, which would involve one five-day game between the number one Test team and an ICC Rest of the World Select XI and three one-day games between the number one ODI team and another Rest of the World Select XI. The provisional date is mid-September, 2005.

The meeting also discussed plans for an Inter-Club Championship, planned for Asia in 2004 and streamlined the procedure for bowlers with "suspect" actions.

*All Groups are only projections calculated using current ICC ODI Rankings (19/09/2003) and 2001 ICC Trophy Results.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

CricketWeb Article

http://www.cricketweb.net/articles/EpyFAyEyluxFOwdGFh.shtml

World Cup to Expand?

The ICC Cricket Management committee, meeting at Mumbai, have outlined a plan for an increase in the number of teams at the 2007 World Cup from 14 to 16 and a reduction in its length.

The idea will include four first-round groups of four, with the top two in each progressing to a "Super Eight" stage. The thinking involved is that the tournament will flourish as the top sides all play each other in a similar way to the successful nine-team tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, as well as cutting its length from an exhausting 53 days to a much more manageable 40.

The downside is the number of one-sided matches that are likely to occur in the group stages, with more than one group likely to go straight to form in a wholly predictable style - and Australia v UAE may not be for the squeamish...

Possible Groups for World Cup 2007*

Group A
Australia
India
Zimbabwe
UAE

Group B
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Kenya
Scotland

Group C
England
New Zealand
Bangladesh
Canada

Group D
Pakistan
West Indies
Holland
Namibia

Well West Indies have clearly been placed in the Group of Death and will face a definite uphill battle to move through to the second round.

In all seriousness, what's the point of having the group stage? It doesn't take too much faith to predict the two qualifiers from each group...

 

[Langeveldt]

Yep. this renders the majority of the group stages completely pointless, the only competition would be in group A with maybe India and Zimbabwe fighting for the second spot...

 

[Neil Pickup]

Except to increase the exposure of cricket in lesser countries, and by the same token to get them out of the way for the bulk of the competition.

Importantly - the first group stage is short!

 

[marc71178]

Neil has a point. It is short, and with the Super 8, there's one massively competitive game for each Group there.

Also, with 4 in a group the schedule could easily be

Day 1 - 2 games from Group A
Day 2 - 2 games from Group B
Day 3 - 2 games from Group C
Day 4 - 2 games from Group D

etc.

Groups done in a fortnight and ALL teams have had a couple of relatively easy warm-ups!

 

[marc71178]

A plan for a biennial "Super Series" between the Highest-ranked Nations and Rest of the World XIs was also suggested. The concept, which would involve one five-day game between the number one Test team and an ICC Rest of the World Select XI and three one-day games between the number one ODI team and another Rest of the World Select XI. The provisional date is mid-September, 2005.

I bet we have a lot of fun on here selecting those teams when the time comes!

 

[Tim]

If Bangladesh come good by 2007, then Group C would probably be the toughest & thats pathetic really.

While I agree with the ICC to push the development of countries such as Namibia, Canada etc..these group stages are a farce and if anything will put the majority of viewers off.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Look at the big picture!

Okay, we've got twenty four group games but then there's..

(8*6)=48 further high-class games in the Super Eight.

You've then got 72 games - 36 days' cricket, plus semis, plus final.

Sorted.

If that happens, then it's pretty much dead right.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I bet we have a lot of fun on here selecting those teams when the time comes!

This Thread!

 

[anzac]

there was also the suggestion earlier from Barry Richards that in the 2nd round no team carrys any points forward and they all play each other with the top 4 going thru to the semis.

I think the main complaint re the WC was not the number of minnows, but the fact that there were so many games of little or no consequence even in the 2nd round, as a result of weather and forfeits.

I prefer the Richards proposal as a better indicator & the prospects of 'better' games.

 

[marc71178]

Under Barry Richard's plan almost every group game is meaningless.

With carry forward it adds a little to most games and a lot to one.

 

[Craig]

My suggestion would be to make a pool or group with four sides all have a 50/50 chance of making it, not one that is obvious that will go through or not make it and put a pool of the four minnow sides.

The down side is that we are going to get two minnows in the Super Eight's and that would not be the point in it.

It is hard to come up with a perfect group stage.

 

[Neil Pickup]

The group stage is only about improving the profile of Cricket and giving the minnow nations experience.

This format gives the WC a short stage like this and an eight-nation stage where everyone plays each other that is twice as long as the group stages where every match will be well-contested by good players.

I point out that this ought to be the Super Eight in 2007:

Australia
South Africa
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
England
West Indies
New Zealand

The World Cup must a) be the showpiece event for World Cricket and b) provide as many high-class games as possible.

This is as close as you can get to both, IMO, and for once I agree with the ICC on something.