Complete overhaul of scheduling from 2019; Test/ODI/T20 leagues

[Spark]

Big tstl.

New cricket calendar aims to give all formats more context | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

If the CEC proposals are eventually approved in April, then from 2019 onwards cricket may see a rolling two-year Test league comprising a 9-3 format where the top nine Test countries compete among themselves and against the three lower-ranked teams comprising Zimbabwe and most likely Ireland and Afghanistan, depending on whether they earn Test status. It is understood the CEC also approved a three-year, 13-team ODI league, the culmination of which will see qualification for the 50-over World Cup, and a system of regional qualification tournaments through which teams attempt to qualify for a World T20.

 

[harsh.ag]

Adios Big 3! Huge for Afghanistan and Ireland!

 

[OverratedSanity]

I ... don't see any major downsides. Huh, this is odd. Well done ICC.

 

[vcs]

How will they go about standardizing the lengths of the series and the number of matches different teams play against each other? And then you have so many constraints like India-Pak not playing each other, Pak not being able to play at home, Australia-England have to play 5 matches series only, nobody wanting to play Bangladesh, etc..

 

[OverratedSanity]

And then you have so many constraints like India-Pak not playing each other

This is the most intriguing thing for me. Surely the league system would be pointless if two teams aren't playing each other. God, I hope they work something out.

 

[fredfertang]

That's all very well but has Mr Trump made an executive order about it?

 

[Daemon]

subject to the ICC Board approval

arrived at the proposals which will go the ICC Board in the next round of meetings in April

If the CEC proposals are eventually approved in April

I love it, but I've been hurt too many times to hope

 

[Spark]

The CEC signing off means the major boards sign off on it, no?

 

[Howe_zat]

looks like it's time to check the flowchart

outlook seems poor

 

[Adders]

How will they go about standardizing the lengths of the series and the number of matches different teams play against each other? And then you have so many constraints like India-Pak not playing each other, Pak not being able to play at home, Australia-England have to play 5 matches series only, nobody wanting to play Bangladesh, etc..

All of these were addressed in the article....

The duration of the series will be up to the members - even a one-off Test can be considered a series. The system of how points will be awarded, given that each series will not be of the same length, is yet to be worked out. The home and away stipulation is such that, if, for example, New Zealand tours Sri Lanka in the first two-year league cycle, then in the following one Sri Lanka will tour New Zealand. If one team refuses to play another - as has been the case with India playing Pakistan - they will forfeit points. Full Members will retain the power to schedule bilateral series should they wish outside of this league structure.

As for Pakistan not being able to play at home, don't think that is much of an obstacle, for the time being they've made their home in the UAE and whilst it's far from ideal it seems to be working OK.

Terrific idea and nothing to fault in any of it.........which almost certainly means it will not get passed and will never happen.

 

[Zinzan]

I can't see it making much difference for nations outside the top 3 than it does now. To think a 1 Test series constitutes a series is absurd if the Test championship is actually supposed to be meaningful in any way.

So business as usual then.

Complete overhaul, yeah right.

 

[Adders]

Nah I can see the logistical sense in it. Obviously as cricket fans we see it differently, but from a financial pov I think they have to have that allowance to ensure the likes of Zimb, Afg and Ire etc get the tours. Realistically these sides are never gonna get a 3 test series in Aus for eg.......but if they can get 1 or maybe even two tests it will be a vast improvement on how the FTP has been for the last decade or more.

 

[Burner]

Yeah 1 is infinitely superior to the zero that they currently get. You add that together and they form a reasonable number.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Doesn't really look like much of a change for the major teams tbh, except for the test league thing

 

[Zinzan]

Nah I can see the logistical sense in it. Obviously as cricket fans we see it differently, but from a financial pov I think they have to have that allowance to ensure the likes of Zimb, Afg and Ire etc get the tours. Realistically these sides are never gonna get a 3 test series in Aus for eg.......but if they can get 1 or maybe even two tests it will be a vast improvement on how the FTP has been for the last decade or more.

For teams like SL, NZ, WI, & possibly even SA, it will essentially be business as usual.

Incidentally, I heard Stephen Fleming interviewed recently suggesting as much as he loves Test cricket, that a side like NZ, who at best will only ever reach no 2 or 3 in the world for a short time due to their lack of resources, said he wouldn't be surprised if they pulled out of Tests in the future & concentrated on ODIs and T20s which they are probably naturally better at. Quite a scary interview to listen to for a Test lover like myself.

 

[Adders]

The only way this works though is if they get India and Pakistan to sort their **** out.

 

[Immenso]

For teams like SL, NZ, WI, & possibly even SA, it will essentially be business as usual.

Incidentally, I heard Stephen Fleming interviewed recently suggesting as much as he loves Test cricket, that a side like NZ, who at best will only ever reach no 2 or 3 in the world for a short time due to their lack of resources, said he wouldn't be surprised if they pulled out of Tests in the future & concentrated on ODIs and T20s which they are probably naturally better at. Quite a scary interview to listen to for a Test lover like myself.

It's the type of unambitious nonsense Buchanan was spouting when he was with NZC.

 

[vcs]

All of these were addressed in the article....



As for Pakistan not being able to play at home, don't think that is much of an obstacle, for the time being they've made their home in the UAE and whilst it's far from ideal it seems to be working OK.

Terrific idea and nothing to fault in any of it.........which almost certainly means it will not get passed and will never happen.

They've updated the article since yesterday.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I think a two year cycle for tests is a wee bit ambitious maybe, especially if there's to be any hopes of the newbs getting a test against the big boys (although geographical convenience could mean teams touring England could pop over to Dublin or Belfast for one off games), but otherwise it's unequivocal good news.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

dont want to pin any hope on this...