honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Okay, I haven't thought this through fully yet...
But first things first, we need to accept that Twenty20 and ODIs are the ones which will generate the money that cricket needs. Having said that, without tests, the game is headless. So, we need to respect and find a way for all 3 formats to co-exist. This will mean some compromises with all 3 formats of the game... Each format is crucial for the existence of the other.
The reality is that we also need to find a window for the IPL and the Champions League. They are here to stay. Also, I think we need to give credence to Richard's theory about the gap between the world cups being too long and therefore we need to have Champions Trophy too, to fill the gaps between the World Cup. ICC also want at least one ICC event every year, be it the ODI or T20 WC or the Champions Trophy.
Considering all this, I feel that the ODI WC, The Champions Trophy and the T20 WC should all be played in 3 year intervals. Say, for example, we have the T20 WC in 2009, we should have the Champions Trophy in 2010 and the ODI WC in 2011 and again a T20WC in 2012, CT in 2013 and WC in 2014 and so on... All these tournaments should not be greater than 1 month in duration.
Also, the need to find a window for the IPL and Champions League means the whole of April needs to be free and a couple of weeks in Novemeber, perhaps.. Ideally, I would have the Champions League take place in September because it is generally a cricket free month...
The next thing I would do is instigate the top 8 teams in the world to play each other (either home or away) at least once every 3 years.. Right now, it is every two years, I guess and it would be better if it were 3. Give more space for the IPL and ICC events. Also, taking Bangladesh and Zim out of this would mean the top 8 teams are free to send out teams based on some rotation policy and rest main players for tests against these teams. Ideally, I would strip them both off test status (while letting them be permanent members of the ICC, coz for many, their vote is invaluable) until they start stringing together consistent performances in ODIs and in A team series.
Also make sure each tour runs for 7 weeks minimum.. A 3 T20 series (in the first week), followed by a 3 match ODI series (finish it in the second week), a warm up game (4 days of the 3rd week) and then the first test (in the 4th week) followed by another warm up game (5th week) and the next two tests back to back in the 6th and 7th weeks. For series with great spectator interest, the teams can always go up to 4,5 or even 6 tests. But I would make this a minimum so that there won't be too much of any form of the game. And of course, the IPL and Champions League in between every year will ensure the revenue generation for the game. And with an all team series guaranteed every year, there will always be something to look forward in the cricket calendar. And with each team needing to play only 7 test series over the course of 3 years (both home and away), this will enable more tests (hopefully) and better contested series as teams will always have time to acclimitize themselves to the conditions...
Obviously, almost all of these thoughts are off the top of my head.. So please feel free to throw in your suggestions. As unlikely as it is, someone may just notice this and try and implement at least one..
But first things first, we need to accept that Twenty20 and ODIs are the ones which will generate the money that cricket needs. Having said that, without tests, the game is headless. So, we need to respect and find a way for all 3 formats to co-exist. This will mean some compromises with all 3 formats of the game... Each format is crucial for the existence of the other.
The reality is that we also need to find a window for the IPL and the Champions League. They are here to stay. Also, I think we need to give credence to Richard's theory about the gap between the world cups being too long and therefore we need to have Champions Trophy too, to fill the gaps between the World Cup. ICC also want at least one ICC event every year, be it the ODI or T20 WC or the Champions Trophy.
Considering all this, I feel that the ODI WC, The Champions Trophy and the T20 WC should all be played in 3 year intervals. Say, for example, we have the T20 WC in 2009, we should have the Champions Trophy in 2010 and the ODI WC in 2011 and again a T20WC in 2012, CT in 2013 and WC in 2014 and so on... All these tournaments should not be greater than 1 month in duration.
Also, the need to find a window for the IPL and Champions League means the whole of April needs to be free and a couple of weeks in Novemeber, perhaps.. Ideally, I would have the Champions League take place in September because it is generally a cricket free month...
The next thing I would do is instigate the top 8 teams in the world to play each other (either home or away) at least once every 3 years.. Right now, it is every two years, I guess and it would be better if it were 3. Give more space for the IPL and ICC events. Also, taking Bangladesh and Zim out of this would mean the top 8 teams are free to send out teams based on some rotation policy and rest main players for tests against these teams. Ideally, I would strip them both off test status (while letting them be permanent members of the ICC, coz for many, their vote is invaluable) until they start stringing together consistent performances in ODIs and in A team series.
Also make sure each tour runs for 7 weeks minimum.. A 3 T20 series (in the first week), followed by a 3 match ODI series (finish it in the second week), a warm up game (4 days of the 3rd week) and then the first test (in the 4th week) followed by another warm up game (5th week) and the next two tests back to back in the 6th and 7th weeks. For series with great spectator interest, the teams can always go up to 4,5 or even 6 tests. But I would make this a minimum so that there won't be too much of any form of the game. And of course, the IPL and Champions League in between every year will ensure the revenue generation for the game. And with an all team series guaranteed every year, there will always be something to look forward in the cricket calendar. And with each team needing to play only 7 test series over the course of 3 years (both home and away), this will enable more tests (hopefully) and better contested series as teams will always have time to acclimitize themselves to the conditions...
Obviously, almost all of these thoughts are off the top of my head.. So please feel free to throw in your suggestions. As unlikely as it is, someone may just notice this and try and implement at least one..