Do you think we will have a new 'major cricket country' anytime soon?

[TheJediBrah]

Remember that Intercontinental Trophy they used to have, where the associates played 4-day games against each other in a round robin format throughout the year? That was cool. Wouldn't have wanted those games to be given Test status though

 

[Xix2565]

A huge change in direction in the way the game is managed financially. These new and lowest ranked sides would need to be heavily susidised for a prolonged period so they can actually play and set up strong domestic structures. Realistically this could be a massive investment for decades before they become anywhere close to self reliant.......if they ever do.

The only other way I see additional test teams is if either America or China suddenly decide they want in on test cricket and invest heavily in it.

That's my point ultimately. Even outside of the US/China fantasies, there still needs to be a willingness from the Pig 3 to subsidize/invest with long term payoffs.

 

[Xix2565]

Remember that Intercontinental Trophy they used to have, where the associates played 4-day games against each other in a round robin format throughout the year? That was cool. Wouldn't have wanted those games to be given Test status though

I mean old Tests were given that status largely based on vibes. Would just be following in tradition.

 

[Adders]

That's my point ultimately. Even outside of the US/China fantasies, there still needs to be a willingness from the Pig 3 to subsidize/invest with long term payoffs.

Like its a nice idea in principle and you certainly won't get any argument from me about the big 3 being a bunch of self serving pricks...........but i honestly don't think this concept is remotely viable.

Didn't it take India like 30 years to win their first test match? And they already had a least a cricket culture there.........and a population pool to eventually produce world class cricketers. Honestly no matter how much support and funding you provide Ireland how good can you seriously expect them to ever get?

And never mind the finances cricket won't survive if Australia are playing test series against Afghanistan with 10,000 people in the ground to watch and TV audiences less than Home and Away...........if it cant spark an interest then really what's the point?

 

[Adders]

Really the best way forward for Test cricket is to support the struggling test nations we already have. Take West Indies for eg........we know they have the cricket culture and the capacity to produce world class players, but they are a financial basket case.

Fund and help them and similar boards. Get all current test sides playing similar amount of tests every year........not Eng 15 and NZ 5 if they're lucky.

 

[Xix2565]

Didn't it take India like 30 years to win their first test match? And they already had a least a cricket culture there.........and a population pool to eventually produce world class cricketers. Honestly no matter how much support and funding you provide Ireland how good can you seriously expect them to ever get?

And never mind the finances cricket won't survive if Australia are playing test series against Afghanistan with 10,000 people in the ground to watch and TV audiences less than Home and Away...........if it cant spark an interest then really what's the point?

I mean as far as actually winning games though, the most reliable method is to have fast bowlers, as shown by Pakistan in that exact era. Ireland just struggle more because they have to deal with a lot more solid teams per game played compared to teams formed in the 1900s. And I really don't get this concern about supporting teams as if they're just supposed to magically get better by themselves? You do need to have competition to play with ultimately and if it means a collective stance with regards to funding/competition/etc then so be it.

I mean this idea relies on Test cricket needing to be marketed as a bilateral game, when that's a fairly outdated idea that's clearly hampered growth.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Re the original question, no - but I could see Bangladesh being a top 3 side in 5 years

 

[honestbharani]

I dont think the Pig 3 should give up money just like that to the ICC to distribtute to teams that are struggling financially coz usually that just leads of boards corrupting the funds for themselves. I do think there is slight merit to the idea of how they do the money payback right now. What I would definitely compel the Pig 3 to do is to play more test series against some of the other sides both home and away, even if they are just 4 day tests. That would help those boards make some money from their home series (as well as TV rights money) and at the same time also help test cricket stay somewhat relevant in those countries.

 

[GotSpin]

Really the best way forward for Test cricket is to support the struggling test nations we already have. Take West Indies for eg........we know they have the cricket culture and the capacity to produce world class players, but they are a financial basket case.

Fund and help them and similar boards. Get all current test sides playing similar amount of tests every year........not Eng 15 and NZ 5 if they're lucky.

Throwing money at the WICB won’t make them better at test cricket then

 

[Ali TT]

I dont think the Pig 3 should give up money just like that to the ICC to distribtute to teams that are struggling financially coz usually that just leads of boards corrupting the funds for themselves. I do think there is slight merit to the idea of how they do the money payback right now. What I would definitely compel the Pig 3 to do is to play more test series against some of the other sides both home and away, even if they are just 4 day tests. That would help those boards make some money from their home series (as well as TV rights money) and at the same time also help test cricket stay somewhat relevant in those countries.

I feel the Windies have got a pretty decent share of series home and away against the Fig 3 over recent years and they've just got worse. Bangladesh have got the opposite treatment and they've got better - neither England nor Australia have faced them for almost a decade, although at least the latter are playing them this summer.

 

[Adders]

Throwing money at the WICB won’t make them better at test cricket then

You're right and HB said much the same.

Im not advocating just handing any board a stack of money for them to miss manage and piss away. It would have to come with some serious hands on help and restructure.

This whole idea is wildly far fetched anyway but my point is when we have half of the existing test teams basically floundering, on what basis can it be a good idea to add more to the mix?

 

[GotSpin]

You're right and HB said much the same.

Im not advocating just handing any board a stack of money for them to miss manage and piss away. It would have to come with some serious hands on help and restructure.

This whole idea is wildly far fetched anyway but my point is when we have half of the existing test teams basically floundering, on what basis can it be a good idea to add more to the mix?

I don’t think the ICC should be gate keeping the format to begin with though . If a couple nations want to get together and play why not? It’s just precious stat protection

 

[andruid]

We already have 2 test sides (Ireland and Afghanistan) who cant land a spot on the rankings list because they don't (cant) play enough tests to qualify for a rating (8 tests in 3 years)

There is absolutely no point in adding more test nations if no one will play them.

The way I see it there is only 2 possible ways we ever expand beyond the 12 test teams we have now........

A huge change in direction in the way the game is managed financially. These new and lowest ranked sides would need to be heavily susidised for a prolonged period so they can actually play and set up strong domestic structures. Realistically this could be a massive investment for decades before they become anywhere close to self reliant.......if they ever do.

The only other way I see additional test teams is if either America or China suddenly decide they want in on test cricket and invest heavily in it.

Bring back the Intercontinental Cup, extend the WTC Cycle to four years; separate ICC membership from Test status.

 

[Ali TT]

The last month not a good advert for expanding the test game

 

[Silver Silva]

The last month not a good advert for expanding the test game

The players have become bigger than the game.

 

[andruid]

Remember that Intercontinental Trophy they used to have, where the associates played 4-day games against each other in a round robin format throughout the year? That was cool. Wouldn't have wanted those games to be given Test status though

A random pair of Smokers vs Non-smokers has test status, so piss off!