dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
I hope Ireland start really coming along too.
That Canadian bloke who played for South Aus was pretty good too.
Old Jon Davison... he played for the Vics for a while too.
His 100 v the windies on the SA world cup was gold.
I think the ICC need to look at globalising the game more. Twenty20, while it sees the occasional upset, is a fast food game. It isn't going to develop cricket in the better associate nations because they already have sufficient interest and infrastructure to play the proper versions of the game. The best resolution for everyone here is to give Ireland test status, and to hold a major ICC tournament each year with the leading associates (I know there is currently the intercontinental cup, but im talking something higher profile, with TV rights, more money, and more games). The associates need a move towards professionalism.
My proposal would be something like
- Zimbabwae losing test status
- Ireland taking their place
- A major competition each year between the top 4-6 associates (atm Scotland, Kenya, Netherlands, Canada and Afghanistan would compete as there is a talent divide below them).
- Each side would play 2 home and away 'tests' each year against every other leading associate, totally 16 matches a year.
- Additionally, a full test nation will be required to accept a home tour against one of the leading associates every second year. (IE in year one NZ would host Afghanistan, SA would host the Netherlands, India would host Scotland, Australia would host Canada and England would host Kenya, in year two, Ireland would host Afghanistan, Bangladesh would host the Netherlands, West Indies would host Scotland, Pakistan would host (in Dubai) Canada and Sri lanka would host Kenya
- The next tier of teams (Bermuda, Namibia, Tanzania, Denmark, UAE) host their own similar tournament.
- At the end of the season one of the top tier is relegated to the bottom tier, and one is put up in their place. If a team tops the top tier for 3 years straight, they are granted Test status.