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Test cricket
ICC open to regular Test 'final'
Nagraj Gollapudi
November 10, 2009
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Haroon Lorgat
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Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, has said it is open to an annual or biennial Test final to make the longer form of the game more exciting and attractive. Lorgat agreed that it was important, to arrest the general dwindling interest in Tests, to build context around the format and infuse meaning for every series.
"At the next chief executives committee [CEC] meeting (to be held on November 30 and December 1) we will have more discussions and find a way of creating context for Test cricket," Lorgat told Cricinfo. "That does not necessarily mean a Test championship, but we could work towards a Test final every year or ever second year but that depends on the mechanics of how you work out the model."
A day after releasing the 2011 Word Cup schedule in Mumbai, an exercise that Lorgat admitted was nothing short of climbing a mountain, the ICC's CEO appeared relieved and said he now had more time to actively pursue important issues on the back burner in the recent past. Apart from the health of Test cricket, Lorgat said he wanted to make the 50-over game, something critics had said was on its last legs, much more appealing to fans and players.
"There is no doubt that there is an opportunity to create a few tweaks that would enhance the ODI game," he said.
Lorgat was quick to pitch new ideas: "The middle overs in an ODI is an area where we could experiment with something like the Powerplay component. At the moment the fielding side takes it immediately after the ten-over mark; perhaps that could be changed. Also, the batting side should take the Powerplay before the 40-over mark because the last ten overs are always a dash for runs. Maybe we need to consider lifting the limitations on bowlers: should they be restricted to ten overs? Typically the bits-and-pieces bowlers come into play during the middle overs where nothing much is happening, but if there is a penetrative bowler things could be different."
It is easy to forget Lorgat once was an allrounder for Eastern Province and Transvaal before moving on to become a selector and now an administrator. For the moment, Lorgat is happy making suggestions while remaining open to them. He welcomed discussions about a possible Test championship, which he said was still under consideration. "If I was pressed for an answer the ideal would be some form of a championship where you collect points and work towards a stage where four teams play in the semi-finals and then a final."
His idea was similar to Martin Crowe's recent suggestion to stage a knockout World Test Championship with the final played annually. Crowe presented his proposal to the ICC's Cricket Committee in September with an aim to address the problem of declining interest in contests between lower-ranked Test teams and the danger it posed for the longer format.
Lorgat said both the CEC and even the ICC board were open to Crowe's theory, which recommends integrating the model into the existing fixtures lists and television contracts. "I think it is possible - the system devised by Crowe - because you are taking existing fixtures, turning them into a set of points and then having four teams contesting in the semis and two in the final," Lorgat said.
Clive Lloyd, who chairs ICC's Cricket Committee, will bring his thoughts to the table at the CEC meeting; members will then discuss it again at the Board meeting to be held on February 10-11 next year.
Lorgat said Crowe's model would be an idea worthy of "testing out in full". But the biggest challenge was one of practical application, because, at the moment, "everybody does not play everybody". Still, he acknowledged such a model would provide the Test game with a "context" that would help generate greater interest.
"There would be more relevance and meaning for even a third game where I'm one country and you are second country and we are playing each other and all of our fans are interested. But my fans would also be interested in a game involving two other countries because that result might impact my country's progress. At the moment unless your home country is playing one doesn't have much consideration for any series involving other countries."
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo
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I think a Final every 2 years is a great idea. I would also split cricket into multiple tiers of 6 teams with relegation & promotions every 2 years. Currently their is 3 tiers of non-releg 4-5day cricket (Test 1-9, ICup 11-16, IShield 17-20), 8-10 tiers of part-releg ODI cricket (Full 1-10 & WCL 11-46) and 2 tiers of T20I (Full 1-10 & Qualifiers 11-18). I recommend ICC remove their competitions and replace them with 1 system covering all 3 formats getting teams to perform in all 3 forms of the game to be promoted. I recommend: * Tiers 1 & 2 (6 teams@) play Tests, ODI & T20I. * Tiers 3 & 4 (6 teams@) play 4day, ODI & T20I. * Tiers 5 & 6 (12 teams@) play 3day, 50over & 20over. * Below Tier 6 is Regional 20over with some 50over. I dont agree with Test/First Class being over restricted, but think it should be session by session. 4 sessions per day (30,20,20,30) where teams alternate batting each session until a result is acheived. This way matches will finish quicker allowing for more wins
Posted by leave_it_to_the_umps on (November 15 2009, 15:50 PM GMT)A two tier test system with 3 test series being played would allow much more even, exciting & meaningful cricket to be played.... based on todays ICC rankings you could see tier 1 being South Africa, Srilanka, India, Australia and England and the tier 2 would be Pakistan, NZ, West Indies, Bangladesh and you could introduce Ireland to test cricket as the fifth team. (or maybe Zimbabwe if they get their act together) You could have a final every two years between the best two teams in each tier and you could have promotion for the winner of the tier 2 final and demotion for the 5th place tier 1 team every two years There could then be an associate level competition with 3 or 4 day cricket being played to try and get some of the developing nations closer to playing test cricket and every 4 years the ICC should offer promotion from associate to tier 2 for the best associate team and relegate the worst performing tier 2 team back to associate level to work on their game.
Posted by gottalovetheraindance on (November 11 2009, 21:51 PM GMT)the amount of cricket is also a problem. with cricketers playing around the clock they become extremely susceptible to injury especially fast bowlers. just take a look at the news now before the SA vs ENG series Broad Onions Anderson & Bresnan are injured Before the Aus vs WI series Edwards, Lee, Siddle Clark Clarke & Bracken are injured along with Haddin & Johnson if all these players are injured & unable to play already people will become less intrested in the cricket as these stars are not involved. This inevitably will affect the quality of cricket being played.
Posted by gottalovetheraindance on (November 11 2009, 21:42 PM GMT)many of the pitches are prepared to ensure a 5 days run fest instead of a thrilling contest between bat & ball. variety is the spice of life so countries should prepare a variety of pitches for example Sabina Park & Kensington Oval could have pitches that assist fast bowlers while Queen's Park Oval could be a spinner's pitch. The pitches in Guyana & Antigua could be prepared to assist batsmen. i believe if more attention is placed on varying the types of pitches the better. cricket would be boring if ASian pitches didnt aid reverse swing & spin while Australian + West Indian & African pitches aided fast bouncy bowling & New Zealand + england aided swing bowling
Posted by Kimberlite on (November 11 2009, 21:33 PM GMT)I am strongly against over restriction in test cricket. The whole idea of test cricket is that it is up to the bowlers to get 10 wickets. If a second innings is restricted to 75 overs or one whole day, test cricket becomes a glorified form of limited overs cricket. Fine, setting a limit of 150 overs might be considered, but isn't it in the best interest of the team batting first to leave themselves enough time for bowling. Also, if this restriction is made, what happens to exceptional circumstances, e.g. team 1 getting 600, team 2 being bowled out for 150. Should their second innings now be limited to 150 overs, when team 1 has a great advantage? Test cricket is about performing in all four innings, but having the chance to make it up (though under more difficult circumstances) if something goes wrong. I say keep the format of test cricket, but give some incentive to winning test matches, rather than settling for a draw.
Posted by bluesoulmate on (November 11 2009, 18:50 PM GMT)I can suggest two fundamental changes in the TEST format. First, each test should be played only 4 days with each innings to be completed by the same day. The 5th day should be a reserve day incase of any weather problem. Second the test cricket teams should be divided into two conferences, North and South. North of Equator should comprise teams from England, India, Pakistan, Srilanka and Bangladesh. South of Equator should comprise teams from Australia, NZ, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbawae. Each team should play 2 matches at home and away from the same conference while should play 1 match at home and away from the other conference. For example, India should play 2 tests against Pakistan at home and 2 matches against Pakistan in Pakistan. India should also play Australia 1 test at home and away. So each team will play 21 test matches and the first two winners of each conference should be selected for the Semi Finals and then to Finals.
Posted by maximum6 on (November 11 2009, 17:21 PM GMT)Though not a straight forward subject, the question of pitches seems to be a pressing one.From Bangalore to Bridgetown, Multan to Melbourne the pitches seem to be the same-what a yawn! The ubiquitous and sterile slow low pudding is really the enemy of the game-no use to man nor beast,and yet it abounds in the name of money to maxout gate receits everywhere. It is time Perth became Perth again,Sabina Park became a test of quick footwork and the Oval licensed to thrill. The same with the turning wickets. And for God's sake make the ECB hurry up the Od Trafford redevelopement. The only interesting wicket around and it's taken off the menu.
Posted by maximum6 on (November 11 2009, 14:51 PM GMT)If cricket has become just about money then it needs putting down like a too sick dog.Personally I am bored of hearing about enormous sums of money anywhere in life,when over 90% of us have no such luck and scrape together livings with a few pleasures thrown in. 20/20 has totally rocked the boat because it is mostly about filthy lucre. Personally I don't want to see Freddie,KP or anyone else get rich in the IPL. Then players might return to putting national concerns above those of some artificail franchise It's time they put a cap on money on offer, and landed on planet earth again. After all no one would say candyfloss and crisps represented a proper diet. Otherwise ICC would be well advised to leave the real stuff(ODI and Tests) alone and let it evolve as it is, with minimal interference.
Posted by Devrajmallik on (November 11 2009, 14:26 PM GMT)As far one day is concerned, make first 15 overs as power-play 1 as every bowling side takes it from 11-15th over and another option that ICC can take into consideration to remove boring part from 15th to 40th over is by introducing 3 power-plays in the slot of PP1-1-15overs(Mandatory), slots of 5 overs as PP2-(bowling side-21-30 overs) and PP3(Batting side 31-40 overs respectively. In the bowling side, one bowler may be permitted to bowl a maximum of 15 overs.....ICC plz comment......Devraj Mallik
Posted by Kimberlite on (November 11 2009, 11:39 AM GMT)I don't believe that test cricket is in as much trouble as everyone thinks. Whenever I talk to a fellow cricket supporter, he is more interested in the upcoming test series than the one dayers. However I do like the idea of a test 'final'. If I am correct, the current test fixtures allows every pair of teams to play each other home and away every four years. Is it not possible to take the results of these four years when selecting the contenders for this final (or semi-finals)? (For example, after the four years, there are semi-finals: T1 (home) vs T4 (away) and T2 (home) vs T3 (away); 3 Test Matches and similarly a 'final' series.) One would have to decide whether the current ranking system is used or whether it is changed to some of the suggestions below (I like the idea of awarding much more for a win than a draw (e.g. 10 vs 2)). This way teams know that their performance in every test will count towards the eventual goal of reaching this 'final' and will lift the standard of play.