Right, let’s get this over and done with: give Ireland Test cricket status and then every cricket fan can breathe a sigh of relief before this World Cup is finished. Why? Because it would signal that the ICC is at least still listening, or straining to, with one of those old ear-horn hearing-aid thingies, to what the sport needs at a global level.
It would also mean there would be something for the other associates to look up to as a new benchmark, outside of winning the odd Twenty20 World Cup encounter.
England skipper Andrew Strauss has already told reporters this week that the ICC should have waited until the close of this one-day international tournament before deciding on the make-up of the 2015 edition.
At least give the likes of Ireland and Holland a chance – the British press reckoned the Dutch did everything right bar win against England in their opening group match, the perfect advertisement for associate nation cricket.
On February 24, FOX Sports’ online portal confirmed that Zimbabwe would return to the list of Test nations.
They will meet Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan later this year, marking a comeback that’s been four years in the making. However, all three opponents play Zimbabwe in single Test matches.
Neighbours South Africa and Australia will also tour the country with A teams during the middle of the year in advance of the official Test reinstatement.
“We’re not going to rush it,” Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka was quoted as saying.
“We are going to start with fewer games as we move along. I think we have a reasonable chance in those matches against those three teams.”
Chingoka added that he expected Zimbabwe to “cope well” with top-flight international cricket once more.
I wouldn’t be the only one who would reckon the Irish would cope just as well at present, especially given the Emerald Isle’s dominance of the ICC’s Intercontinental Cup in recent years. Then follow that with either Afghanistan or the Dutch.
How much of a skill gap is there – in truth – over four days of cricket between these countries and say Zimbabwe or Bangladesh? Why not send A teams at least to Ireland and Afghanistan – beating fellow associates every week soon won’t become enough of a challenge for them.
Let’s face it, when Bangladesh became a Test nation, it was probably more to do with the population of supporters and the fact they live next door to India and Pakistan.
The ICC should have given Test status to Kenya – a far better team at the time – and not worried about the nation’s general enthusiasm for track and field instead.
I’d rather watch a competitive team grow its fan base with solid performances than a weaker XI lose in front of an admittedly full stadium of rapturous fans.
Why don’t the ICC think outside the Test-nation box for once and plan for a greater future for the game?
If a few nations are willing, there are plenty of ways to do it. England-Ireland-Scotland-Wales in a home nations tournament, either at one-day or three-day length, for starters.
Or a one-day European Cup, including the Netherlands and maybe Denmark. How about the Asian Cup reverting to including more than the usual four of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh?
Where’s the space for Arghanistan, Oman, Nepal or Hong Kong?
The ultimate in smartness may yet be to split cricket into two divisions of eight – with promotion and relegation between them over say a four-year cycle. The top eight nations would play five-day Test cricket, while the second tier would meet across a four-day format.
As of the end of January according to the ICC rankings and most recent Intercontinental Cup and Shield results, the top Test division would be India, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.
The first-class division would contain Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Kenya, Holland and Canada. Waiting on the outer, perhaps playing three-dayers at least, could be the likes of Namibia, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda and Bermuda.
The ICC needs to make some sure-footed decisions about where cricket is going, and not just stick to money-making exercises for the sake of them. If it’s the International Cricket Council, then make that first word really say what it should mean.
Oh, and my take on the whole Ricky Ponting-smashes-telly saga? Personally, I would like to have seen him suspended for two group phase matches. Or be forced to play for Kenya. Twice.
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