The problems with the proposed (and now scrapped) ICC World Test Championship were many and varied, but can you imagine a format that rewarded the two hottest Test teams at the end of the calendar year or set period of 12 months?
Right now that match-up might look something like Australia versus New Zealand. Both have had a phenomenal run of late and could ride that form for another six months and beyond. Imagine the anticipation around this Test match-up.
Now I’m not suggesting that the average cricket fan from around the world will show that much interest. But in terms of rewarding two nations for playing the best cricket in recent times, this could be the format.
It would also be extremely exciting for Australia and New Zealand fans right now.
How many times over the years have you found yourself asking the question: “Man, if only these two teams could have a one-off match-up right now”.
So how could it work?
The calculation period goes for 12 months. The best two teams are chosen based on a number of factors, whether win/loss record, batting average and bowling average, weighting depending on opponent ranking, bonuses for innings wins, and so on.
Home-ground advantage for the one-off Test is awarded to the team with the highest ‘rating’ after the set period.
The Test match is scheduled at the soonest opportunity to suit both teams, overriding any ODI tours and T20 games in due respect to the Test format.
The Test would be in the timeless format, with the winner being awarded the ICC Test World Cup.
The spoils of broadcast rights could be shared between the two competing nations, after the ICC has taken a cut of course.
Think about it. It’s nearly impossible to host a World Cup tournament for Test cricket. This is not a game that is played over a few hours. It’s never going to happen.
The qualifying rules make it very hard to schedule a host nation, although not too hard to fix you would think.
Cricket could also lay claim to being the first sport in history to host a World Cup with just two teams competing. How cool is that?
We need a Test tournament that is actually exciting; a tournament that gets fans on both sides absolutely salivating at the idea.
Right now, the Kiwis and Aussies are applauding each other over recent resurgences and brilliant cricket. We’re also completely gutted that we have to wait years before our two sides play each other again.
How does that make any sense for the fans?
As it stands, we will not see these current two teams go toe to toe with each other. The next time they do, there might be no Johnson, no Harris, no Haddin, no McCullum, and I find that sad.
Let’s reward Test teams when they are ‘on fire’. Let’s come up with some Test format ideas that actually make sense and are relatively easy to pull off.
Let’s put a bit of innovation into Test cricket scheduling and give the fans what they want.
jammel
Guest
Combining T20s and ODIs into a championship!? That'd only work if Tests were worth a 1000, ODIs 2 and T20s 1....!
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Clavers I have to say, I like the sound of a lot of what you are suggesting there. Works for me.
Clavers
Guest
I'll add a point to my previous post; if the championship standings were based on Al three forms of cricket, there would be more interest in each match as they would be no "meaningless" matches. Every test, T20 or ODI would carry championship points and affect the country's overall standing. Another suggestion: combine all the non test countries into a composite "Rest of the World" team and give that team test status. That would give every player in the world the opportunity to vie for test cricket and encourage the growth of the game.
Clavers
Guest
The problem with one one-test final would be the same as we encountered with the Sheffield Shield finals. The home team only has to draw, so the incentive is there for them to prepare a dead pitch and play boring cricket. I suggest a final series of 3 (1 at home, 1 away and one neutral) or 4 tests (2 at home and 2 away). The top team would have the incentive to pursue a win in their home test(s). Also, I suggest that the cycle be every every 2 years. That would make it easier to fit the finals into the calendar. Bear in mind that the timing of the finals would depend on who plays in them. If England host it must be in the northern summer. And it can't be played in the monsoon season in the sub-continent. A 2 year cycle could be tweaked to enable each test country to play every other country, or nearly so. Another idea, how about making it an "overall" cricket championship, incorporating 50 and 20 over matches as well as five day games like the women's series?
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I think it's a great idea to find a solution and find out who is best but results over 12 months could be horrendously skewed due to who you play and how often. I also have an issue with that of a 'timeless test'. Being able to bat out for a draw is part and parcel of test cricket and is one of the unique features that makes test cricket just that, unique.
vincemabika
Guest
I will agree it wont be india, but the challenge with a 12 month window especially with 10 test playing nations is it depends who you play over a calender year, look at SA next 7 tests against Zim, bangladesh and WI i think they will most probably win them all, whereas australia will have their work cut out facing spin in UAE against pakistan
Bem
Guest
Good idea in theory, however there are a few problems, how do you schedule it when the calender is already full, there are already television contracts for the pre existing one day and T20 events and how do you determine the 1 and 2 ranked teams when the qualifying period is too short.
Pete
Guest
Drew the tests and were missing Southee who averages 21 in subcontinent (India & SL)
AlanKC
Guest
Decent idea Matt - and you're right in that teams should be playing each other when both are hot as opposed to "fixed" schedules.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
No they are not! And Australia did have a shocker before the turnaround... but what could it look like in another 6 months from now, who knows! It's nice to imagine. I certainly don't think it would be India, who remain 2nd in the world after losing something like 10 out of 11 past games outside of home?
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
Like I wrote in the article, it would be for a set period of 12 months - qualifying for the 'world cup' would not be dictated by the ICC test championship rankings at all. It would be rewarded on form alone.
vincemabika
Guest
NZ who lost to bangladesh in bangladesh! They are certainly not the second most successful team over a 12 month period, come to think of it not even australia is among the top two yet. Remember australia only won tests the back end of the year having been 0 in 7 in away tests to india and england
deanp
Guest
According to the ICC test rankings NZ are 7th. But I guess if we were to write that seven with a certain degree of curvature, it could be made to look a bit like a two, couldn't it?