We are almost two weeks into the World Cup and one of the highlights has been the performances of at least three of the associate countries.
Ireland beat the West Indies and then after being in real trouble just pipped a gallant UAE. They chased down a competitive 278 in the final over to remain undefeated in group B.
UAE was terrific against Ireland and had the Irish on the back foot, but a lack of experience saw them just miss out, but it was a mighty fine effort.
Then there was the battle between World Cup first timers, Afghanistan and Scotland in Dunedin.
Afghanistan have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years to actually qualify for cricket’s biggest tournament, while Scotland – despite losing – had been competitive in their first two games so far.
The match, between the two lowest-ranked nations in group A, was still very competitive. As they say, a close game is a good game.
The Afghans, chasing 211, just got over the line in the closest contest of the tournament so far.
They found a way to win when it looked forlorn at certain stages. They were 7 for 97 and then 8 for 132, but Samuilah Shenwari held the lower innings together to make 96.
He got out with 19 still needed, but the number 10 Hassan continued to show wonderful steel with the last man standing, Zdran and the Afghans were able to celebrate.
Their cricket had improved so much in such a short space of time that they were virtually on an equal footing with Scotland, who might have plateaued or even gone backwards slightly like fellow associates Canada, Kenya and the Netherlands, who have been regular participants in recent world cups.
That leaves us then with a conundrum regarding the plan to have just the ten Test playing nations be eligible for the 2019 World Cup event, hosted by England.
It seems very unfair on the associates, who add so much to this event and just keep increasing the profile and popularity of the game across the world.
Considering Afghanistan has been such a war torn country over the years, their involvement in this world cup is what dreams are made of. It would be a pity to not allow these countries without Test status on their biggest stage.
The more they all play the better they will be, reducing the number of one-sided games – a factor which has plagued previous world cups.
If they want a shorter condensed tournament and 49 games is probably too many, why not have a qualification system similar to the FIFA World Cup.
For example maybe 15 months out from the tournament, assess the ODI world rankings and allow the top six direct entry, along with the reigning champs and the host team.
While there’s still much to be played in this world cup, there’s a very good chance that the winner will be ranked in the top six – even though it’s three years away and England should be there as well.
If by a miracle, they are both outside, you have a tournament where two spots are up for grabs instead of four.
This system in my opinion would ensure the one dayers hold more weight and that might make the administrators consider reducing the number of ODI series and matches.
If there were four spots that needed to be filled from the qualification tournament, it should be an eight-team tournament, with the countries rated 7 to 10 in the rankings and the highest ranked associates getting a chance to play.
Two groups of four would suffice and they play each other once, with the top two qualifying for the semis and most importantly the cup. If the Test playing nations get there by this method, it just means they are better – simple as that.
In the case of only two having to qualify, the tournament would be played the same way, but only the finalists make the 2019 world cup.
The main problem with this idea is the scheduling as there is so much cricket to be played. That could create headaches, however considering how much ground they have made up, it seems ludicrous to stifle the development of the associates, by not considering them for future world cups.
Like Australia in the football world cup, making it to that sport’s biggest event has to be a given every time now. The same should be said for the Irelands and Afghanistans of the world.
It would be a great tournament – particularly if it was held on neutral territory.
shubham
Guest
india lol.......
Numil Trthskr
Guest
Associates surely add a lot of value and flavour to the World Cup. I suggest the following format for the tournament: Let there be 15 teams, in three pools of five teams each. The top two teams from each pool qualify for the Super-6, where each team plays four teams that it has not played previously in the tournament (it would have already played one of the teams in its own pool in order to advance to the Super-6 stage). The top four teams then advance to the semis etc.
Hayden
Guest
Dan these are 12 Changes I would make to One Day Internationals: 1. Australia, New Zealand, India, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan Nations have Bilateral Test & ODI’s Status 2. Make it 55 Overs a Side 3. No Power Plays 4. No Restrictions in the amount of Overs Bowled per Bowler 5. All Boundary Ropes to be pushed back to 2.5 meters before the fence 6. All Series to consist of either a 5 game series or 7 game triangular series 7. All Series squads must consist of 15 players with same regulations re World Cup re Replacements 8. All Series must consist of 2 warm up fixtures by visiting opponents 9. Champions Trophy to start as World Cup qualifiers with semi final winners to automatically qualify for World Cup 10. After Champions Trophy All ODI’s will revert to World Cup Qualifiers including against non-bilateral opponents 11. Bilateral ODI’s to resume once qualified for World Cup 12. 10 Teams to Qualify for World Cup.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
The problem isn't too many matches, it's the blanket refusal to play the games within a shorter timeframe. There is no reason why they can't play at least 2 matches on every day, sometimes 3, especially where you can play back to back games in NZ and Perth.
The Magic Man
Roar Rookie
The concerns are all coming from the next WC being reduced due to there being too many matches in this current tournament. The following is a WC format that expands the tournament from 14 to 16 teams, yet reduces the number of total matches played to just 27 matches. The groupings for this format are based on the current top 16 ODI rankings. ×Gp1: Aust WI Bang Papua ×Gp2: India Pak Zimb HKong ×Gp3: SAf Eng Ireld UAE ×Gp4: NZ SL Afghan Scot ×Gp-A: will feature the Winners of Gp1 & Gp4 and 2nd place Gp2 & Gp3 in a new group. ×Gp-B: will feature the Winners of Gp2 & Gp3 and 2nd place Gp1 & Gp4 in a new group. Semi-finals: Winner Gp A v 2nd Gp B. Winner Gp B v 2nd Gp A. Then it is time for the Final. If a match is scheduled every day of the tournament with a couple of rest days for the semis and the final it would be done in a month. This is surely a dead set no brainer.
Shouts Chen
Guest
Ireland are a much improved side in the Cricket World Cup when they beat West Indies and UAE. Ireland have the strong hitters like Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien. Ireland could potentially beat Zimbabwe and even India.
pjm
Roar Rookie
What massive improvement comes in 3 games?
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
I think what the ICC has done with the World Cricket League has been a huge step forward in the development of the associates. It's not just about associates playing test nations, it's about them playing regularly at a reasonable standard. Of which the domestic leagues of these countries most certainly aren't. Those extra games have undoubtedly contributed to the higher standard of these teams at the current world cup. And then to do all that work only to see it go to waste by cutting back seems absurd. It wasn't that long ago that we had teams bowled out for under 50. Unlikely to see that in this WC.
SM
Guest
I don't understand what you're trying to say here.
Brian
Guest
Why not just have regional qualifiers with inter-continental playoffs like FIFA does. An Australasian Cup with 10 teams top 5 qualify An Atlantic Cup with 8 teams top 3 qualify 6th and 7th from Australasia and 4th and 5th from Atlantic playoff with top 2 qualifying. Even if you do it differnetly so the actual cup is 8 teams if you force everyone to qualify you give all the associates plaenty f games in which to improve.
Whites
Guest
After the improvement in the associate teams at this world cup it would be idiotic to remove them at the next. I say increase the World Cup to 16 teams with pools of 4. The whole thing could be over in a month. It's still a full month until the final.
pjm
Roar Rookie
That's the system I've been pushing Dan. More regular matches every year and then a qualifying competition for the World Cup. As the years go by and more effort has been put into the associate members that the quality of their cricket rises then the World Cup can be expanded again.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Dan, your idea is a good one but scheduling of matches for the associate countries must extend to regular matches played in all years,, not just a once in every four years qualifying tournament. This is the bigger problem as well as finances for the associate countries.
AL
Guest
Would this mean the qualification and tournament would take at least a million years to compete, so we would have one world champion every million years. And the ICC would make lots of money, Because this tournament is very long dont see why you could have games on a more frequent basis.
Abubakr Mela
Roar Rookie
It put me to tears witnessing the game I love, I grew up watching, being reduced to tatters by a bunch of greedy mafia controlling it. ICC's impotency is apparent from the fact that it's losing some of it's 'used to be great' test nations and let alone add new ones. If the phenomenon continues, and I hope not, I am afraid I might not be able to follow the sport which used to be my romance once.