“The ICC has a strategy to have more competitive teams playing at the highest level,” the words of ICC Chief Executive David Richardson but are these words actually genuine or are they just some do good words for the listening ears at the Asian Cricket Council conference in Sri Lanka.
Richardson says the ICC wants 15-16 teams playing at the top level on a regular basis. The first point is if you want more teams at the top, why restrict the number of world cup teams?
The 2019 World Cup has drawn widespread criticism with the ICC reducing the number of teams from 14 to 10 meaning that there could be no associate nations at all in the tournament.
At this stage the top eight nations of the ODI Championships automatically qualify for the 2019 world cup, with the bottom four nations having to qualify for the World Cup through the World Cup qualifying tournament that will be played in 2018 in Bangladesh.
At this stage based off world rankings, the four nations that are forced to qualify are the West Indies, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland. This could mean that if the West Indies and Zimbabwe fail to qualify for the tournament, that a Test nation could miss a world cup and reversely it could be the first time an associate nation could miss the World Cup.
The World Cup-qualifying tournament sees will see six other nations join the four listed above have to qualify for the tournament, these teams include Papua New Guinea, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Scotland who are the current top four of the World Cricket League, as well as the two sides from ICC Division 2.
So if the ICC wants to promote the game and expand the number of teams playing at the top level why are they restricting the teams that can play in the World Cup? The answer to that is something that only the ICC can explain, but if teams are to play at the top level then how do they get the experience.
At this stage the only side with a semi-regular chance of playing against Test nations is Ireland but these are usually only one or two matches before a series as a “warm-up” for nations who are to play a series against England.
However baby steps are being taken for other nations with Afghanistan playing regular series against Zimbabwe in which Afghanistan have been dominating. The next big step for Afghanistan comes in 2017 with a full tour of the West Indies to take place which will involve five ODIs and three T20s.
While it’s good for the Afghan and Irish side to play these matches, there is virtually nothing for the associate nations outside of major tournaments and while this keeps happening the gap grows. A lot of people remark on how good the associate teams fare at the World Cup but soon after these teams are forgotten about.
The question is how do we develop the associate nations? Well the obvious answer is more games against Test-playing nations. This is actually something that can quite easily happen with one or 2 match “series” against nations in the same region happening.
This for example could see Pakistan play two ODIs against Papua New Guinea before or after their tour of Australia and in turn teams that travel to England play against either Scotland or the Netherlands in matches.
This will only benefit the associate nations because as they get more experience the better they will grow and rather than fill the extra spots they can be competitive.
To better clarify this, take the July cricket schedule.
England host South Africa: this can see South Africa warm-up for the series with competitive warm-up matches against either Scotland or the Netherlands. These both benefit the South Africans through competitive play and the associate nation they are playing gets more experience against a top nation and their players – and games don’t stagnate over time.
Other examples for July include.
West Indies hosting India – India v Canada
Bangladesh hosting Pakistan – Pakistan v Nepal
Sri Lanka hosting Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe v UAE or Hong Kong.
Another option that could be used for several teams is the inclusion of the associate nations into both the first class and the List A competitions.
This will give the players experience in higher level competitions against better players. The introduction of associate nations into the domestic competitions of Test nations can be a big step because it will allow players to gain more experience playing against and with some of the game’s biggest players.
It will provide the experience that comes from competitive cricket in some of the premier divisions will be invaluable.
The way to do this is to ensure that associate nations are involved in the domestic competitions of Test nations as in the same way Cricket Australia created the CAXI for the Matador Cup.
The same can be done to introduce Papua New Guinea into the Australian domestic competition.
Examples of how associate introduction can work.
• Papua New Guinea and Australia
• Hong Kong and NZ
• Nepal and India
• Namibia and South Africa
• Canada and West Indies
• Netherlands and England.
These options might only be a pipe dream that will never happen, but if the ICC is serious in expanding the number of teams at the top there are so many options that the ICC can take.
This must start with immediately granting Ireland and Afghanistan Test status, but if not then integrate these teams into the top level over a five-year plan and get to the intended 15-team top level competition.
BrainsTrust
Guest
ICC - most of the money goes to India followed by England then Australia who already have the money. The rest of the test playing nations get a portion. very little left for anyone else. ICC is the greediest distribution of all quite easily. IRB Rugby - the top 10 nations get most of the money, while some of those nations need the money , some don't. The Pacific islands while their rugby might be top 10 they don't get the money. Neither organisation is bothering funding expansion. Japan is paying to host the rugby world cup a very large fee, through the Japanese government. The US doesn't work that way while they talk of a rugby world cup in the USA, the US might have the stadiums but they won't stump up the fee which IRB uses in adiition to selling the TV rights for its income. Rugby has expanded through the wealthiest going to the top English schools. Cricket seems to be contracting in fringe areas and expanding with the sub continent migration. Afghanistan it was about the migration into Pakistan as refugees. If you expect the ICC to save cricket your deluded. In the Carribean land is at a premium they are getting rid of fields, there are even less basketball courts.
davSA
Guest
Wow Josh , if we were to substitute the word ICC for World Rugby we would be having exactly the same conversation. Both sports share a lot in common in that they only appeal to and are played at the highest level by a fairly limited amount of countries. Both have formal World Cup tournaments Both their respective controlling bodies seem determined to grow the sport at all costs into less traditional strongholds of the game. Both bodies seem to fail to recognise that they have in their midst countries that are so keen on expanding but simply lack the resources to do so. In rugbys case in would be Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. In crickets case you have already mentioned Nepal and Afghanistan. Look at what Bangladesh have achieved with so little. But sadly these countries don't carry the same weight of Romanticism as a Japan or USA in rugbys case or an Ireland and Netherlands would in crickets .. Back to the article I would far rather prefer that the ICC work strongly with West Indian authorities in restoring cricket to its former glories. The reason given by so many over the years for the demise of West Indian cricket was the lure of the US Dollar attracting talented young sportsmen into basketball , football , etc. This argument is no longer valid as cricket can earn real big bucks for top performers thanks to T20. Will resources be put into Afghanistan where a casual afternoon club game can pull 10000-20000 spectators or rather directed to the Netherlands , A sophisticated society who after centuries of sport participation still don't care a hoot about cricket. There is also those teams like Zimbabwe and Namibia . Both are already working with SA cricket and have for a long time , but unless they go back to apartheid day structures where they formally participated in SA domestic cricket , I cant see them growing any further. Growth is good but my advice to both bodies are to look at what you already have that can be fixed , you may be surprised what comes out.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Ireland have access to county cricket which places them way ahead of most test playing nations pay wise. Aren't Afghanistan players developed playing in Pakistan. I think those two nations already have an advantage over other minnows who have to produce their cricketers locally.
Gary
Guest
Would love to see PNG Barramundi's in the Matador cup. Australia has helped out a little with integration of selected players in domestic competitions and they've had some great results in the SACA competition and currently are on top of the table after 8 matches in the World Cricket League. They would have to be at least to the standard of the Cricket academy team in the one day games. Perhaps not quite ready for the shield but a yearly home away 4 day series with an Australia A team would be beneficial to their development.
matth
Guest
I would include the associate nations in 'A' team tours. so instead of South Africa A playing India A, they each tour or host associate nations.
Josh Robertson
Roar Rookie
Of course we don't want to lose a current side and I think there needs to be a huge focus on both stabilising the West Indies through their tumultuous times. Also the ICC will need to look at Zimbabwe because they are not in a good state and it can be argued that Afghanistan have surpassed them in quality with Afghanistan winning the past 2 series against the Zimbabweans.
Josh Robertson
Roar Rookie
You are correct, there is nobody suggesting that Australia V Afghanistan will be the boxing day test but it will be a perfect "top-end" series in the "off-season" for places such as Darwin & Townsville. Even if it isn't teams such as Afghanistan or Ireland, there are plenty of teams in the Asian region looking to grow the game of cricket and with PNG right on our doorstep it is a huge opportunity and even so Cricket Australia could use it as a huge marketing ploy just as the NRL does for PNG.
Josh Robertson
Roar Rookie
The article is all about the ICC wanting to expand the numbers at the top level, this isn't just an Australian idea by me, it's the position of ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson and the plan of chairman Shashank Manohar to expand the game. And to Jeff's comment, the statement is very incorrect because countries such as Nepal and Afghanistan are seeing crowds over 20,000 to watch matches they play.
Brian
Guest
expansion would be great but the sport has been going backwards for 15 years. Now they should focus on keeping WI, Zim, NZ & RSA before they too disappear. Surely another simple rule would be that any player not from an established nation can play domestic T20 in all countries without counting as a foreigner. Afghanistan and Ireland have players of BBL standard who would be great to see.
Gurudoright
Guest
Nobody expects Australia to play Afghanistan for the Boxing Day test match, that is silly. But what about a tour match/es for associate nations prior to the first in-bound test for the season? It could be played in a city that don't regularly get test matches like Canberra, Newcastle or Darwin and Townsville if the wet season hasn't started. This year the Sheffield Shield started a week or two prior to the test series vs SA. Hypothetically a team like Afghanistan or Ireland could have played a game against NSW, Vic etc the week prior to the Shield starting, a CA u/20 team the first week of the Shield season, then a tour match against Australia the week prior to the first test vs SA.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Canada has actually got quite substantial immigrant populations from cricket playing countries with a growing Indian population. North America could be easily the fourth biggest economic axis for world cricket. Already Tv rights from the region I think are in that position. There is a big difference in having those willing to pay to watch cricket in a country and getting a team together for that country from cricket playing countries. Ireland and Scotland cricket is very tiny but they can bolster their team from those that are in England. Outside of the big three the cricketing nations are either very poor or have small populations.
BrainsTrust
Guest
I think the ICC is burning the rope at both ends. On the one hand its going to exclude nations from the world cup, where traditionally the minnows had their stage to squeeze a few extra dollars out of the event, on the other hand its trying to pretend its expanding by introducing nations which hardly play the game, but have a large ethnic population in countries that do.Ireland is a primary example of this.
northerner
Guest
The problem for cricket is that, unlike football, it lacks universal appeal - it's really successful in only a handful of countries (two of them very large countries, admittedly) but hasn't really shown much ability to gain traction outside those nations. In a country like Canada it will never be more than a niche sport. There's just too much competition there from other, very well established sports - notably baseball and softball - at the grassroots, Little League and professional levels - for cricket to be anything more than a curiosity.
new guy
Guest
what is it with Australians and there obsession with sporting expansions? (and property)
Jeff milton
Guest
good old Roar- the resting place of all expansion articles. The world outside its current cricket nations doesnt care - and never will
Jeff milton
Guest
NSW beating pioneer states? thats sounds as flimsy as AUskick numbers
Ahmed
Guest
Grassroots development is the key to grow any sport in my opinion. You see with football, that they have used Auskick to grow the sport in the growth areas of Sydney and Queensland very well. We have been seeing NSW/ACT and QLD beating some of the pioneer football states in the age competitions. Cricket should learn from this. A competitive national team is a result of having juniors playing the sport from a young age, not simply giving a small number of elite players access to expensive training academies when they are older. Your idea is an interesting one. I do feel it has merit in providing the Irish and Afghans some valuable incentive to improve. But it could hurt cricket dramatically. Would their be big crowds to watch Australia vs Afghanistan for boxing day for example? I could see some initial big crowds if we were to play ireland. The state league idea is quite a good one. It would give great exposure to the game. Especially if CA were to play up some sort of State Of Origin type rivalry in PNG (they do love their rugby league).