The world is ready for a proper Test cricket championship, but it has to be done properly.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland has been talking up the prospects of a Test cricket league again this week in the Aussie press.
Different to the current ICC Test Championship (basically just a ranking system) this would be a Test cricket championship in the true sense of the term.
The details are still to be hammered out but, according to an ABC interview with Sutherland on Saturday, the tournament could take place across a couple of years with nine nations playing each other once, collecting points along the way, in series of differing lengths.
At the end of that period, a grand final would be staged between the top two teams and the winner would be declared the champion.
In my opinion, it’s an absolute no-brainer.
It’s time for the game’s top administrators to stop stuffing around on this issue while Twenty20 cricket crashes onwards, and crowds at Test matches dwindle.
And, if the plan all sounds familiar, it’s because it is. This is not the first time that cricket authorities have openly discussed a Test league, as they fight desperately to give the long format relevance in a new world of national Twenty20 competitions, with dancing cheerleaders and six-hitting records.
The first time it was discussed – in recent times at least – was in 2009, but there have been cancellations and postponements ever since. Apparently, there were issues on funding the competition and getting the agreement of broadcasters. Once again, the tail was wagging the dog, it seems.
Now that the idea is back on the agenda again with the ICC, problems are already being flagged. There should be no changes to series against India and England, Cricket Australia has reportedly said. Fans and broadcasters don’t want to lose the holiday Tests in the Aussie summer, either.
But, if every country takes this attitude, this idea will never get off the ground. Many nations love to host cricket matches around New Years Eve and Boxing Day – think of South Africa and New Zealand too. Everyone would love a five-match Test series against India, to maximise their TV income.
If cricket wants to truly think globally – not just become global – it needs its national governing bodies to compromise on an international level. What about a Boxing Day Test against New Zealand in Melbourne, and a New Years Test across the ditch? Whoever wins the two-match series, grabs the points and we all move on.
Then three weeks later, we head to South Africa to play a one off Test or maybe two, before our boys return to play the second leg a week later back on Aussie shores. That would still be a decent summer of Test cricket.
The traditional format of long Test series, which was based around the idea of jumping on a steam boat and heading across the world for half a year, is now old hat. It’s also hard for newcomers to the sport to follow and there is barely enough space on the calendar to fit these mega series in any more.
That the idea of a Test cricket league has remained alive for so long is testament to the fact that it’s obviously the best way to give Test cricket the oomph it desperately needs.
The time to act is now, and the competition needs to be truly inclusive including all countries who have earned the right to play the toughest form of the game.
Billary Swamper
Guest
If India does not want to do it, then lets just do it without them. Invite all the other nations and start without them. Even if they go into their shell and just do the white ball stuff, they might actually do the rest of the world a favour because they will only go after the sloggers. But we have plenty of others to replace them.
Tlux
Guest
I don’t think the test championship needs a final. First past the post would be the more fitting ladder system. Every test series needs to be 3 games to allow for the ‘tour’ element of test match cricket to remain. Perhaps 15 man squads could be imposed per series to make it a coherent series of matches. If teams want to play 4 or 5 tests, they are allowed to, but still receive same amount of points as a 3 test series. Would like to see a ‘results’ based point system. 5 points for winning the series. 3 points for the draw. 1 points for a loss. Any NRR/Bonus point system would force top nations to send full-strength teams to annihilate lesser teams to boost NRR, resulting in unwatchable cricket. If nations only needed to win the series, they might be tempted to rest elite players and send young talent / first class players to get the job done. Much like how Premier League teams approach early FA Cup rounds. Bilateral trophies can remain, but the ‘retain’ result should just be ceremonial. If the series is drawn both teams split the points. Australia will still be able to have its ‘summer of cricket’, we’ll just need to play a heap of games overseas during winter. Throw in the odd Cairns/Darwin/Manuka series to tick a few hosting boxes.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
I'd prefer the status quo of a boxing day & new years tests against England or India every second year than participating in a league that removes our ability to hold what has become cricket's marquee event.
steve
Guest
The interest in Test Cricket is on the wane except for our Ashes Tests. Longer forms of the game, whether they end up being four day Tests or not, have little relevance in the fast paced 21st century. No one really wants to wait for a drawn out five day bore fest of a draw.
Wayne
Roar Guru
The powers in charge will not let Australia in any way shape or form lose Boxing or NY tests on Australian shores. They are worth way too much corporate dollars