While watching the Big Bash, I was forced to make some obligatory small talk. My sundry relative was from Byron Bay, and he refers to mother earth as if it’s a sentient being.
“How about those Indians…” he chirped, preparing to quote from his news feed, “…they won’t be number one for much longer.”
I paused, thought about where this conversation could wander, then pressed play on my response.
“Yeah, I guess.”
He sauntered off but left me with a problem – the current Test Championship doesn’t make a lot of sense. Basically, it merely takes one subjective decision, that is, who is number one, and replaces it with about a thousand other subjective decisions.
This doesn’t make it right. For example, if the Aussies beat India, how do they still stay number one?
Essentially, the current system is based on assigning points for every Test. It’s one point for a win, and half for a draw. If you win a series, then treat yourself to a juicy bonus point.
Points are then weighted by the strength of your opponent. A win against a powerhouse counts for more than knocking off any piss-weak opposition. Home or away is treated as the same.
Next, you average out the points across all the Tests you’ve played. This goes back up to four years. But here’s the catch – results in the last two years get a full weighting, and the two years before that still get half.
So, what’s the result? The final number is a kind of bastardised average. It heavily depends on who you play, and when you play them.
Take India, for instance, who are comfortably rated as number one. Their last three series have yielded just one win against the lowly West Indies, with languorous losses to both England and South Africa. And they might lose again here. Clearly the system is broken.
Here is my solution. I call it the Lineal Test Cricket Championship, and it works like boxing. Basically, you’ve gotta beat the reigning champ to take the title. Then, once you’ve got the title in hand, you’re obligated to defend it. It goes on the line every series.
No reasonable offers refused. And who is the current Lineal Champion, you ask? Bad news – it’s England.
They took it off Sri Lanka last month, who won it from South Africa in July. The good news – ratings points or not, it’s bound to be ours come the Ashes. Surely it’s worth getting on board.
Watcher
Guest
Hard to have an even playing field when the ICC is so dominated by India Australia and England. Totally geared around the Ashes and Indian money. Arguably two of the most consistent teams over all conditions recently are South Africa and New Zealand. How often do they get to play five match series. I am cynical about the ICC sharing the lollies outside the big three.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Were Zimbabwe realistically the best team in the world at the time?
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
How can you unconsciously game something?
Paul
Roar Guru
So if Afghanistan had beaten India in a one-off Test "series" based on your formula, they'd be the best Test playing nation in the world? Really? And if Ireland beat Afghanistan? I don't have a problem with the current system and can see the new system only making Tests more interesting and competitive as sides have a greater reason to win.
Evanfinity
Roar Pro
At least you'd have a mandatory defence against a worthy challenger. India are clearly gaming the current system - either consciously or not
Evanfinity
Roar Pro
To continue the boxing analogy - how about treat all non-title-belt series as qualifiers. Teams could play for the right to host Championship series, with all the financial incentive that brings. Playing on doctored pitches is a problem for all systems, so no loss there. At least it ensures the batton gets handed around a bit. Turns out even Zimbabwe would have held it a few years ago.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The new Test Championship hasn't started yet. I don't think it is close to the best system but I think we should at least see how it plays out. It is better than the current system which is based on more on a time when boat travel was the main way of getting around.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Any system which does not involve playing all teams home and away on a regular basis is going to have these problems. A straight "knock over the champions" leaves most series, as pre-championship, totally devoid of context. About 20 years ago I had a system, which was devised to encourage nations to play all others even if financial loss-makers. It was a simple points by series. Five points each for a drawn series, nine plus the winning margin for winning a series. That means the minimum 1-0, 2-1, 3-1 win would be ten points. Only the most recent match-up of each home and away would count, and that had to have concluded within the previous four years. With 12 nations now, that might need to be a five year limit. Of course, that was all a pipe-dream. There was no way CA, BCCI, etc would agree to something that meant they had to play Zimbabwe (now also Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Ireland) on a regular basis. They prefer this lopsided two-tier "pinnacle" of the game we have now where some Test nations are left out of the championship and barely get any games where they can gain exposure or much needed funds. As such, the system that is being put in place is probably as good as we're going to get for quite some time. It blatantly, and deliberately, leaves out the financial undesirables and increases the chasm between the top few and the remainder but that appears to be the goal. (The ten team WC is another decision in that direction, and the rumours of a probable axing of the Intercontinental Cup will likely prove another.)
JD St George
Roar Pro
I think you do raise some good points but there's probably 2 dilemmas stopping it. How will other test series continue to be exciting if there's nothing on the line and Will it be too unfair on teams who have to play away from home with pitches manafactured to only suit the home team? How would you handle these problems?
AWin
Guest
“Who you play and when you play them” seems like it might have a teeny bit of influence on this system also?
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
How about we give the new system a chance before we dump it?