ICC Test Championship

[eugene]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/cont ... 81518.html

What are our thoughts on the proposed test championship? Is the 9-3 split a fair reflection of Zimbabwe's standing in world cricket? No word on promotion/relegation.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

The deal is a dud for Zimbabwe. A total disaster.

I doubt we'll ever play a proper Test series again if it goes through. Sure we'll play Afghanistan and Ireland (woohoo ) but they are just glorified First Class matches. The article states we could be the warm up games for South African tours but that'll never happen - teams like their 2 day 18-a-side rubbish too much for that.

So well done ZC, you've killed Test cricket.

In terms of the rest of the world it makes sense though. I don't personally believe Zimbabwe are totally uncompetitive in Test cricket, but that's the perception. And with Bangladesh making strides by being so good at home they've left us in the dust really. So while they've got a seat at the adults table, Zimbabwe got stuck at the kids table.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Not a big fan at all.
My problem isn't so much in the 9/3 split, but the top 9 are more pressured to play each other more and the Bottom three will be completely left out.

In the article it suggests teams will use test matches against Ireland and zim for warm ups against England and South Africa respectively.

But get real, that won't happen. Zim isn't South Africa and teams play warm ups to acclimatise to local conditions and while it's similar, it isn't the same. It's Diet Coke vs normal Coke and if you want Coke you probably won't drink diet.

What's worse, it will absolutely kill off any test tours overseas.

I think the format can be tweaked that the tip 9 must play the bottom three once over a 4 year period.

[The Robot]

Better to be in Tier 2 Cricket System and get international busy schedule through " Future Tour Programmes " and earn some amounts with equal share of revenue, then oiling top cricket boards to come & play one or two tests resulting debt increase, fund problems,non payment followed by strikes.

13 team odi league with asscoiates playing top level, is also good prospect and the one or two asian teams with New Zealand are regular visitors every year for a shorter formats is goint to be great for developing the games.

Playing with associates may hit the sentiment, but at present Zimbabwe Cricket skills has fallen , if compared with the associates

[eugene]

To be honest Zimbabwe doesn't really deserve much of anything. I do hope there will be a mandate for the top 9 to play the top 3 and not just a hope or expectation that they will. I believe I read somewhere that the bottom 3 will get tests against at least 3 of the top 9 over a two year period, with a rotating schedule so that over six years we would get to play everyone home and away. Not sure if this is still on the table.

[tailender]

This is good news for ZC. Honestly right now Zimbabwe does not deserve to be among the top sides. We have done nothing to try to improve our cricket over the years. It's hard to wake up to the reality that Afghanistan are better than us. Our board is composed of people who have other priorities than cricket and they have been killing the sport for ages now.

[eugene]

Once we finish bottom of the bottom 3, which we will, I wonder what happens then? Perhaps instead of being concerned about how promotion to the 9-team tier works, we should be more concerned about how promotion to the 3-team tier works. Part of me wonders if this is a stepping-stone to our oblivion as a full member. Can many of us really find a reason for our full membership anymore? Our current team is useless, our up-and-coming guys are not even as good as the ones we have now, and the country is now firmly ensconced in the third-world.

[jaybro]

I feel Zimbabwe cricket has been suffering a slow painful death since the 2003 WC and this is just another nail in the coffin ......

We will just play Afghanistan and Ireland and they'll beat us regularly to the point where a win against these sides will be celebrated like the rest win against Pakistan in 2013 ......

[Mr Twig]

There's a lot of "maybes" and "option to play". Defientely needs mandating. Tours to South Afirca must include a prior stop to Zimbabwe for one test.

[jaybro]

There's a lot of "maybes" and "option to play". Defientely needs mandating. Tours to South Afirca must include a prior stop to Zimbabwe for one test.

2 tests would be better.....