It's fairly common knowledge that nearly every decision the ICC make is purely motivated by how much money they can make out of it. Scrapping a test championship to make room for a more lucrative Champions Trophy, booting the associates out of the World Cup so they can ensure the big guns make the final rounds (so they can sell the TV rights for more money), even a look towards day/night tests - the ICC isn't so much cricket's governing body as it is cricket's fundraising arm.
The ICC don't get many of their decisions right. The furore of getting rid of the smaller nations from the World Cups was so vociferous that eventually they had to backtrack - but only when the broadcasters threatened to pull out instead. Most of the tournaments are bloated, too long and not interesting - mainly due to the greed of getting as many matches in as possible in order to satisfy TV demand.
However, with the World T20, they have something right. A short, sharp tournament which lasts two weeks - just enough time for a plot to develop, but short enough for it to not drag on for a suicidally long time. The initial three-team group system means that every group game is important, meaning there's no dead rubbers, something which is a common feature of the seven-team group fifty over World Cup - plus the format is simple and easy to understand. Games happen thick and fast and teams don't have long from one game to the next, meaning momentum is built and interest is peaked. The World T20 is one hell of a tournament, and somehow, the ICC have stumbled across a winning formula.
However, with the ICC being the ICC, they now want to change that. Their proposal to increase the teams to fifteen (from the current twelve) would completely change the simple, quick and easy nature of the current set-up, with more games added, a far more complicated system implemented, and the excitement taken away. I know the ICC's move to add a couple more associates is done with noble intentions, but surely there must be a better way than to completely re-think the tournament itself? A qualifying stage that takes place immediately before the 'final' stages of the tournament perhaps? Or sticking all of the competing teams into a preliminary stage, before they move onto the current system as we know it?
In the World T20, the ICC have a golden egg - a tournament that really does work. So far, all three versions of it have been a massive success, and there's been no calls from any quarters for change. So why would they need to tinker? Instead of worrying about things that they're actually getting right, the ICC's time would be better spent on the far more pressing issues of the day, rather than turning the golden egg into yet another failed cash cow.
Showing posts with label associates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label associates. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Podcast - Just an Excuse for a Big Lunch
Download here
After an IPL provoked absence, Will's been provoked into a podcast thanks to Slinger Malinga's preference for the greens over the whites. (Green being the colour of money. And whites being the colour of test cricket.) Chris Gayle's also turned his back on his country in order to satisfy his bank manager, so Will looks at why. Plus some stuff about whether Dilshan will actually be Sri Lankan captain at all, and some more about the money-grabbing ICC and their evil associate-killing ways. Spiceworld!
After an IPL provoked absence, Will's been provoked into a podcast thanks to Slinger Malinga's preference for the greens over the whites. (Green being the colour of money. And whites being the colour of test cricket.) Chris Gayle's also turned his back on his country in order to satisfy his bank manager, so Will looks at why. Plus some stuff about whether Dilshan will actually be Sri Lankan captain at all, and some more about the money-grabbing ICC and their evil associate-killing ways. Spiceworld!
Monday, 4 April 2011
Taking The World Out Of The World Cup
The ICC, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to make the 2015 and 2019 World Cups a ten team tournament. As well as this, they've decided to put an end to the qualifiers, thus booting out the associates, and denying them any chance to dine at cricket's top table.
Before I get going on a roll of anger and fury, I should point out that it's pretty obvious that having six minnows was far too many this World Cup. Yes, we had glorious games such as Bangladesh and Ireland beating England, but there were far too many thrashings of the Dutch, Kenyans and Canadians to make their World Cup worthwhile. Probably the fairest idea would have been a 12 team cup, where the non-test playing nations have to earn their way in, but alas this is not the case. The World Cups of 2015 will see no Ireland, Holland, Kenya, Scotland or Afghanistan. It will be the same-old same-old mutually back-scratching closed shop. And it just shouldn't be.
For starters, and in what appears to be a fairly glaring error, the ICC have named the ten teams of the 2015 World Cup, but they are not to be the top ten teams in ODI cricket. As it stands, Ireland are ranked tenth, ahead of Zimbabwe, who will play instead of them at the next World Cup. Zimbabwe (a team who haven't played test cricket for a number of years) will play on the back of their test status in an ODI tournament. Seems odd, doesn't it?
I'll give the ICC a small bit of leeway, and I can kind of see the point to a ten team tournament. Whatever is said about the minnows, a couple of spirited efforts aside, there were more maulings than memorable victories. But putting the format of the World Cup to one side, it doesn't matter if there were 10 teams or 100 teams if there isn't a qualification process. What do the associate teams have to work towards now if there isn't the incentive of a possible World Cup spot for all of their hard work? This whole generation of associate players have suddenly had the relevance of their international futures taken away from them. Previously, they would be playing matches around the world in readiness for the World Cup qualifiers, and once qualification had been reached they could prepare themselves for the challenge of playing the bigger teams. Now, the likes of Ireland, Holland and the rest will be playing each other in meaningless friendlies, with little or nothing at stake.
The Irish cricket team is an obvious case in point. They've managed to get themselves into the top 10 teams in the World, and came very close to some upsets in this World Cup (including memorably beating England, of course). They have a golden generation of talent, with George Dockrell and Paul Stirling joining the experienced Ed Joyce and Trent Johnston, plus other men who shone this World Cup such as the O'Brien brothers, Boyd Rankin and William Porterfield (the man touted as being the best captain at the World Cup). Irish coach Phil Simmons has spent the past few years assembling this team so they'll be able to compete, and beat the established teams. They now won't be able to play World Cup cricket for the next 8 years (at least). What's the point in bringing through young talent or coaching the current crop to make them better? For young cricketers in Ireland, what's the point in practicing and playing cricket, if they won't be able to play in any meaningful matches?
The ICC has a responsibility as the guardians of the game to help nurture and grow cricket in nations which currently aren't playing tests. We've seen at this World Cup just how far cricket has come in some of these places, yet in one fell swoop the ICC have set back cricket to a near fatal level. Don't pretend for one minute that the ICC aren't protecting their interests by doing this. Having only 10 teams would only make the games between the bigger sides more frequent, so as such, the ICC stand to charge more money for the already lucrative TV rights. Instead of making money at the associates expense, the ICC should be investing this money into the infrastructure of cricket in the countries to help them improve. Instead, they've pulled the life-support plug out. What the ICC have done is a scandal - in fact it seems pretty criminal. The decision will deprive these countries of any meaningful cricket any time soon, which will set back nations which were beginning to flourish by decades. As mentioned in Cricket With Balls' post, the cricket world must show some sort of support for the felled associates. While it may not achieve much, the ICC have to know that this simply isn't tolerable.
Email the ICC (enquiry@icc-cricket.com) or tweet them (twitter.com/cricketicc) to let them know of your displeasure. Make big banners to hang over the pavilion at Lord's. Do whatever. This decision from the ICC is so disgraceful (even for them) that the just cannot get away with it.
Before I get going on a roll of anger and fury, I should point out that it's pretty obvious that having six minnows was far too many this World Cup. Yes, we had glorious games such as Bangladesh and Ireland beating England, but there were far too many thrashings of the Dutch, Kenyans and Canadians to make their World Cup worthwhile. Probably the fairest idea would have been a 12 team cup, where the non-test playing nations have to earn their way in, but alas this is not the case. The World Cups of 2015 will see no Ireland, Holland, Kenya, Scotland or Afghanistan. It will be the same-old same-old mutually back-scratching closed shop. And it just shouldn't be.
For starters, and in what appears to be a fairly glaring error, the ICC have named the ten teams of the 2015 World Cup, but they are not to be the top ten teams in ODI cricket. As it stands, Ireland are ranked tenth, ahead of Zimbabwe, who will play instead of them at the next World Cup. Zimbabwe (a team who haven't played test cricket for a number of years) will play on the back of their test status in an ODI tournament. Seems odd, doesn't it?
I'll give the ICC a small bit of leeway, and I can kind of see the point to a ten team tournament. Whatever is said about the minnows, a couple of spirited efforts aside, there were more maulings than memorable victories. But putting the format of the World Cup to one side, it doesn't matter if there were 10 teams or 100 teams if there isn't a qualification process. What do the associate teams have to work towards now if there isn't the incentive of a possible World Cup spot for all of their hard work? This whole generation of associate players have suddenly had the relevance of their international futures taken away from them. Previously, they would be playing matches around the world in readiness for the World Cup qualifiers, and once qualification had been reached they could prepare themselves for the challenge of playing the bigger teams. Now, the likes of Ireland, Holland and the rest will be playing each other in meaningless friendlies, with little or nothing at stake.
The Irish cricket team is an obvious case in point. They've managed to get themselves into the top 10 teams in the World, and came very close to some upsets in this World Cup (including memorably beating England, of course). They have a golden generation of talent, with George Dockrell and Paul Stirling joining the experienced Ed Joyce and Trent Johnston, plus other men who shone this World Cup such as the O'Brien brothers, Boyd Rankin and William Porterfield (the man touted as being the best captain at the World Cup). Irish coach Phil Simmons has spent the past few years assembling this team so they'll be able to compete, and beat the established teams. They now won't be able to play World Cup cricket for the next 8 years (at least). What's the point in bringing through young talent or coaching the current crop to make them better? For young cricketers in Ireland, what's the point in practicing and playing cricket, if they won't be able to play in any meaningful matches?
The ICC has a responsibility as the guardians of the game to help nurture and grow cricket in nations which currently aren't playing tests. We've seen at this World Cup just how far cricket has come in some of these places, yet in one fell swoop the ICC have set back cricket to a near fatal level. Don't pretend for one minute that the ICC aren't protecting their interests by doing this. Having only 10 teams would only make the games between the bigger sides more frequent, so as such, the ICC stand to charge more money for the already lucrative TV rights. Instead of making money at the associates expense, the ICC should be investing this money into the infrastructure of cricket in the countries to help them improve. Instead, they've pulled the life-support plug out. What the ICC have done is a scandal - in fact it seems pretty criminal. The decision will deprive these countries of any meaningful cricket any time soon, which will set back nations which were beginning to flourish by decades. As mentioned in Cricket With Balls' post, the cricket world must show some sort of support for the felled associates. While it may not achieve much, the ICC have to know that this simply isn't tolerable.
Email the ICC (enquiry@icc-cricket.com) or tweet them (twitter.com/cricketicc) to let them know of your displeasure. Make big banners to hang over the pavilion at Lord's. Do whatever. This decision from the ICC is so disgraceful (even for them) that the just cannot get away with it.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Ireland and Holland
Ireland and Holland play each other today, in their final games of this World Cup. While they've only mustered one win from their 10 games not against each other, they can look back at a World Cup where some of their players came of age.
Ryan ten Doeschate, if the world hadn't heard of him already from his numerous spells in T20 sides worldwide, have certainly heard of him following his two World Cup centuries. Paul Stirling's big hitting feats have also seen him catapulted to stardom, as well as his spinning exploits alongside the excellent George Dockrell. William Porterfield's captaincy has been up there amongst the best in the tournament, and he's won many plaudits with the way he's handled himself and his team throughout the World Cup. And of course, the star of the show for the Associates this World Cup has obviously been Kevin O'Brien, with his astonishing 100 against England unlikely to be forgotten in a hurry.
The Group B "minnows" Ireland and Holland have both been far more competitive than their Group A counterparts. Ireland have given really good games to Bangladesh, India and the West Indies (and of course beat England) whereas Holland have at times been the better side in a few of their games. However, in some of those close games, they've lacked the experience and know how of big games to get over the line - something the bigger sides knew how to do (except England, obviously).
It's often spoken that a "golden generation" will happen every now and again with the minnows, before they drift off into obscurity. A prime example of this is seen in Kenya - semi-finalists in 2003 but massively struggling in this edition. The main reason for that - a lack of regular games against top class opposition. These Irish and Dutch sides could also be classed as a golden generation, but they will need to play regular matches against the big boys in order to keep match sharp, and to improve their skills.
Both of these teams are in Europe - only a short hour long flight away from England. This summer, Sri Lanka and India will visit English shores for test and ODI series. Wouldn't it make perfect sense for Ireland or Holland to become involved in these games? We've seen in the seven-match borefest between Australia and England that bi-lateral ODI series can get slightly dull after a while, so why not introduce an associate side for a tri-series?
Administrators should enjoy it, as Ireland and Holland would bring plenty of vocal fans, as well as getting rid of the unneccessary dead rubbers that often finish series. It benefits the players of the test sides involved, as they are able to motivate themselves to play against new, different opposition, rather than groundhog day against the guys they've been slogging away against all summer. And it benefits the associates more than anyone else, as they are given the much needed experience of regular top-class cricket, where skills can be practiced and developed. And it attracts their players to remain in green or orange colours, instead of trying for moves to bigger sides. Surely this is a great idea for everyone?
This Ireland side could certainly be seen as a golden generation. They've got a young captain, young bowlers and a youthful batting line up. If allowed to develop and grow, they could really create some shockwaves in world cricket over the next few years. However, if not, they could fall apart, and not even be competitive (see here Kenya '11). If the ICC are serious about the development of the associate nations, they have to include teams like Ireland and Holland (and even Kenya, Canada, Scotland, USA, UAE, Italy and the Vatican City) in regular games against the regular countries. Yes, the fixture list is congested, but if pointless fifteen match ODI series between New Zealand and West Indies is changed to a five match tri-series including Afghanistan, then surely the benefits will be far greater than the few extra dollars from Star Sports. We've seen at this World Cup that the minnows are ready to take on the big boys - and don't forget Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 only a few years after being considered minnows themselves.
Ryan ten Doeschate, if the world hadn't heard of him already from his numerous spells in T20 sides worldwide, have certainly heard of him following his two World Cup centuries. Paul Stirling's big hitting feats have also seen him catapulted to stardom, as well as his spinning exploits alongside the excellent George Dockrell. William Porterfield's captaincy has been up there amongst the best in the tournament, and he's won many plaudits with the way he's handled himself and his team throughout the World Cup. And of course, the star of the show for the Associates this World Cup has obviously been Kevin O'Brien, with his astonishing 100 against England unlikely to be forgotten in a hurry.
The Group B "minnows" Ireland and Holland have both been far more competitive than their Group A counterparts. Ireland have given really good games to Bangladesh, India and the West Indies (and of course beat England) whereas Holland have at times been the better side in a few of their games. However, in some of those close games, they've lacked the experience and know how of big games to get over the line - something the bigger sides knew how to do (except England, obviously).
It's often spoken that a "golden generation" will happen every now and again with the minnows, before they drift off into obscurity. A prime example of this is seen in Kenya - semi-finalists in 2003 but massively struggling in this edition. The main reason for that - a lack of regular games against top class opposition. These Irish and Dutch sides could also be classed as a golden generation, but they will need to play regular matches against the big boys in order to keep match sharp, and to improve their skills.
Both of these teams are in Europe - only a short hour long flight away from England. This summer, Sri Lanka and India will visit English shores for test and ODI series. Wouldn't it make perfect sense for Ireland or Holland to become involved in these games? We've seen in the seven-match borefest between Australia and England that bi-lateral ODI series can get slightly dull after a while, so why not introduce an associate side for a tri-series?
Administrators should enjoy it, as Ireland and Holland would bring plenty of vocal fans, as well as getting rid of the unneccessary dead rubbers that often finish series. It benefits the players of the test sides involved, as they are able to motivate themselves to play against new, different opposition, rather than groundhog day against the guys they've been slogging away against all summer. And it benefits the associates more than anyone else, as they are given the much needed experience of regular top-class cricket, where skills can be practiced and developed. And it attracts their players to remain in green or orange colours, instead of trying for moves to bigger sides. Surely this is a great idea for everyone?
This Ireland side could certainly be seen as a golden generation. They've got a young captain, young bowlers and a youthful batting line up. If allowed to develop and grow, they could really create some shockwaves in world cricket over the next few years. However, if not, they could fall apart, and not even be competitive (see here Kenya '11). If the ICC are serious about the development of the associate nations, they have to include teams like Ireland and Holland (and even Kenya, Canada, Scotland, USA, UAE, Italy and the Vatican City) in regular games against the regular countries. Yes, the fixture list is congested, but if pointless fifteen match ODI series between New Zealand and West Indies is changed to a five match tri-series including Afghanistan, then surely the benefits will be far greater than the few extra dollars from Star Sports. We've seen at this World Cup that the minnows are ready to take on the big boys - and don't forget Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 only a few years after being considered minnows themselves.
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