Opinion Minimum Tests bar set too low
Last month,the ICC Cricket Committee had voiced its concern over the rising number
Last month,the ICC Cricket Committee had voiced its concern over the rising number of boards postponing Test series to squeeze in more ODI and T20 fixtures. It had then recommended that teams be required to play a minimum number of Tests over a four-year period to maintain their Test status. At the time,the committee hadnt divulged their proposed minimum number.
On Sunday the ICC announced that its board had approved the Cricket Committees recommendation that the Full Members should play a minimum of 16 Tests in each four-year cycle.
Take a look at that number again. Sixteen Tests . Over four years. In the last four years,every team barring Zimbabwe who were readmitted to the Test fold only two years ago had comfortably exceeded the 16-Test mark. England were involved in 49 Tests more than three times the proposed number while Australia had played 46 and India 42. Bangladesh played 20 in that period,and the next three least frequent Test-playing teams New Zealand,South Africa and the West Indies played 33 each.
At the same time that crickets governing body was debating the games future,a triangular ODI tournament was taking place in the West Indies,involving the hosts,India and Sri Lanka. This tournament had knocked a Test series off the calendar. It was this sort of occurrence that the ICC Cricket Committee had wanted to minimise by proposing that each member play a minimum number of Tests. Instead of setting the bar at a number that would have backed up their lofty statements ensuring an optimum balance and a clear differentiation between the three formats of the game; (noting) the need to ensure that Test cricket,in particular,was protected it has effectively told boards that they can schedule even fewer Tests if they so wish.
The ICC Cricket Committee includes nine Test cricketers,of whom five Andrew Strauss,Mark Taylor,Kumar Sangakkara,Gary Kirsten and chairman Anil Kumble played over 100 Test matches. It seems incredible that their combined wisdom came up with such a flawed recommendation.
(Karthik is a principal correspondent based in Delhi)karthik.krishnaswamy@expressindia.com
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