Grahaml wrote:Reckon it fails to recognise the difference between the formats. West Indies are a darn good T20 side but a rubbish test side. Even if they had their T20 players available to tests, Sammy, Pollard, Bravo aren't test class. Even Narine I don't think would be a hit in tests. Would also have some serious challenges fitting this into a schedule.
Agree there would need to be unrestricted squads and a CHAMPION for each format.
Which i think would be fine because you may have WI vs AUS in the format suggested and the test series may essentially be a dead rubber but the t20 and ODI titles may be up for grabs etc etc.
I would have a Test and ODI season over a calendar year.
12 nations (add Afghanistan and Ireland) split in to 3 divisions of 4 teams with promotion/relegation. Points system as they do in Sheffield Shield. No finals - just a league set up. You're world champions if you win the top division.
Each team hosts the other 3 teams over a month for Tests and another month for ODI - so every year each team plays 3 Test matches at home and 3 Test matches in each of the other 3 countries (12 in total). Double up with the ODI's so they are playing 24 ODI's per year (6 at home).
Have 3 months every year dedicated to T20 competitions with no international cricket scheduled (except when Ashes series is played).
Over a 4 year cycle still have additional series: - Ashes home and away (year 1 and 3) and would be played at same time as BBL or English T20 comp - Asian Cup One Day Tournament (year 1) - One Day World Cup (year 2) - Asian Cup T20 Tournament (year 3) - T20 World Cup (year 4)
So, a calendar year may look like this (ODI Rounds might only take a couple of weeks to allow time in schedule):
JAN - Southern Hemisphere T20 comps (BBL etc) and Australian Ashes every 4 years FEB - ODI Round 1 MAR - TEST Round 1 APR - Sub Continent T20 comps (IPL etc) MAY - World Cups/Asian Cups etc JUN - ODI Round 2 JUL - TEST Round 2 AUG - Northern Hemisphere T20 comps (Eng T20 etc) and English Ashes every 4 years SEP - ODI Round 3 OCT - Test Round 3 NOV - ODI Round 4 DEC - Test Round 4
Dont mind the idea, though only having 4 teams per division and only playing those teams is pretty limiting.
That would mean we would play england india and south africa almost constantly, with maybe pakistan switching in every couple of years.
I think you still need to be able to play at least some matches against the other countries - that way all teams still get to play against the top ranked nations - the best way to improve
