The one-day wonder, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, is over. The euphoric celebrations, unending felicitations, and grandiose receptions have been done with. The usual brouhaha, hype and drama associated with the mega-event has concluded.. After six weeks of hectic one-day cricket – which is like instant Chinese noodles – aplenty, now the time has come to get back to the basics – Test cricket, the true essence of a great team. And real cricket.
Agreed that with ten Test playing countries, playing each other, over full five days, it would be a logistical nightmare to have a single host country, consistent weather conditions over a considerable period, state of the pitch over repeated use, sustaining crowd interest, constant team composition, security etc.
Yet, I am convinced that the term World Champions should stand not just for quick-finish one-day cricket, but also for the classical, pressure-driven, and a more even-playing game of Test cricket (ask the great bowlers who get severely thrashed with merciless disdain over the boundary ropes by any batsman with a cavalier, buccaneering spirit or adventurous streak). Simply because it is comparatively easier to manage a one-day event and get sponsor support, we should not give legitimacy to world title only in the one-day format.
Any true cricketer, analyst, and cricket conossieur know that the truly great team is the one that can win the Test matches, the ultimate test of skill, stamina, and strategy. Where a match is not won or lost on that celebrated “given day” by the toss, batting in the night, one bad over or a lousy umpiring decision.
Currently, despite its best efforts, the system of ranking for Test matches is clearly flawed; the South Africans, (suitably humbled by Australia, with the latter having virtually massacred every other team) are ranked ahead of Australia, which is evidently a travesty of justice. I have a few recommendations to make to have a World Test Championship…
RECOMMENDATIONS
The World Test championship should be fought on a league basis over a full four-year period.
The ICC must ensure that over a four-year period each Test playing country plays the other in a Test series at least once.
Each country must be, as far as possible, playing equally at home or abroad.
Within a series between two countries, one of the matches will be designated as the “official World Test Championship match” to be counted for the calculation of the points for the World Test Championship.
There will be no pools; each country will play the other. Standard Test playing rules will apply. In case of ties, the net run rate can be factored in etc.
The two teams topping the League at the end of four years will contest the Finals in a one-off World Test Championship Test match finals to be played one month before or after the one day World Cup is over.
ADVANTAGES
The above system takes care of the venue, logistics, period of the Championship, etc. The World Test Championship can become an ongoing event , with all the countries getting to host an “official” match which will be assigned points for the World Championship.
This will create great interest in Test cricket, and for the entire series as well (a team can lose the Championship match, and yet go on and win the series). Good for both the paying public and great value for sponsors – (there could thus be multiple sponsors and television companies benefiting from this, as every series could have a different sponsor).
This will be truly representative of World Championship status, as each team will have to play the other. (In the recent World Cup, the famed Australia vs South Africa match never happened).
Moreover, with each country playing in different countries and in varying conditions, it will even out inherent advantages of knowledge and experience of local conditions. This will raise interest in cricket and Test series in all countries throughout the year thereby giving a huge momentum to the sport, including the cricketers and the sponsors.
The ICC will decide on the matches to be deemed “Official for World Championship” so as to give each country the advantage of also playing at home against different opposition. It will be administratively easily feasible as every country has to play the other, but over a good period of 4 years.
