Wasn’t there some moves ahead to standardise cricket tours? I know that England, Australia and South Africa regularly play 5/6 test match series, and at their height, W Indies also joined the elite. I know that one of the former SA players was quoted as saying that the players wouldn’t fancy playing in Pakistan after a gruelling tour of England. Isn’t there plans for all test playing nations to play 3 match series in future or am I get mixed up with the World test championships?
You are right. ICC has a 10 year programme for Test cricket where matches are divided among all the test playing nations.
** 2003 PLAN
January 2003:
Australia host England
February 2003:
World Cup in South Africa
March 2003:
No tours
April 2003:
Bangladesh host India
Bangladesh host South Africa
Pakistan host India
West Indies host Australia
May 2003:
England host Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka host New Zealand
June 2003:
England host Pakistan
West Indies host Sri Lanka
July 2003:
England host South Africa
Australia host Bangladesh
August 2003:
No tours
September 2003:
Pakistan host Bangladesh
October 2003:
India host New Zealand
Pakistan host South Africa
Zimbabwe host West Indies
Bangladesh host England
November 2003:
Australia host Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka host England
December 2003:
Australia host India
New Zealand host Pakistan
South Africa host West Indies
**
To see a complete list for 10 years visit the link below.
**ICC 10 YEAR PLAN **
Thanks but that doesn't give details of how matches are divided, i.e., it could still be SA/Australia sharing 5 test match series while giving Sri Lanka 2.
Of course finance will also play a factor with some teams pulling more spectators so more attractive to host some teams on longer tours I guess.