Cricket Special Report: ICC “Test” World Cup 2011
Friday, August 27, 2010
The International Cricket Board (ICC) is to review the possibilities of a tournament, for world’s best team in Test cricket. ICC will decide on a two-yearly tournament like world Test championship as opposed to current rolling format in chief executives of cricket boards meeting at Cape Town in September 2010.
Test cricket is the highest level of international cricket. Test cricket also known as the longer format of the game, compromises of a 5-day game. A day’s play of a test match is played in the following course:
1. First session: 11 am - 1 pm
2. Second session: 1:40 pm – 3:40 pm
3. Third session: 4 pm – 6 pm
Short breaks are also taken during each session for drinks, normally after an hour of play. Adding a 10 minutes interval taken between changes of innings.
The times of sessions and intervals may be altered in certain circumstances, for example:
-If bad weather or a change of innings occurs close to a scheduled break, the break may be taken immediately.
-If there has been a loss of playing time, for example due to bad weather, the session times may be adjusted to make up for the lost time.
-If the batting side is nine wicket down, the tea break is delayed the earlier of 30 minutes or until the team is all out.
-The final session may be extended by up to 30 minutes if 90 or more overs have not been bowled in that day's play
-The final session may also be extended by 30 minutes if the umpires believe the match can be decided within that time.
Follow-on is also an interesting concept of test cricket, which is that if the team batting second falls short by at least 200 runs, the team which batted first their captain can order a follow-on that is the team batting second will start their second innings right away.
The new ball can only be taken if 80 overs are bowled, captains also delay taking the new ball as older ball swings and spin more, and taking of the new ball is also awaited at times as it brings life to the game. In addition, the captain can ask the steamers’ to operate.
ICC spokesperson Colin Gibson says more details will be revealed after mid-September meeting. The world Test championship is intended to breathe new life into traditional format and maintain it as the ultimate battle of supremacy. Moreover, its marketing and quantum of prize money, which needs to be much higher than in a World Cup or World Twenty20, will be crucial to attract public and players interest. The tour when initially suggested was to be played in England, based on England’s history with cricket itself.
Test status is given to a limited number of members of ICC; test cricketing teams were given the test status in accordance to their performance at the international arena. These test cricket members are as follows:
1. Australia 15th March 1877
2. England 15th March 1877
3. South Africa 12th March 1889
4. West Indies 23rd June 1928
5. New Zealand 10th January 1930
6. India 25th June 1932 before partition of India in 1947
7. Pakistan 16th October 1952
8. Sri Lanka 17th February 1982
9. Zimbabwe 18th October 1992
10. Bangladesh 10th November 2000
The suggestion of a Test World Cup was given by former South African test cricketer Dave Richardson. After his retirement, the legendry South African wicket-keeper stayed in touch with cricket, first as a sports agent and later became part of the ICC fraternity, as he joined them in 2002, as their first General Manager. The former wicket-keeper has taken over 150 dismals in both test and one-day international cricket, also scored his first and only test century against New Zealand in 1994-95.
However, one might feel that it will be impossible to arrange a tournament of all the above mentioned team in the longer version of the game. 5-days per game would get a little difficult to manage. In addition, for such a long tour, the public and players might lose interest. Well, one can only wait and see what the future of cricket’s highest format is, will it lead to a test World Cup or not? bettor.com
posted @ 1:45 PM,
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