An Associates Test XI? - Sounds Interesting

[zaheer]

How about an all Associates Test team? From Philip and Alan Sutherland, Australia As the first nations leave the World Cup stage and, in the case of some, their barest fifteen seconds of fleeting fame – whither the Associates? They have both succeeded and failed in equal measure. Netherlands pushed England. Ireland tested Bangladesh and prevailed over England. Both Kenya and Canada showed glimpses of spirit beyond their present humble standing. Yet, if any of these nations are to rise further, opportunities must be presented to players beyond the closing door of 50-over World Cup participation and the all too brief possibilities of a Twenty20 version. The wait that Associate nations endure is long and, therefore, their opportunities once given must be longer. At present, the long-form opportunities at the highest level seem limited to particular European players potentially donning an England Test cap. There seems no alternative other than this to a long graft, honing one’s skills at club level or in foreign competitions while first-class structures, whether national or continental, finally come to fruition. The sad reality is that Test status, even for a skilled and centrally-contracted Irish team, is some way off. However, it is remiss of us to think of Test status as something that must pit sovereign nation against sovereign nation. It is worth remembering that if cricketers from Northern Ireland are to represent the Shamrocks against England & Wales, they are effectively joining a neighbour on the field of play against another part of their own greater nation state of the United Kingdom. There is also the matter of Rest of the World games, such as occurred at the SCG back in 2005. The Rest of the World can never be a nation state, in part or in whole. Yet, did it invalidate the idea behind the tour? We think not. Therein may be found one possibility that doesn’t appear to have been duly considered as yet. “Rest of the World†need not merely imply a “rest of the Test worldâ€. There is no inherent reason why such a team could not be raised entirely from the major Associates. Two World Cups in a row have indicated ample talent in the Associate ranks. Ryan ten Doeschate may never play in a Test for Netherlands, but he could play at least a couple of Tests alongside the likes of Ireland’s O’Brien brothers against a major country such as Pakistan in a major venue such as England, for example, if the ICC so wished. Alternatively, a combined Associates team could be included in a proper Test championship. Such opportunities need to be created. One need look no further than the success of Sri Lanka to see how, in the matter of twenty years or so, a minnow can become a major force. And yes, Sri Lanka was subject to a different set of domestic circumstances, but that merely reinforces the argument that something different needs to be applied for minnows today. For an international cricketer in Ireland to have chosen the game over rugby, soccer, Gaelic football or hurling and to have devoted his time to it year after year with little fortune or fame by association is to have made a major commitment. The game would do well to be seen to reciprocate a little more.

http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/inbox/archives/2011/03/how_about_an_all_associates_te_1.php