Protest BCCI decision to cut England Series

[RajaRaja]

Traditionally India Vs England is an old and prestigious international series. However now it seems like being relegated to the level of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Following the BCCI's refusal to play 4 tests in England last summer 2007. They have yet again shown utter contempt for Test cricket for the return series in India. The original tour in late 2008 was meant to be 3 tests and 7 ODIs. However the BCCI and the ECB cannot agree a tour schedule to accomodate the English players' desire to return home for Christmas. Instead of scrapping 2 of the ODIS and maintaining the 3 test fixtures, the BCCI as usual has put greed and profit above the prestige of test matches by scrapping 1 test match. What do you think ?

[f.b.m]

protest but how? Dont watch the ODIs. Or put up banners in matches or something.

[RajaRaja]

protest but how? Dont watch the ODIs. Or put up banners in matches or something.

Write to them , email anything, put the entire BBCI committee in Tihar Jail. Doesn't anyone else care about this issue ? Reputations of teams and great players are not made by IPL, International 20-20 or even ODI cricket (unless it's a World Cup). India has the worst test record (wins:losses) of any major nation (not NZ, Zim, Bangladesh). India should be playing more full test series 4 or 5 matches like England or Australia. 2 tests against a major rival is ludicrous.

[sm332]

Write to them , email anything, put the entire BBCI committee in Tihar Jail. Doesn't anyone else care about this issue ? Reputations of teams and great players are not made by IPL, International 20-20 or even ODI cricket (unless it's a World Cup). India has the worst test record (wins:losses) of any major nation (not NZ, Zim, Bangladesh). India should be playing more full test series 4 or 5 matches like England or Australia. 2 tests against a major rival is ludicrous.

agree fully but the powers that be only seem to know how to monetize the game not enrich it ... I am far from a luddite suggesting we go back to the good ol days ... but recall how much joy people have gotten from the wonderful test series India has been involved in ... who remember any ODI series apart from WC?

[Mr. Wicket]

Um, this isn't the BCCI. It's the England players. The players association made a deal with the board so that the players will ONLY be away from home for Christmas if they're touring Australia or SAF for the Boxing Day test. The BCCI wanted to keep the India/Aus as a four test series, so there's only room for 2 tests between England and India before Christmas.

[RajaRaja]

Um, this isn't the BCCI. It's the England players. The players association made a deal with the board so that the players will ONLY be away from home for Christmas if they're touring Australia or SAF for the Boxing Day test. The BCCI wanted to keep the India/Aus as a four test series, so there's only room for 2 tests between England and India before Christmas.

There was a compromise to drop 2 ODIs and not to sacrific a test match, BCCI refused. 7 ODIs is too much anyway. It's more the BCCI's fault - it has a history of changing schedules.