England poised to host maiden World Test Championship

[G_B_]

England are set to host the first World Test Championship in 2017 and India the second one in 2021, once terms have been agreed about the cut-off time for the four semi-finalists and the playing conditions.

The powerbrokers among the Inter*national Cricket Council, namely India, England and Australia, are to meet over the next two days in Auckland with Dave Richardson, the ICC chief executive, to thrash out some of the details of a competition that was shelved after broadcasters preferred to retain the Champions Trophy it was intended to replace. A World Test Championship, when fitted alongside the World Cup and the World T20, will give the ICC three distinctive global competitions. It will also provide prospective broadcasters with three strong, individual formats, each with their own core audience, a boon for targeted advertising. Its other great selling point will be its brevity with as little as 15 days’ playing time, a short, sharp, intense experience providing they get the playing conditions right. It even has India’s blessing after they were less than keen when it was first mooted. Three things have changed their attitude: first, they feel they can win it; second, it will be highly prestigious if they do claim victory; and third, they get to hold it after England. Space will be made for it in the itinerary, in England at least, by dropping one of the early-season Tests, not the Champions Trophy as envisaged in the first blueprint. Like the proposed World Test Championship, the Champions Trophy is a short competition that keeps television happy, which is the overriding concern of everyone in cricket. With that in mind, the ICC is to begin brokering a new TV deal for cricket rights next year and will be plugging its latest addition to add value to those rights. The ICC is expecting feverish interest, though one potential hitch is that advertising revenues would be heavily reliant on both India and England being involved. Interest might cool quickly if that begins to look unlikely. At the moment, the tournament is scheduled for late June and early July 2017 (not an Ashes year), but that has not been finalised just as the cut-off date that determines the four semi-finalists has not yet been chosen. The top four countries in the Test rankings, probably by the end of March 2016, will be the competing teams, which would give them just over a year to prepare. It could prove an exciting tournament, though there would have to be steps taken by the ICC to minimise the draw or even to take it out of the equation altogether. At present, one of the ideas is for a sixth day to be available, though TV would not like the uncertainty of that. Another idea is to have a round robin where each team play the other. It would double the amount of games, to six, but if they were played concurrently it would almost guarantee sides went for the win. The details of any playing conditions have yet to be thrashed out but the ICC’s Cricket Committee, chaired by Anil Kumble and which has Andrew Strauss as a member, is due to meet at Lord’s in May and will probably start the process then. While some players will grimace at another tournament being added to their workload, those who claim to hold Test cricket in greater regard than the other formats should be glad of anything that increases its relevance in a world where the fast forward button is increasingly pressed. It would also offer certainty. For decades players, fans and commentators have speculated as to which the greatest Test teams have been. Now they will have a measure for doing so.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/9940723/England-poised-to-host-maiden-World-Test-Championship.html

[G_B_]

so India to host it in 2021 The bulk of the team that played against Aus in the 3rd test barring Sachin Dhoni will be playing me thinks at this time.

[I6MTW]

so India to host it in 2021 The bulk of the team that played against Aus in the 3rd test barring Sachin Dhoni will be playing me thinks at this time.

Dhoni will definitely be playing. He will be captaining the side infact. He will be playing till he's 40.

[trundlerNO1]

Without a quality fast bowling line up then we have no chance there we can only hope

[Zap_Brannigan]

"While some players will grimace at another tournament being added to their workload, those who claim to hold Test cricket in greater regard than the other formats should be glad of anything that increases its relevance in a world where the fast forward button is increasingly pressed. It would also offer certainty. For decades players, fans and commentators have speculated as to which the greatest Test teams have been. Now they will have a measure for doing so" Seems extremely contradictory to what tests are. I thought tests are about mastering various conditions against various teams. But if its just 1 games against 2 teams in just 1 country in 1 season, then what is the difference between that and say the dead rubber against Australia in Delhi? If England wins against Aus and Pak in England in early may, does it really make them the best team in that format?

[Crookbond]

"While some players will grimace at another tournament being added to their workload, those who claim to hold Test cricket in greater regard than the other formats should be glad of anything that increases its relevance in a world where the fast forward button is increasingly pressed. It would also offer certainty. For decades players, fans and commentators have speculated as to which the greatest Test teams have been. Now they will have a measure for doing so" Seems extremely contradictory to what tests are. I thought tests are about mastering various conditions against various teams. But if its just 1 games against 2 teams in just 1 country in 1 season, then what is the difference between that and say the dead rubber against Australia in Delhi? If England wins against Aus and Pak in England in early may, does it really make them the best team in that format?

The same can be argued about the WC too. Also, I think it's only the final which will be played in England like a series. The top 4 teams will compete I guess.

[The Outsider]

Without a quality fast bowling line up then we have no chance there we can only hope

We have Jadeja who averages better than Steyn and will improve from here.

[I6MTW]

We have Jadeja who averages better than Steyn and will improve from here.

By 2021 Jadeja will have SR of 12 in bowling an average of 14.

[SLICKR392]

2017 :asleep:

[carnish]

We can win this in 2021. Need to find some good spinners and hope Pakistan and Lankans don't play their best spinners.