Should Ireland and Kenya be given Test Status?

[Hooper]

Should Ireland and Kenya be given Test status right now?
Clearly, the answer is no. Whilst they are certainly at the playing standards required for Test status, they are far from meeting the other criteria, as I have mentioned time and time again on this forum.

Yes they should. Without Zimbabwe playing Test Cricket, there is a lack of Tests being played. Zimbabwe can only play ODIs and that is ridicolous. I suggest a direct trade - Zimbabwe for Kenya. Kenya can play some good cricket, and are an acceptable nation. They should take Zimbabwe's position in Tests while that country sorts itself out. Then when the time comes that Zimbabwe is ready, then bring them back in, and possibly keep Kenya in the mix (only if they are playing good enough and if the ICC thinks they have the resources etc.). And Kenya must be at least better then Zimbabwe, in the "other criteria" hey Andrew?

 

[Griffo]

Zimbabwe should be dropped and no other nation should be brought up until they have a solid base with a decent domestic competetion. the fact that Zimbabwe cant even keep their players stats correct is ridiclous that shows their inability to deal with something which effect other countrys on such a wide scale

 

[andrew_nixon]

And Kenya must be at least better then Zimbabwe, in the "other criteria" hey Andrew?

No. As I've said elsewhere, they have no domestic system, they sometimes have problems paying their players, leading them to go on strike, the current cricket board has only existed for less than two years, etc, etc...

 

[aussie1st]

Yes they should. Without Zimbabwe playing Test Cricket, there is a lack of Tests being played. Zimbabwe can only play ODIs and that is ridicolous. I suggest a direct trade - Zimbabwe for Kenya. Kenya can play some good cricket, and are an acceptable nation. They should take Zimbabwe's position in Tests while that country sorts itself out. Then when the time comes that Zimbabwe is ready, then bring them back in, and possibly keep Kenya in the mix (only if they are playing good enough and if the ICC thinks they have the resources etc.). And Kenya must be at least better then Zimbabwe, in the "other criteria" hey Andrew?

The cricketing world can live without Zimbabwe in test cricket. It's not like the fans look forward to seeing their team play Zimbabwe. Also teams can get much more revenue playing teams other than Zimbabwe so they won't be missed.

 

[angryangy]

Bangladesh know how to win, it's been well proven. They need to learn how to not lose. A fine distinction, but one that shouldn't be lost on followers of a game that often results in draws.

 

[Sureshot]

More tests to be played? No thanks. The schedule is tight enough as it is.

 

[sohum]

The cricketing world can live without Zimbabwe in test cricket. It's not like the fans look forward to seeing their team play Zimbabwe. Also teams can get much more revenue playing teams other than Zimbabwe so they won't be missed.

Hey... Ganguly's fans did!

Bangladesh know how to win, it's been well proven. They need to learn how to not lose. A fine distinction, but one that shouldn't be lost on followers of a game that often results in draws.

I don't think Bangladesh have learned how to win, though they may know how to. For example, in the situations where they can win or draw, they will draw, and in a position they can win, lose or draw, they will lose. Getting draws will be the first step, of course, because you have to learn how to not lose before you learn how to win.

 

[playkid12]

Ah...I see all the problems now. But I do think something needs to be done about it.

Shouldnt the ICC spend more money on expansion then...esp the money theyre getting from the heavy scheduling now...to help those particular boards out in Ireland and Kenya in making a system from bottom up?

 

[sohum]

Ah...I see all the problems now. But I do think something needs to be done about it.

Shouldnt the ICC spend more money on expansion then...esp the money theyre getting from the heavy scheduling now...to help those particular boards out in Ireland and Kenya in making a system from bottom up?

I'm sure they spend plenty of money; I'm not so sure that it is being spent in the right ways, though.

 

[Skater]

I think the Irish national team should be in all the English domestic competitions, not just the FP Trophy. To balance things, Scotland could be added as well.

 

[Wildwil]

I think so. It will give them much needed experience and make cricket a bigger game.

 

[King Pietersen]

I don't know what you just meant, but Gambino was saying that matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are rarely counted in debate or comparisons between players such as the one between MoYo and Dravid and less matches would be 'counted' if those two gained status.

My belief is that no they should not be given status not because of other criteria, but simply they are not good enough. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh should both be stripped. Zimbabwe now and Bangladesh should be reviewed in five to ten years when the 20 year olds in their team grow up and then we can see if they become world beaters or the same underperformers they are now.

I agree with the point about Zimbabwe, not only because of the standards of cricket but because of the political side of Zimbabwe. They have a similar system to apartheid going on at the moment, except reversed. Until Mugabe and his associates are driven from the country Zimbabwe dont deserve test status and i think it is a risk sending out top teams out to a country that is one of the poorest in the whole world and is as unsafe as any in the world.

I do however disagree with your point about Bangladesh. I feel they played pretty well against a talented Indian side, yes they had a few failures but they are an inexperienced side. They talented enough though, the likes of Bashar, Ashraful (i'm a big fan of this fella), Mashrafe, Rasel, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees etc are all immensely talented and deserve to show their talents to the world. The facilities in Bangladesh looked pretty decent from what i saw of the Bangla-India series. The main stadium in Chittagong was pretty good, had all the right facilities and looked pretty nice, the wicket was decent enough aswell. So i feel that Bangladesh have plenty to offer to the test match arena, and with the correct amount of matches and support could become quite successful, they are clearly producing enough talent anyway.

 

[manee]

I do however disagree with your point about Bangladesh. I feel they played pretty well against a talented Indian side, yes they had a few failures but they are an inexperienced side. They talented enough though, the likes of Bashar, Ashraful (i'm a big fan of this fella), Mashrafe, Rasel, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees etc are all immensely talented and deserve to show their talents to the world. The facilities in Bangladesh looked pretty decent from what i saw of the Bangla-India series. The main stadium in Chittagong was pretty good, had all the right facilities and looked pretty nice, the wicket was decent enough aswell. So i feel that Bangladesh have plenty to offer to the test match arena, and with the correct amount of matches and support could become quite successful, they are clearly producing enough talent anyway.

I did say give it five to ten years since their largely young team will have grown up by then.

 

[King Pietersen]

By then Ashraful will be at least 27, Bashar retired, Iqbal 23, Nafees 26, Mashrafe 28, Rasel 27, etc. Which would only give most of them 3-4 years of test cricket which frankly isnt enough. We should be making the most of the talent around the world and giving the likes of Ashraful and Iqbal the chance to shine on the big stage, if we leave it as much as 10 years, all the hot talent that Bangladesh have would be ruined and their best cricket behind them. Bangladesh need to be given the chance to exploit this large influx of talent that they have and in 2 years time will be perfectly set to give the likes of West Indies, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, New Zealand etc a good match if not beat them. They need to be given the chance to excell imo.

 

[manee]

No, I mean give them 10 years of test match status and see how they do.