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Originally Posted by Raynman
Here is a suggestion for ICC to tackle the ODI schedule:
The League:
Played over a Three year period between the World Cups.
Three Divisions of 6 starting with current rankings:
Division 1: Aus, Ind, SA, SL, Eng, Pak
Division 2 : NZ, WI, BD, Ire, Zim, Ned
Division 3 : Ken, Afg, Sco, Can, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2
A qualifying tournament to be held between all associates/affiliates to determine Q1, Q2 through the various stages in the first 18 months. The 6 teams in Division 3 will play each other 3 times in the next 18 months to determine the top 2 teams. . The top two teams will play in a tournament with the bottom two teams of Division 2 to fight for 2 available WC slots. The top Division 3 team will also get a 5 match series against the 6th place finisher from Division 2 for a chance to qualify and relegate the 6th place finisher
Division 2 teams will play each other 3 game series’ both home and away and get a 3 game home series against each Division 1 team. That is 48 games to be played over 3 years at an average of 16 matches per year. The top 4 teams automatically qualify for the WC with the bottom 2 having to duke it out with the top two Division 3 teams for 2 available spots. The champion gets an automatic promotion to Division 1 at the expense of the last place finisher in Division 1. The 5th place finisher in Division 1 gets a 5 game home series against the runner up in Division 2 for a promotion/relegation option.
Division 1 teams will play each other 3 game series’ both home and away and an away 3 match series against each team in Division 2. All teams are automatically included in the world cup. The bottom place finisher moves to division 2 for the next cycle and the 5th place finisher gets a home series to defend its spot vs. the runner up from Division 2.
The world cup will consist of 12 teams (all 6 from Division 1, top 4 from division 2 and 2 more to be decided between D2-5/6 and D3-1/2. The Cup itself will be 2 groups of 6 with each team in the group playing each other. The group champions (A1 & B1) automatically qualify for the semi finals. B2 vs. A3 and A2 vs. B3 will be playoff matches to determine their opponents followed by the semi finals and final. This will reduce the World Cup to 35 matches and by playing multiple games on the same day in the group stages, the cup could easily be concluded within a 4 to 5 week period. (The 2011 is 52 days long).
Benefits to this:
- More succinct and competitive world cup but with enough opportunities for top associates to qualify
- Theoretically a team, if talented enough, could come up from the very bottom and qualify for the WC
- Balanced matches across teams
- Top teams don’t have to worry about hosting lower ranked teams that they find financially non-lucrative
- If a team drops from Division 1 to Division 2, they still get home matches next cycle vs. Division 1 teams and have 2 chances (automatic as champion or a playoff as runner up) to re-qualify
- Division 2 bottom dweller doesn’t automatically get dropped but gets a last chance effort against Division 3 champion to stay
- Average of 16 ODIs per year is very reasonable and reduces international obligations and work load on players
- The World cup year allows time for teams to arrange bi-lateral series that see as profitable
- Every match becomes meaningful in the big picture
- Rankings become irrelevant and finishing place in group is a true indicator of where teams stand compared to each other
- ODI remains a viable format and likely to inspire growth in Division 3 teams and beyond
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There are a few problems with this from the teams' viewpoint as I see this:
Revenues from TV, merchandising and sponsorship will be massively impacted by series not taking place between the top countries and the lesser ones in your scenario. So financially it would mean big losses (who wants to televise ZIM against Holland?)
Also, NL, Ireland are not full time and reliant upon work commitments. Plus their infrastructure and facilities to host major series (which you are suggesting) is very limited.
We already have we World Cricket League for associates which identifies the top sides to qualify for the WC proper.
I don't know how your idea impacts on the World Cup itself.
Cricket is motivated EXCLUSIVELY by money and the fact that no one wants to play against the associates. It is against this background you have to judge the merits of your idea.