A play-off to decide the best Test team in the world could be in place by 2013, the chief of the ICC Haroon Lorgat has told. He said the idea was still in progress. However, he was quick to state that he is encouraged with the progress being made and there's a slot in 2013 which should work
The plan will involve the top four teams in the ICC's Test rankings meeting in two semi-finals, with a final to follow.
Cricket's authorities have been looking for a way to raise the status of Test cricket in the face of the rising popularity of Twenty20 cricket.
Lorgat had stated that India and England had previously expressed reservations about the concept, but he said more people were now seeing the positives.
"When I got involved, many dismissed it as a foreign concept. However, now a lot of the full members are seeing the need to generate some more interest in Test cricket. Perhaps the way to do it is through some series of finals," he said.
Individual nations' television contracts and commitments would make reaching any final decision a complicated process, but Lorgat said they were getting closer to achieving something tangible.
"We could take the existing rankings table and the top four could play in semi-finals and a final. A lot of work has been done. It has not been a straight forward process. I think we should some proposal on the table shortly," he added.
He also refused to rule out the possibility that the championship games could be staged as day-night Tests.
"When we look at some of the research we get through, the convenience factor of day-night games is great," he said.
"We believe it is something we should explore - one thing for certain is that we should keep an open mind.
"We certainly want to encourage our members to explore the prospect of day-night games, domestically at first, and once we get that right, we can move to Test level."
Another obstacle to a possible world Test championship is the already crowded fixture schedule, with Twenty20, 50 over and Test matches all vying for attention.
But Lorgat said he did not believe that 50 over cricket would necessarily be the one to suffer.
"I strongly believe we have three viable formats. There is a future for the 50 over game. Maybe it'll need some modifications, but when people talk about fundamentally bringing in the bulldozer and revamping the game, I am not one of those skeptics.
"It's more important to schedule correctly, to balance each format correctly and then create a proper context. If we can do that, then I see a future for each of those three formats."
The plan will involve the top four teams in the ICC's Test rankings meeting in two semi-finals, with a final to follow.
Cricket's authorities have been looking for a way to raise the status of Test cricket in the face of the rising popularity of Twenty20 cricket.
Lorgat had stated that India and England had previously expressed reservations about the concept, but he said more people were now seeing the positives.
"When I got involved, many dismissed it as a foreign concept. However, now a lot of the full members are seeing the need to generate some more interest in Test cricket. Perhaps the way to do it is through some series of finals," he said.
Individual nations' television contracts and commitments would make reaching any final decision a complicated process, but Lorgat said they were getting closer to achieving something tangible.
"We could take the existing rankings table and the top four could play in semi-finals and a final. A lot of work has been done. It has not been a straight forward process. I think we should some proposal on the table shortly," he added.
He also refused to rule out the possibility that the championship games could be staged as day-night Tests.
"When we look at some of the research we get through, the convenience factor of day-night games is great," he said.
"We believe it is something we should explore - one thing for certain is that we should keep an open mind.
"We certainly want to encourage our members to explore the prospect of day-night games, domestically at first, and once we get that right, we can move to Test level."
Another obstacle to a possible world Test championship is the already crowded fixture schedule, with Twenty20, 50 over and Test matches all vying for attention.
But Lorgat said he did not believe that 50 over cricket would necessarily be the one to suffer.
"I strongly believe we have three viable formats. There is a future for the 50 over game. Maybe it'll need some modifications, but when people talk about fundamentally bringing in the bulldozer and revamping the game, I am not one of those skeptics.
"It's more important to schedule correctly, to balance each format correctly and then create a proper context. If we can do that, then I see a future for each of those three formats."
© CB, ~ Photo courtesy: Getty Images
If Test cricket is to survive seriously in the subcontinent then WC fr Tests is a must. A 30 day window involving top 4 or 6 nations shd be held. Qualifying shd follow the World Cup Football (Soccer) model by and large.
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