Non-Test playing countries in wc - Cricket Forum | Cricket Discussion Forum

I also agree that the World Cup drags on to long but I would actually keep it the same. It certainly goes on too long and it should only be around a month rather than the six weeks. I would personally do this for the World Cup:

Keep the initial group stage the same, and the top 2 from each grou qualify as normal. Then instead of a super eight split the 8 remaining teams into two groups of 4 for a second group stage, with the qualifiers from each group in different groups to each other. Then instead of the teams playing 6 matches they play three and in half the time of the super sixes, and then follow it with the semi-finals and final, and you could keep the second group stage to a week to ten days.

That way instead of getting 51 games you get 39 games. If the group stage was 2 weeks long, the second group stage 10 days long and the semi-finals and final about a week long, you cut the tournament time by two weeks, and the whole thing is over with in a month and the players can join up with their domestic sides for the start of the county season (if they play in English cricket).

On extended leave...

I'm glad that the minnow teams get a chance to compete. Most of the time, they usually find themselves competing against each other, and thus they tend to compete only as well as their opposition. It doesn't really build the team up all that much.

In the world cup however, they have a real chance of seeing what is to be expected of them if they plan on being among the best. They get to take on the big guns for a change, and are forced to step up their game by a few notches.

It's good for the big teams too, because there's no bigger wake-up call than a freak loss to a minnow team, or even a closely contested match.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here may not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other forum members. They are the express property of Mojo.

It wouldn't be called a World Cup if non-test playing nation's weren't included.

"His classical hits down the ground, met with a checked drive, were Tendulkar at his best. It was though he had a new lease of life." - Sachin Tendulkar's return to cricket with a 91-Ball century.

Originally posted by Mojo

I'm glad that the minnow teams get a chance to compete. Most of the time, they usually find themselves competing against each other, and thus they tend to compete only as well as their opposition. It doesn't really build the team up all that much.

In the world cup however, they have a real chance of seeing what is to be expected of them if they plan on being among the best. They get to take on the big guns for a change, and are forced to step up their game by a few notches.

Yeah I totally agree with you there!

Originally posted by GreenCap

Would like to see kenya making it to semis again!!!

Again???

Have they ever made it to the semis before???? when???

Wow news to me..thanks for telling me...that was really great for them...they must have felt on top to the world to make it to the semis ahead of all those other high rank teams.

Anyway, there's already a tournament for just test-playing nations (the ICC trophy), the World Cup is supposed to be inclusive

Turnham Green CC
Fast bowler & middle/lower-order bat

Originally posted by wiseguy

I believe someone should send a video of Ireland Zimbabwe match to Holding and probably that will convince him to change his mind. I beleive non test playin teams have so far done a very good job!

As well as the other 2 matches

Originally posted by -JP-

Holding is a complete lame duck in commentary now, from what I saw and heard yesterday, he is trying so hard to make excuses for the associates playing well. It's never them, it's the pitch, or the opposition. Rather sad.

Ireland (with their performances so far) have made Holding look like an idiot. Instead of perhaps admitting that he might've been wrong, he is just digging an even bigger hole for himself.

I guess Holding might at least get some sympathy from Ponting and a couple of others who held similar views.

I might stick a tenner on Ireland to reach the semis. Unlikely to ever see that tenner again, but still, the odds would probably make it worth it

Turnham Green CC
Fast bowler & middle/lower-order bat

Holding had got many things wrong. His on field stump kicking, comments about Murali's action and this is the latest one. He is as silly as it can be.

Edited by Migara - 24 March 2007 at 4:08am

_____________________________
Who claims me to be Wal bada?