Is an 8 Test Match Summer possible in England?

[Aidan11]

....and still avoid the cold weather that Headingley suffered.


I looked at the calendar for this year and I worked out that it is possible. On the assumption that NZ were given three tests and Australia five, I would put the T20i/ODIs before the tests and this would be my rough calendar -

NZ Series - 3 tests, 1 T20i, 5 ODIs

25th May - 4th June T20i & ODIs

11th - 15th June First Test
19th - 23rd June Second Test
2nd - 6th July Third Test

Aus Series - 5 tests, 1 T20i, 5 ODIs

13th - 24th July T20i & ODIs

30th Jul - 3rd Aug First Test
7th - 11th Aug Second Test
20th - 24th Aug Third Test
3rd - 7th Sept Fourth Test
11th - 15th Sept Fifth Test

It tends to be warmer in September than May so for me this would be an ideal itinirary.

[Aidan11]

In future years this would also allow two visiting teams 4 each.

It would also slightly ease the problem of too many grounds fighting for not enough tests.

[Gingerfinch]

Sounds feasible.

Changing subject a little. Should Lords still get two test a year?

[Aidan11]

Sounds feasible.

Changing subject a little. Should Lords still get two test a year?

Not for me but the Lord's test makes a lot of money so they wont change it.

[dan08]

7 Tests is definitely enough. Should just move NZ to another year so they can get a 3 or 4 match series.

[Aidan11]

The 8 would probably only happen in a year when Aus & SA are over. Not sure India would get 5 any more.

[dan08]

Could work if you have an ODI tri-series instead of two separate ODI series. But i think 8 Tests in one summer will be too much for us and the players.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not much chance of the international players playing in the domestic T20. And even less chance of going to IPL.

[Alviro Patterson]

The 8 would probably only happen in a year when Aus & SA are over. Not sure India would get 5 any more.

South Africa (and West Indies) are visiting England in the same year as the Champions Trophy. All 7 tests are to be played from July until September.

[Aidan11]

The 8 would probably only happen in a year when Aus & SA are over. Not sure India would get 5 any more.

South Africa (and West Indies) are visiting England in the same year as the Champions Trophy. All 7 tests are to be played from July until September.

So it can be done then. Tests in May are a waste of time.

[Alviro Patterson]

7 Tests is definitely enough. Should just move NZ to another year so they can get a 3 or 4 match series.

For what it's worth i'd have a 4 test match series against New Zealand after the 2019 World Cup, hold the 2019 Ashes down under and rearrange the home Ashes for 2021.

[Alviro Patterson]

The 8 would probably only happen in a year when Aus & SA are over. Not sure India would get 5 any more.

South Africa (and West Indies) are visiting England in the same year as the Champions Trophy. All 7 tests are to be played from July until September.

So it can be done then. Tests in May are a waste of time.

Though the South Africa series consists of 3 ODIs and no T20is to make this possible.

Problem with test cricket in September is the quality of daylight starts to diminish and the nights really draw in. Sunset in early September is 7.30pm-8pm, whilst later May it's 9pm-9.15pm.

[sussexpob]

The 8 would probably only happen in a year when Aus & SA are over. Not sure India would get 5 any more.

South Africa (and West Indies) are visiting England in the same year as the Champions Trophy. All 7 tests are to be played from July until September.

So it can be done then. Tests in May are a waste of time.

Though the South Africa series consists of 3 ODIs and no T20is to make this possible.

Problem with test cricket in September is the quality of daylight starts to diminish and the nights really draw in. Sunset in early September is 7.30pm-8pm, whilst later May it's 9pm-9.15pm.

Is that true? I used to leave work at 4pm until the end of September and get a whole golf round in..... I would say its certainly light enough to play well past 1900-1930, maybe for an hour, before 2030 starts to get noticeably dark

[westoelad]

The 8 would probably only happen in a year when Aus & SA are over. Not sure India would get 5 any more.

South Africa (and West Indies) are visiting England in the same year as the Champions Trophy. All 7 tests are to be played from July until September.

So it can be done then. Tests in May are a waste of time.

Though the South Africa series consists of 3 ODIs and no T20is to make this possible.

Problem with test cricket in September is the quality of daylight starts to diminish and the nights really draw in. Sunset in early September is 7.30pm-8pm, whilst later May it's 9pm-9.15pm.

Is that true? I used to leave work at 4pm until the end of September and get a whole golf round in..... I would say its certainly light enough to play well past 1900-1930, maybe for an hour, before 2030 starts to get noticeably dark

Hardly when they bring start times of CC games forward to 10.30 from 1st Sept. because of the light issue. It's a moot point, however, it's hard enough to sell tickets for Tests with the present schedule and bidding system. Unless that system is changed dramatically counties are increasingly less likely to bid for them. Judging by the crowds at Headingley Yorkshire must have incurred a loss on the recent Test and that's with attractive opposition.

[Alviro Patterson]

Overall attendance for the Headingley test is at 43,971, around 6,500 higher than last year's Sri Lanka test. Considering the amount of unrest in Team England and unpleasant weather, that is a decent turnout.

http://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/3763/ ... st-of-2015 (figures at bottom)

Providing the Australia ODI does not get washed out, I think it will be enough for Yorkshire to post a small profit.