Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

I'm happy for the players and for cricket as a whole, but this underscores the need for a two-tier test championship. I thought it was very close to becoming a reality, then got canned again for some reason.

Why would it be so bad?

I expect Ireland and Afghanistan will function as the warm up games for tours to England and India. Not much purpose in them playing away, except perhaps to BD and Zimbabwe. Take it from there. If they do well, opportunities will expand.