wulliemc wrote:All of Scottish cricket is 50 overs. When I played years ago lower leagues only played 40 overs, not sure if that is still the case.
Maybe Ireland and Scotland should create a Celtic league and have regional teams from each country competing together in a single league?
Invitations could extend and possibly strengthen the league, but need to think a bit more about how.
Some might view this concept as weakening IRE and improving SCO, but it might give an opportunity to play multi day cricket. They could even start with Sat/Sun 2 day games as a kick off - not many in SCO are professional, which is why so many go down to ENG if they are good enough - you cant really make a living off cricket in SCO.
All of the above would take a stack of cash to operate, but counties could loan developing players and cross Irish Sea sponsorship might help.
mikesiva wrote:I'm worried Ireland could be another Bangladesh....
A couple of crucial things need to be put in place first.
1) As CQ points out, Ireland must have a multi-day domestic league to make it work. Otherwise, like Bangladesh, they will be okay at one-day cricket, but dismal at Tests....
2) What kind of crowd support exists for Test cricket? Or is it a minority sport, as it is in South Africa?
3) Will the Irish cricket association be able to pay their Test cricketers a wage for them to be professional?
yuppie wrote:The goal of all associate teams should be to get test cricket. One thing i would say is that Ireland are probably better placed than BD were when they got test cricket. But we all know BD was given test status to soon, even before they had a domestic league.
mikesiva wrote:I'm worried Ireland could be another Bangladesh....
A couple of crucial things need to be put in place first.
2) What kind of crowd support exists for Test cricket? Or is it a minority sport, as it is in South Africa?
3) Will the Irish cricket association be able to pay their Test cricketers a wage for them to be professional?
yuppie wrote:
Ireland is lucky in that a alot of their players already play in a multi day league in England. Its a good starting point, and perhaps we could see a league set up that encompasses Scotland and the Netherlands. Would be expensive but perhaps money well spent by the ICC.
yuppie wrote: As for paying the players, i would expect the ICC to help out for the first years. If Ireland did get test status or played more one dayers their revenue would go up, thus being able to pay players. Imagine if Ireland did get test status though, would make cricket tours over to the UK longer. 2 Tests against Ireland and then 3 tests against England. Good summer of cricket.
yuppie wrote:Chris i dont see how BD being involved in first class cricket as part of Pakistan before 1971 helped them prepare for test cricket in 2001. And as it was part of Pakistan it highlights that BD did not have first class cricket before it got test status. BDs first domestic season of multi day games was in 1999-00 season, but these were not classed as first class games. When BD was awarded test status they did not have a viable first class domestic system in place. And the effect of this on their test performaces since has shown through. At least there are a number of Irish players playing in a high class 4 day league. If Ireland was to get test status they would be better placed to compete than BD was when they entered test cricket IMHO.
I believe any team that gets test status will need funding from the ICC. This funding will not only be needed to pay players, but to build stadiums and facilities capable of hosting test cricket. Although teams will need to become self sufficent, to expect them to enter the test arena by funding them selves is not possible. The best way to increase revenue is by exposure and selling of television rights. THe money that would come in from this would replace the funding provided by the ICC. Zim at present gets nearly all its income from the ICC. Although Zim does not have test status at present, it still recieves most of its funding from the ICC, and would not be around with out it.
Zim at present gets nearly all its income from the ICC. Although Zim does not have test status at present, it still recieves most of its funding from the ICC, and would not be around with out it.
This funding will not only be needed to pay players, but to build stadiums and facilities capable of hosting test cricket
Although teams will need to become self sufficent, to expect them to enter the test arena by funding them selves is not possible.
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