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ICC Intercontinental Cup which began in 2004, as a four day format for the Associate Nation should be replaced by ICC World Test Championship Tier 2 with 9 teams ( four day format ).


At present 9 teams are taking part in ICC World Test Championship or Tier 1, and there should be a system of religation with the introduction of ICC World Test Championship for Tier 2 teams, 2 teams finishing bottom at ICC World Test Championship Tier 1, should be religated to Tier 2 and 2 teams finishing top at the ICC World Test Championship, Tier 2 should be introduced in Tier 1 ICC World Test Championship.

It will be great step for teams like Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland, Netherland, PNG who are doing well in shorter formats and get a proper platform for the longer format of the game

Definately Support this initiative, 9 teams should feature in Tier 2 to make it a four day format, home & away system

Doubt India would approve this. It means they have a risk of dropping a division and playing weaker teams for a prolonged period, which they would hate.

Robot and Mamba backing each other up again. What a surprise.

I disagree though, that will officially relegate Zimbabwe to a tier two nation.

I still hold on to that delusional dream Zimbabwe will one day compete and play against the big boys once again.

We still produce the players somehow. They just play for England. Just need good admin and player retention.

ZIMDOGGY wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 15, 2019 6:12 am

Robot and Mamba backing each other up again. What a surprise.

I disagree though, that will officially relegate Zimbabwe to a tier two nation.

I still hold on to that delusional dream Zimbabwe will one day compete and play against the big boys once again.

We still produce the players somehow. They just play for England. Just need good admin and player retention.

What is the use of staying in Tier 1 without playing or getting any chance to play the longer format ?

No no no

You’re pretty much taking Tests status away

More matches against the big sides is what’s needed

jaybro wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:11 am

No no no

You’re pretty much taking Tests status away

More matches against the big sides is what’s needed

For Zim, Afghans & Irish.... tough to get test fixtures before 2021.

Level of competition is now on focus...its better to divide

Our days at the big table are over I think. Is there really any way back. Even without Zimbabwe and ZC becoming a basketcase we were going to struggle to stay relevant the way international cricket is going.

Sadly I agree, our days at the main table are done. The real challenge is staying competitive against the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, Namibia, PNG etc.
There’s absolutely no evidence that the inexorable slide backwards is going to be halted. The ZC faithful will say we’ll always be better than those teams but that’s not the case. They’re progressing fast and we’re going backwards slowly, it’s inevitable that they’re going to overtake us.
We need to check the slide before we can go forward and there’s absolutely no evidence of that. None!! We’ve got the same old 4/5 decent players and we’re awash with club cricketers below them. Nothing has changed. Nothing will change.
We’re going to struggle against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh going forward and as for England, India, NZ, Australia, West Indies and SA...well we play Australia and India next year, that’s not something to look forward to.
Australia away is going to be a bloodbath.

Did you see Graeme Smith turned down the CSA job?
That would have feathered his retirement nest nicely, clearly a man with some integrity. I’ll reserve final judgment until we see whether he succumbs to a huge offer which may happen. They don’t need window dressing just yet, but it will happen soon enough.
If we get to play SA again those games may become a lot closer because sport there is imploding. They’re not going to plumb our depths because of the numbers and the money, but they’re a spent force in most disciplines. It’s all gone to shit for them in the last couple of years and there’s way worse to come.