SA vs Zim - Boxing Day rumour

[Kriterion_BD]

Global T20 has been postponed to next year (hope it gets cancelled, there's too many T20 leagues as it is, ruining int'l cricket).

Very easy for ZIM's test to now be 5 days, and dare I say to make it a full tour of 2 Tests and 3 ODIs.

[pariah]

Global T20 has been postponed to next year (hope it gets cancelled, there's too many T20 leagues as it is, ruining int'l cricket).

Very easy for ZIM's test to now be 5 days, and dare I say to make it a full tour of 2 Tests and 3 ODIs.

It was a hushed but open secret that this T20 might be shelved.

Time is not a factor in Zimbabwe's case. Bangladesh were so hopelessly embarassing against the Proteas that senior players(and fans) now don't see the point in playing ZIM, while considering Boxing Day should be a marquee Test, Admins wonder who will attend if they severly weaken the Proteas and pick a Team that'll still beat ZIM.

After what was done to Bangladesh, they would have to seriously justify 2 Tests again. I doubt SA will be hosting BD for a very very very long time.

Again, it's not like fans and players don't check out the Associates and low Full Member like ZIM. They do, and they wonder what bowlers they have? NONE! Who will take Souh African wickets? MArkram might end up with a 300 average after just 4 Tests!

To be honest, we have to be mindful about devaluing the game.

One 4 day Test is enough! Hope they do play.

I don't think Smith, Kohli, Williamson and Root appreciate Elgar racking up run-a-ball centuries for fun against junk attacks.

[Kriterion_BD]

After what was done to Bangladesh, they would have to seriously justify 2 Tests again. I doubt SA will be hosting BD for a very very very long time.

Well winning ODIs particularly getting out of the group stages in ICC events and winning Tests at home basically earns capital which can be used on such away tours. For example, SL haven't been to competitive overseas in a few years, India hasn't won a major overseas Test in over 6 years but they will still get tours. Bangladesh were a few mistakes away from drawing Tests in Wellington and Hyderabad, but that also proved how tough it is to draw a 5-day game without the help of rain, especially away from home.

Bangladesh also have a much bigger market than teams like SL, WI, NZ - who all get overseas tours do to their aforementioned success in ODIs, World Cups, etc.

[ZIMDOGGY]

I don't see the point of pushing for a 4 day test. Can actually make the product more boring as you can bet your bottom dollar weaker teams, including Zimbabwe, will start to strategise on aiming for draws over results.
Sometimes 5 days is so long that teams won't even try to block it out.
Next thing is Mawoyo will see his contract upgraded to A+.

Besides, if a team gets flattened by a stronger opposition it won't last till fifth day anyway. So same shit.

[ZIMDOGGY]

And on a holistic level messing with the product is a dodgy slippery slope into the abyss.

All of a sudden fans are confused which is what. Longtime fans get confused on how to calculate their predictions. The cricket purists will be annoyed and the guys that think test matches are boring at the moment will still find it boring.

What's worse, it skews the integrity of statistical data. The constant of the 5 day format is compromised so the natural link to run rates and averages will have less leaning as the playing field isn't level as the goalposts are being shifted around.

It's like trying to record the 100m track and field world record when the rules are changed so the distance isn't over 100m but between 98 and 102, dependant on the track.

[CrimsonAvenger]

+1 with everything ZIMDOGGY says, specially in the last post.

[Kriterion_BD]

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/ ... yzyis.html

looks like 4-day Tests will be the exception rather than the rule.

[pariah]

ZIM are officially a guinea pig from now on.

Test Championship i.e. 9-3 split confirmed. Will start after the 2019 CWC [but they have no hope of ZIM even being there it seems.]

ZIM, IRE and AFG all alone, while BD repeatedly humiliated by SA will be with the big boys.

Zim confirmed as the CWC hosts. [Giving a dog a bone it seems!]

So much money wasted on bringing back players for matches without context.

At least they are part of the ODI League [... tough place for Jarvis to hang around though.]

Rubbishes the comment that came from I think one of Streak/Taibu/Pakistani about the SL win now throwing ZIM back into the frame following that postponement. I still believe the Pakistani knew all of this was coming. That guy is an ICC plant with strict instructions on how to get rid of ZIM for good I tell you! Mark my words, observe and watch keenly, vigilantly and carefully.

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/97 ... odi-league

[TapsC]

As I said before, no way CSA would have announced a 4 day test without knowing it would be approved in advance. That would have been a huge embarrassment. They even scheduled a game against the SA emerging team under the lights. I still think we will get absolutely roasted under the floodlights. They should push for a day game..

When is this 9-3 cutoff date exactly? And is it set in stone that we can't make it? I know we got 0 points right now but that ranking system of theirs can change things quickly.

Good to see that In the second cycle of the ODI league everybody has to play each other.. tired of England not giving us a game.

[TapsC]

It's clear a lot of politicking and negotiations happened for all the boards to suddenly be working together. I think for Zim they obviously increased our money(wouldn't be surprised if the Taylor and Jarvis upfront money came from the ICC in USD) , they guaranteed our full membership for some time and Handed us the qualifier.

CSA was also used to sweeten the deal as they are now suddenly willing to help us( makhaya had previously said they were barely interested). Now suddenly you will see the emerging and "A" team touring Zim every year, they are helping us with the qualifier logistics( will probably bring TV equipment, those soaker things that clear waterlogged fields and maybe even some buses to help with transport). I would also not be surprised if every test team touring team will now play us instead of the SA emerging team in four day warmups which will be scandalously given test status ( im sure the "trials" will go past 2019.