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World Test Championship over Champions Trophy is a step in the right direction

Seldom has the International Cricket Committee (ICC) looked this assertive. Agreed, there are several areas which still need immediate cleansing, but, for what transpired during the course of the Annual Conference meeting in London last Saturday, they deserve a round of applause. The Champions Trophy made way for the World Test Championship, a minimum number of Tests to be played by member nations was announced and the respect with which women’s cricket was treated — six global women’s tournaments are scheduled to be played from 2016 to 2023 — are all heart-warming. Credit where it’s due for now, but one hopes they don’t tamper with the memorandum.

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The first World Test Championship will be held in England and Wales in 2017 © Getty Images

By Karthik Parimal

Seldom has the International Cricket Committee (ICC) looked this assertive. Agreed, there are several areas which still need immediate cleansing, but, for what transpired during the course of the Annual Conference meeting in London last Saturday, they deserve a round of applause. The Champions Trophy made way for the World Test Championship, a minimum number of Tests to be played by member nations was announced and the respect with which women’s cricket was treated — six global women’s tournaments are scheduled to be played from 2016 to 2023 — are all heart-warming. Credit where it’s due for now, but one hopes they don’t tamper with the memorandum.

Welcome, Test Championship

The recently-concluded Champions Trophy was, undeniably, one of the best International Cricket Council (ICC) events. A few hoped for its resurrection, which is understandable considering the fact that it was a fast-paced tournament with a dainty mix of the best teams in the circuit. The easy option for the ICC would have been to give in to the emotions; to play to the gallery. Moreover, it would have filled their coffers quicker. The Champions Trophy was created with the intention of taking the sport to smaller nations and showcasing the best in business. However, after the first two editions — played in Bangladesh (1998) and Kenya (2000) — the powers that be lost sight of the objective.

In due course of time, it was tagged as a meaningless tournament with no definite structure. The idea to shelve it was therefore right, and it’s a relief the head honchos finally refused to give it priority over the Test Championship (already postponed once before) despite recent success. There is no use of a product without purpose. What this move also does is breathe life into Test cricket. It’d be naïve to deny that cricket’s original format was under a cloud of threat. Empty stands have greeted the best of the teams since the last few years and, unless a step in the right direction is taken, it’s hard to see that change.

This decision by the ICC could just be the shot in the arm this format needed. A bilateral series, no matter how intriguing, could lose sheen after a few rounds. However, if it’s made known that every Test could be of utmost importance, the equation could change. There could perhaps be a rise in viewership — people will want to know if their side has a chance of making the cut for the Test Championship, or if they could at least knock their rivals, who if are dangling on the fence, off. Teams will no longer be content with a draw, for if a win gives them the best chance of qualifying for the Championship, then that is what they will look to get. It could force the pace of the game, it could make the standings significant and, more importantly, it will put bums on seats.

What this format needed was an incentive, and there is no bigger incentive than evidence of your position on the pedestal. Also, the fact that each format now has its own pinnacle tournament makes the structure more meaningful. Every Test henceforth will now account for something. The first World Test Championship will be held in England in 2017, followed by India in 2021, and the race for it will soon begin. The logistics part of it is a trivial thing that can be dealt with in the coming months. For now, it’s comforting to know that Test cricket has not been put on the backburner.

Use Twenty20 to spread the sport

Another welcome move was to schedule the World Twenty20 once every four years. Two years was short and, arguably, took the shine away from the tournament. Nevertheless, despite the constant criticism this format of the game draws from the purists, one cannot deny the fact that it is the way ahead. Test cricket is, no doubt, ultimate, but it can no longer be used a source of enticement. You can’t get a kid from primary school to like mathematics by thrusting upon him the basics of trigonometry from the outset. The transition has to be smooth.

Like the FIFA World Cup, the World Twenty20 can feature several teams, for it is a format that doesn’t demand technical nuances and is sure to attract eyeballs. However, it’d be apt to reduce the number of teams taking part in the 50-over World Cup and, like the Champions Trophy, let the best compete for the coveted title. If need be, two more sides can be added to the fray after they get through the qualifiers.  Although it’s imperative that Associate and Affiliate nations rub shoulders with the best in the world, the last few editions of the World Cup have been a drag owing to quite a few meaningless contests. Perhaps the authorities can come up with other arrangements for upcoming countries to get the required exposure, but, it’s evident that this format has seldom been helpful to these nations; apart from maybe Ireland.

There is no denying the fact that the amendments and decisions haven’t pleased all, however, this time, the ICC can be sure that they’ve got more people cheering than usual.

(Karthik Parimal, a Correspondent with CricketCountry, is a cricket aficionado and a worshipper of the game. He idolises Steve Waugh and can give up anything, absolutely anything, just to watch a Kumar Sangakkara cover drive. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/karthik_parimal)

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