Published: Jun 12, 2015, 05:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 12, 2015, 05:55 PM (IST)
With Day Two of the ongoing one-off Test between India and Bangladesh washed out, and rain threat looming large over the game, India have something to worry about. If this Test ends in draw or is washed out, India will slip to No. 7 in Test cricket. Pramod Ananth opines the ranking system needs revision, and emphasises that small tweaks will not hurt.
International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ranking system goes against higher ranked teams that draw Tests or series against ones ranked below them. The higher ranked team loses points in this scenario, which is certainly not an ideal situation. Read: India to slide to 7th in Rankings if Bangladesh Test is washed off!
The second day of the India vs Bangladesh first Test at Fatullah was washed out without a single ball being bowled. Even on Day One, as many as 34 overs were lost due to rain and bad light. Many Tests in the past — ones that looked like having results — ended in lame draws with bad weather playing spoilsport. There is no ‘reserve day’ for Tests, which is probably a necessity in modern day cricket when players are motivated to go for results rather than attaining draws. India tour of Bangladesh, 2015: Complete coverage
ICC must revise its rules: there should be proper scheduling for Tests to accommodate reserve days. The administrators of the game must understand that all teams play the sport with the intention of winning. No one wants the unfortunate scenario of overs being lost, eventually having an impact on the result.
In that case, is it fair to have five-day Tests reduced to four-day (or even less) affairs because non-cricketing reasons playing a part? There are usually 90 overs bowled in a day, and 450 in a Test. In the ongoing Test between India and Bangladesh, it is evident that there is no way 450 overs can be completed even if play is extended by an hour or so.
Reserve days will therefore come in handy in situations like these. India were in a commanding position in the match at the end of Day One and could have consolidated their position on Day Two. On their part, Bangladesh too could have come back with a vengeance after being battered on the first day. But both the teams lost momentum and had to start afresh on Day Three.
Having a one-Test series is never a good idea in the first place. With a two- or a three-Test series both teams would have had time to rectify their mistakes and come back stronger in the next Test, maybe save or even win the series in the process.
ICC does not reveal the formula they use when they assign points. However, it is evident that if the difference in points between the two playing teams is 40 or more, the team ranked below will gain a bit more than the team place above it in case of a win or loss. Even if the match ends in a draw, the side placed below will gain more points than the one above.
If the ongoing Test between India and Bangladesh ends in a draw, India will lose three points and drop down to No. 7 with 96 points. But the question is, would it be fair to call it a draw when many overs have been lost? Even things like these must be considered before assigning points.
By strictly adhering not to extend the match beyond the five allotted days, ICC are depriving both teams of the opportunity to push for a win. Added to that, thousands of people who go to the stadium and millions watching back home are left dejected when matches end in a no result.
Many believe that Test cricket is losing its prominence with each passing day. With the emergence of T20 cricket, many find the format more entertaining, slowly moving away from Tests. In such situations, efforts should be made to churn a result out of the game. The least the higher authorities can do ensure that they can ensure a way that overs are bowled to the fullest.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
