Beware of two-tier doosra
The ICC's elite were up to a lot of mischief during the last meeting
Cricket definitely is a gentleman’s game. At least, that is what we have been taught to believe from our childhood, since the very game of Cricket had evolved from a system with two distinct divisions – gentlemen and players. This system was in existence from the late 1800s to 1962, before it was done away with.
When our colonial masters laughed, calling the cricketing fraternity ‘the flannelled fools’ — we joined in the laughter.
Generally, in the early years, our cricketing sun rose in the west and stayed that way to suit the whims of the Lords of the red cherry. They were very selective about their opponents and always preferred to stick to their kith and kin. England and Australia played their inaugural Test matches in 1877, while the next next-of-kin to join them was South Africa, which gained Test status in 1889. Then there was a 39-year gap before the masters in 1928 hauled up a team of cricketers from the Caribbean islands, calling it the West Indies. Then in 1930, New Zealand joined the fray, followed by India in 1932.
Once India was partitioned by the colonial masters in 1947, a new country emerged from the division as East and West Pakistan. The cricket-crazy fledgling country gained full Test status in 1952.
Then, there was another 30-year wait. Though Sri Lanka had a rich cricketing heritage along with the rest of the gang from the mid 1800s, its cricket was considered seriously only in the mid ’70s, with Sri Lanka playing its 1st Test match in 1982, against England at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.
Ten years later, in 1992, Zimbabwe was given the nod to join the club as a full member, and then, in 2000, Bangladesh, once East Pakistan, became the last of the Mohicans.
Between then and now, many changes have happened, the biggest of which being the game of cricket being able to join the affluent society via the shorter version of the game.
Sixteen years down the line since the World Cricket authorities welcomed Bangladesh as a full member, there is a definite reversal in the thinking process. Now, with the game travelling more towards the bottom lines, rather than the beauty of Test cricket, the full members are becoming more and more finicky.
Now, instead of lifting the stock of the present membership, there is a definite drive towards segregation or elitism. First it was the ‘Big Three’ concept which came on the wheels of England and Australia chauffeured by fully geared India – which, incidentally, has become the richest kid on the bloc. It was an English ploy seconded by Australia which got India to play ball. Ironically, the concept was shortlived and early this year, ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar effected the necessary changes to stop the ‘big three’ bullying the ICC, as they say.
Still for all, the undercurrents still remain. Still, the England-Australia lobby is busy trying to carve out another divide, while Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala has spelled out that in no way would they support a division of the Test Cricket segment.
Sumathipala feels a division of the two segments does not serve the purpose. He says, “SLC has decided not to support two-tier Test Cricket, as we are convinced it is disadvantageous to SLC and for its future. We are of the view that if you make it a top seven – you are almost relegating the bottom three to a different level.
“We believe that, if you are a full member of the ICC, there can’t be two tiers. If one talks of the bottom line, what would happen if India slips to the 8th position?”
Yet, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, while explaining the move to Fox Sport said the promotion and relegation could be introduced into Test Cricket as early as 2019. The ICC bigwig is keen to see it happen. He argues, “There’s a general realisation now that, if we’re going to keep Test Cricket going well into the future, we can’t just say it’s going to survive on its own.
“Unless we can give some meaning to these series, beyond the rankings and a trophy, then interest in Test Cricket will continue to waiver. The same applies if we allow uncompetitive Test cricket to take place too often.
“If we really want Test Cricket to survive, we can’t have the number of Test teams diminishing. We have to create a proper competition structure which provides promotion and relegation and opportunities to get to the top.”
“Whether there are 10, 12 or 18 teams involved, the concept would see the bottom team from Division I relegated at the end of the ‘season’ – which is strongly favoured to last two years in total – while the top team from Division II would be promoted. There would also be scope for a playoff between the second-last team in Division I and the second-placed team in Division II.
“The beauty of leagues is that, in theory, you will have a more competitive competition with teams of a more equal standard playing each other,” Richardson said.
He added: “The feeling is that, if you want to sustain interest in a competition, you probably can’t go longer than two years with it. If you had a top division of seven teams, you’d have six tours – three home, three away – over a two-year period. It works well mathematically.”
However, a senior SLC insider is confident the move will not materialise. He says, though it was only Bangladesh which opposed the move openly, and now joined by Sri Lanka, there are more. He was of the view that even India would oppose this move when it comes to crux. He said, “There have been several overtures to us, to support the two-tier system. But, this is clearly a move by England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to strengthen their stock. Once the move is passed, the gang of seven may go in for a new Future Tours Programme (FTP) and sell off their television rights at exorbitant prices. They even may gang-up and give preference to their clique when the FTP is being prepared.”
He said the ICC is also very keen to see the move through. He said that ICC CEO Dave Richardson is keen to do a presentation to us on the two-tier system while in Sri Lanka during the Sri Lanka vs Australia series. “However, I do not think he will have a change of heart with regard to our stance on this.”
Well that is what the officialdom feels on the above subject. Yet still there are people who were in the decision making pot in Sri Lanka when the ‘Big Three’ took us for a ride. Even at that moment we were fighting along with Bangladesh and then they changed their stance when the rod was hot.
Right now three of the big fish — Bangladesh, The West Indies and Zimbabwe — are in the second tier and they would be fighting for life for sustenance if the new rule is adopted.
If the motion is passed Sri Lanka will end up at the door step at number seven and if we do not look sharp we would be in the same soup when it comes to the next relegation time.
Yes, the SLC is employing clever hi-tech presenters who speak the hinds of a donkey, but in reality we do not have a good enough first class tournament leave alone swimming pools and practice wickets. The game of cricket is not the property of an individual or a gang of upstarts; it belongs to the Kusal Janiths and Nuwan Pradeeps who were born from the dust of this land. So, please be sharp, we may not have a second chance.