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Two tier international cricket a must
The cricket committee of the ICC which comprises some of the best past performances met in Dubai recently. They have done some tinkering with playing conditions and some basic rules. The game needs constant change and most of it is change of what is felt required, after recent practical experiences. The legality of bowlers actions is an issue that now needs urgent attention. The last heard from the ICC on the issue is that the subject will be discussed in December!

That is with the playing side, but it is now evident that some of the test matches are totally one sided and bound to remain that way for a long while. A voice has been heard to say that test cricket should be played on a two-tier basis. Eight of the top teams to compete in the top group and the next eight teams to compete in the next group. For the purpose of records it will obviously mean that only the results of the top group will count. Unfortunately the last team to be granted "the" status, Bangladesh, are not making much headway. Currently they are playing the West Indies. Some of those were seen in action in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago. During this time they have not improved by even five percent to meet the demands of international cricket.

Zimbabwe were progressing slowly but steadily at the turn of the century. They had a world class per former in Andy Flower and a number of others who could survive amongst the best. The political situation in that country has changed it all. It has come down to the colour of the skin! Those who play this noble sport will not permit it to surface in the open. But no one can run away from that fact. Zimbabwe needs its white players and the black players will start to emerge through the ranks. There are various areas of evolution in the world. The game of cricket evolved with time. Over two hundred years ago the rich and the elite played the game, with the talented employed to fill the ranks. There were those known as gentlemen (the amateurs) and the players (the professionals). That existed until about forty years ago. Now all and sundry have equal rights - or so it seems to be seen!

The West Indies had a mixture of whites and blacks. Evolution took its course and by the time Clive Lloyd took over the reins in the mid nineteen seventies, (after the country had played test cricket for over fifty years) the players were all black and they were all brilliant! Now Zimbabwe have slipped out of the race. They will never catch-up with the rest of the pack.

This leaves eight teams: England, Australia, West Indies, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa. They must engage in home and away series of three games each time. Only the five match traditional battles should go on unhindered. There should be no two test or four test series, in order to keep a balance. Similarly each series should be accompanied with either three or five one dayers.

The top test playing nations must encourage the next eight teams to tours of their countries to play first class games and they should be permitted to play ODI's The ICC will have to fund much of the second tier unofficial test matches. They could be of four day duration. The cycle for both tiers should be four years when the home and away games should be completed. The second tier teams could play two tests and the one dayers on each tour.

At the end of four years the bottom team of the top tier should meet the top team of the bottom tier. Two three test series, home and away should be played. Can the team from the bottom tier have a series triumph of 2-0 or 1-0 then they should be promoted. It means a lot more work for the ICC and a lot more funding too. At present there are too many mis-matches. The quality of "Test" cricket must be maintained. The ICC should direct the game in that direction.

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