Associate Tournaments (I-Cup and WCL Championship 2015-2016/7)

[Pinch hitter]

I wonder why ICC not give Test status to Ireland yet... They are consistent in last 5-6 years and they are team, who capable to beat any test playing nations... Ireland definitely better than Zimbabwe...

 

[CremerCurrans]

I wonder why ICC not give Test status to Ireland yet... They are consistent in last 5-6 years and they are team, who capable to beat any test playing nations... Ireland definitely better than Zimbabwe...

Ouch!

 

[VC the slogger]

So much for stripping these two of ODI status.


4th Match: Netherlands v Papua New Guinea at Amstelveen, Jun 24, 2015 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
UAE 205 (44.3 ov, AM Guruge 1*, JO Ngoche 5/26) - Match over | Live Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Aislabie]

So much for stripping these two of ODI status.


4th Match: Netherlands v Papua New Guinea at Amstelveen, Jun 24, 2015 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
UAE 205 (44.3 ov, AM Guruge 1*, JO Ngoche 5/26) - Match over | Live Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Indeed.

I could go on for yonks about how the entire status system is profoundly mis-managed. In fact, I do, frequently, by PM.

Even if the ICC were to require teams to be of a certain (let's say top-16) standard to achieve ODI status, it's completely counter-productive to strip them of it as soon as they fall on hard times. For instance, the following teams have all played ODI cricket:

Spoiler: List of ODI teams

Afghanistan
Australia
Bangladesh
Bermuda (WITHDRAWN)
Canada (WITHDRAWN)
England
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Kenya (WITHDRAWN)
Namibia (WITHDRAWN)
Netherlands (WITHDRAWN)
New Zealand
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Scotland
South Africa
Sri Lanka
United Arab Emirates
United States (WITHDRAWN)
West Indies
Zimbabwe

Full Members: 10
Associate Members: 6 (+6 withdrawn)

It is still a woeful tally out of over a hundred ICC members, but to expand ODI status in such a manner would be a telling statement that cricket was interested in expansion. It would show that any team interested in making progress is a team in which investment will continue to be made even if natural factors - like cyclical peaks and troughs of players - mean that the team struggles for five or ten years.

The same could also be true of Twenty20 International status:

Spoiler: List of Twenty20 teams

Afghanistan
Australia
Bangladesh
Bermuda (WITHDRAWN)
Canada (WITHDRAWN)
England
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Kenya (WITHDRAWN)
Namibia (NEVER GRANTED)
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Scotland
South Africa
Sri Lanka
United Arab Emirates
United States (NEVER GRANTED)
West Indies
Zimbabwe

Full Members: 10
Associate Members: 8 (+3 withdrawn, 2 never granted)

Although it would be a small step, opening up status (and ranking positions) to these teams and arranging for them a mandated number of fixtures would be a move in the right direction for the globalisation of the game. Certainly, it would be better than the current system whereby Netherlands were stripped of ODI status essentially on the basis of a single freak result against Kenya - who were also an ODI team at the time!

 

[Aislabie]

As of yesterday, Roelef van der Merwe has qualified for, and stated his intentions to, begin playing for the Netherlands. He was in the squad for today's game, but was left out in favour of younger players.

 

[Aislabie]

As of now, this thread is also the home for any discussion that may or may not take place regarding the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. Cut to 14 teams this time, this slightly reduced tournament is set to take place in Ireland and Scotland between 9th and 26th July. Here's a pretty good collection of reading material that I've accumulated on my blog which should help to act as a sort of ad-hoc tournament guide.

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

| Squads | Further Information
Afghanistan | Squad | Background
Canada | Squad | Background
Hong Kong | Squad | Background
Ireland | Squad | Background
Jersey | Squad |-
Kenya | Squad | Background
Namibia | Squad | Background
Nepal | Squad | Background
Netherlands | Squad | Background
Oman | Squad |-
Papua New Guinea | Squad | Background
Scotland | Squad | Background
United Arab Emirates | Squad | Background
United States | Squad | Background

Who do you want to see go through?

 

[Aislabie]

Warm-up news
Hong Kong have laid down a marker by skittling the Dutch side that was so dominant against Nepal last week. Defending just 113, they bowled the Oranje out for just 104, with Tanwir Afzal, Anas Khan and Irfan Ahmed the destroyers in chief. Their batting may lack strength in depth, but the bowling looks to be firing on all cylinders.

Elsewhere, Scotland overcame Namibia with ease on the back of a savage innings by Berrington, while the Nepal-Oman and Kenya-PNG games in Ireland were rained out, but not before both Kenya and Oman were able to show that they aren't just going to roll over and have their tummies tickled at this tournament.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Just noticed that a lot of the matches are being televised by Sky (here in the UK).

No doubt we'll have a lot of rain though what with it being in Ireland/Scotland.

 

[Aislabie]

Warm-up news
Jersey got a big-time thumping from the high-flying Afghans. It was the first time most of them had faced bowling of this standard, although a few of these players faced this exact attack several years ago when Afghanistan were flying up the WCL Divisions. Although it's difficult for these players, and this game will probably scar some of the players, it's important to note that neither Jonty Jenner nor Nat Watkins played in this game, so this wasn't a full strength Jersey side. Still a big gulf, though.

Elsewhere, the Americans and Canadians both disappointed - in the process of trying to give everyone a game, the Americans very nearly lost to the North West Warriors Interpro side. Although they do have some T20 pedigree, they're barely a patch on seven or eight sides in this tournament. At the same time, Canada lost to a bunch of Scottish club cricketers an eleven that was made up of mostly first-class players from other countries, including Niel Bredenkamp (RSA), Lenert van Wyk (RSA), Keith Dabengwa (ZIM), Sudesh Umyanga (SRL), Irfan Shah (ENG) and Fred Klaassen (NZL/NED). In light of the strength of that side, they shouldn't feel too embarrassed, but they did get properly thumped.

 

[IceAgeComing]

There were a few warmups at my local ground, but we got a tonne of rain last night so they were both called off this morning, which is a little annoying...

 

[El Loco]

Just noticed that a lot of the matches are being televised by Sky (here in the UK).

No doubt we'll have a lot of rain though what with it being in Ireland/Scotland.

Didn't know this, thanks for the heads-up. For some reason I'm more excited for these than The Ashes. I know, screw me right?

 

[IceAgeComing]

Scotland play exciting cricket, which England doesn't

 

[Aislabie]

Didn't know this, thanks for the heads-up. For some reason I'm more excited for these than The Ashes. I know, screw me right?

Me too!

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Scotland play exciting cricket, which England doesn't

The Jokes Thread - Humour & Jokes on PlanetCricket Forums

 

[Aislabie]

Scotland play exciting cricket

Well, this was certainly the case today. After a competent bowling display that was aided greatly by a shoddy Emirati batting effort, George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer made a massive statement to chase down 110 with ten overs to spare. You have to spare a thought for UAE's Mohammad Naveed, who was first the only batsman to show any composure, then the only bowler to impress. He alone can hold his head up high. In comparison, every Scottish player who was asked to do something stepped up and did it well. Munsey in particular looks like one for the future as well as the present, while Davey touched 85 mph with the ball.