International Season in Jeopardy
Yes, the international season is going to be very tough to implement - or probably impossible. That is if we stick to the original idea started by EA that it should be a full fledged two year season with different test tours and odi series in it. Here's what I have been doing. I deciphered out all the dates. Phew! Then I decided what basic template should I use. I decided on English County Full Season coz it allows 18 teams to participat. Though the number of matches is very high - 299 in 730 days. Still I managed to chalk out a schedule which would have 69 test tours that include various no. of odi's and a Knockout in the format of ICC Knockout 2000(Kenya). And when I sat down to implement it, I tried a bit of tweaking and trying with the dates first.Here's what I found:
- The a$$es at EA have programmed the Full Season(and the subsequent sav) such that the whole thing has to get over in one year only. It cannot go into the next year(unless a new season begins). So the problem is that we cannot have a two year season.
Now does that mean we cannot have a season altogather? NO! We can - in fact u'll have it shortly. A season based on the Full season template completely. I mean each country will play others in two tests (one home and one away) and two ODI(same). and a C& G knockout. These matches will be played all around the world(to hell with the costs!). And a better version will be released later with every country playing the in proper season(reality.i.e. Aus in Dec-Jan, India - Oct-Nov or Jan-Feb) at home. Four or Five A teams will have to compete with intl teams though.
One other season is possible - cram up all the 299 matches in a year(To hell with the real seasons in diff countries). I don't know if it will succeed or not but I assure u it will be tried soon.