cricket_icon
International Cricketer
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2011
Everything in life requires context, if it is to be fully understood. From literature to relationships to films and of course, sport. The English premier league in the last few weeks has been enthralling, each match a countdown to the most remarkable league win in football history. Not just in Europe but just about everywhere. However, it’s not just the possibility of Leicester City winning the league title but also the question of Tottenham Hotspur, how close will they run the future champions? Then there is the ever intriguing battle for the remainder of the top four.
Context, that’s what makes this so interesting. What is at stake, why it’s at stake and what will it take to get there? Cricket, from the end of one world cup to the beginning of another almost always lacks that context. Each ODI series blends into another and although there are thrills to be found and exceptional performances throughout, it all amounts to very little. Context is the word that keeps popping up. There is not enough of it. This is why the idea of a points based series with Sri Lanka and later Pakistan is so interesting.
The women’s Ashes has been decided upon a similar points based system. Tests, ODIs and T20s all hold a certain weighting and points are awarded for wins. Therefore, every match holds meaning and factors into deciding a winner. It’s not a perfect system and most definitely not one for the purists, who believe that The Ashes are sacred to English cricket. Ben Stokes is one such purist and I agree with him. Maybe the men’s Ashes needs to be bereft of such a points system, after all they carry over a century of context with them.
Having said all that, what of the lesser series? This is not to say any team but Australia is “lesser” but they do not carry the same contextual history, the same weight in our conscience as a nation. Pakistan and India have always been major staples of an English summer, as have the South Africans. New Zealand and Sri Lanka can also be box office. The West Indies were once must-watch tourists. However, none of them are Australia and none of them take part in the premier test series on the planet. So why not use a point based system for such tours? Surely the purists cannot be offended by such a move.
The ECB have proposed such an idea, where the ODI, T20 and most importantly, test series’ will all carry points. The overall winners will be decided across the board. Each match, as long as neither team pulls too far ahead, holds meaning. A team like Sri Lanka are likely to do better in limited overs cricket than the tests, they could still win the tour. Once the tests are over, there is no reason to think that the ODIs and T20 are just a bit of fluff, which is often the case with English fans. We will be just as enthralled, in theory anyway.
There are of course, some issues. Tests will likely carry more points, so if England drubs the touring sides, they could comfortably go on to win the tour even if they lost the limited overs matches. That lessens the excitement for sure but then again, it wouldn’t be England’s fault if the touring sides were not up to scratch. Whichever side of the fence you are on in this argument, it is hard to deny the plan is intriguing and the idea of more context to ever more cricket is exciting, even if it is just a pipe dream.
Context, that’s what makes this so interesting. What is at stake, why it’s at stake and what will it take to get there? Cricket, from the end of one world cup to the beginning of another almost always lacks that context. Each ODI series blends into another and although there are thrills to be found and exceptional performances throughout, it all amounts to very little. Context is the word that keeps popping up. There is not enough of it. This is why the idea of a points based series with Sri Lanka and later Pakistan is so interesting.
The women’s Ashes has been decided upon a similar points based system. Tests, ODIs and T20s all hold a certain weighting and points are awarded for wins. Therefore, every match holds meaning and factors into deciding a winner. It’s not a perfect system and most definitely not one for the purists, who believe that The Ashes are sacred to English cricket. Ben Stokes is one such purist and I agree with him. Maybe the men’s Ashes needs to be bereft of such a points system, after all they carry over a century of context with them.
Having said all that, what of the lesser series? This is not to say any team but Australia is “lesser” but they do not carry the same contextual history, the same weight in our conscience as a nation. Pakistan and India have always been major staples of an English summer, as have the South Africans. New Zealand and Sri Lanka can also be box office. The West Indies were once must-watch tourists. However, none of them are Australia and none of them take part in the premier test series on the planet. So why not use a point based system for such tours? Surely the purists cannot be offended by such a move.
The ECB have proposed such an idea, where the ODI, T20 and most importantly, test series’ will all carry points. The overall winners will be decided across the board. Each match, as long as neither team pulls too far ahead, holds meaning. A team like Sri Lanka are likely to do better in limited overs cricket than the tests, they could still win the tour. Once the tests are over, there is no reason to think that the ODIs and T20 are just a bit of fluff, which is often the case with English fans. We will be just as enthralled, in theory anyway.
There are of course, some issues. Tests will likely carry more points, so if England drubs the touring sides, they could comfortably go on to win the tour even if they lost the limited overs matches. That lessens the excitement for sure but then again, it wouldn’t be England’s fault if the touring sides were not up to scratch. Whichever side of the fence you are on in this argument, it is hard to deny the plan is intriguing and the idea of more context to ever more cricket is exciting, even if it is just a pipe dream.
