Cutting back to 10 nations next World Cup.

[Lightning McQueen]

I hear that it's pretty much going ahead that the minnows wont be invited to the next World Cup..............thought's anyone.

I think it's a negative move as these countries just wont develop into test playing nations, watching last nights game made me realise that the gap is narrowing. Ireland, Kenya and the Netherlands have all caused some upsets at previous World Cups.

[whufc]

I hear that it's pretty much going ahead that the minnows wont be invited to the next World Cup..............thought's anyone.

I think it's a negative move as these countries just wont develop into test playing nations, watching last nights game made me realise that the gap is narrowing. Ireland, Kenya and the Netherlands have all caused some upsets at previous World Cups.

One of the commentators from last nights game said it was official that only 10 teams would be at the next World Cup.

I guess there is both Pros and Cons to each argument.

To me though if you really want to develop the game in other nations they have to have a chance to compete at the absolute highest level or else they wont get any better.

I agree i definatly think the gap is ever so slowly closing, Bangladesh are ultra competitive in one dayers and there test side is on the improve to the point they can beat the lower rank established nations.

Upsets are becoming all the more common with teams such as Ireland, Netherlands providing a few upsets here and there.

[Q.]

World Cup provides exceptional exposure for the sport within these 'minnow' nations.

[Brucetiki]

While the minnows have largely been blown off the park in this World Cup (bar the Netherlands), they have been somewhat competitive in past touraments. I love watching the smaller nations in the world cup as it breaks the monotony of seeing the same teams over and over again.

The ICC should focus more on bridging the gap between the minnows and bigger nations by having more ODI series between test playing nations and the minnows. It is only by this exposure will the minnows become stronger and provide more of a contest. To restrict the world cup to 10 teams would pretty much spell the end of cricket in smaller nations as they have nothing to strive for.

[Grahaml]

It absolutely sucks. Will be the only world cup not to allow "minnow" nations. Just look at how Australia reacted to making the soccer world cup the last couple of times. And we're minnows in that sport.

IMHO, to have a true "world cup" any country in the world should have a chance to win it. Even Fiji is technically capable of winning a soccer world cup. If the opportunity at least isn't open to every country in the world, then you can't be a world champion (hence my distaste at Americans assuming their domestic champions are world champions).

Most people have fond memories of the few times minnows have won games against the powers. Also, it provides the players with something to aspire to. Even if they're going to get belted they can still say they represented their country in a world cup. And every now and then we see one of those nations do reasonably well. This WILL reduce the interest in associate countries and it will cheapen the whole event.

The other side of the argument is what harm does it do? Not sure England or Australia will be complaining about the workload of having to play an extra 2 games against minnows. Even more so given they could just play their reserves if we're all so far ahead we shouldn't even bother inviting them.

[Lightning McQueen]

While the minnows have largely been blown off the park in this World Cup (bar the Netherlands), they have been somewhat competitive in past touraments. I love watching the smaller nations in the world cup as it breaks the monotony of seeing the same teams over and over again.

The ICC should focus more on bridging the gap between the minnows and bigger nations by having more ODI series between test playing nations and the minnows. It is only by this exposure will the minnows become stronger and provide more of a contest. To restrict the world cup to 10 teams would pretty much spell the end of cricket in smaller nations as they have nothing to strive for.

What are we, 3 games in or something like that?

[C Horse]

While the minnows have largely been blown off the park in this World Cup (bar the Netherlands), they have been somewhat competitive in past touraments. I love watching the smaller nations in the world cup as it breaks the monotony of seeing the same teams over and over again.

The ICC should focus more on bridging the gap between the minnows and bigger nations by having more ODI series between test playing nations and the minnows. It is only by this exposure will the minnows become stronger and provide more of a contest. To restrict the world cup to 10 teams would pretty much spell the end of cricket in smaller nations as they have nothing to strive for.

Couldn't agree more with this - Ireland, Scotland and Holland are playing 40 over cricket against English counties and I reckon we saw evidence of how good that's been last night.

Canada could play regularly in the WI First Class comp and Kenya maybe in the Zimbabwe or Sth African comps.
It's not necessarily having the teams getting experience against International sides, but if you expose their players to first-class cricket on a more regular basis, they'll acquit themselves better when given the chance. I'd imagine it's a pretty big jump from playing club cricket in Holland or Kenya to the world cup - continuing to integrate Associate nations into first class cricket is the key.

[mighty_tiger_79]

if thats the case then have the main world cup

then also let the minnows have a tourney amongst themselves

but for the future they will not improve greatly if they dont get an opportunity against better sides

[spell_check]

It's amusing to see that the ICC goes ahead with this without really consulting anyone apart from those in their ivory tower.

Same goes for Cricket Australia with this franchise thing next year and the split innings one day matches this year.

[Jim05]

Of course they are going to cut down matches in the world cup, australia is hosting it!!!!!!
Wouldnt want us making money would they.

[Bulls forever]

Of course they are going to cut down matches in the world cup, australia is hosting it!!!!!!
Wouldnt want us making money would they.

Or loosing it big time Jimbo. I think everyone is pretty much on same page, keep them in tournament, but perhaps we could reduce the length of time it takes to play the tournament, 6 weeks is a long time. And no, I haven't thought about how we could do it, but someone will come up with something that involves their participation and shortening the length.

[cripple]

Of course they are going to cut down matches in the world cup, australia is hosting it!!!!!!
Wouldnt want us making money would they.

Or loosing it big time Jimbo. I think everyone is pretty much on same page, keep them in tournament, but perhaps we could reduce the length of time it takes to play the tournament, 6 weeks is a long time. And no, I haven't thought about how we could do it, but someone will come up with something that involves their participation and shortening the length.

First step, play more then one game a day.

[Jim05]

Yeah they need to play 2 matches a day at least.
They could learn alot from soccer world cup, currently 14 teams are in the world cup id lift it to 16.
Play 4 groups of 4 with 2 seeded nations and 2 unseeded(minnows), the top 2 from each group goes through to qtrs.
Only 3 group games each compared to 6 currently so the minnows get a fair go and to make the final you only would have to play 5 games total as opposed to 8 currently. Play two matches per day and the tournament is over in a couple of weeks, its not that hard.

[Phantom Gossiper]

Let the minnow countries play in their own world cup.
Spice it up with like say the Australian Indigenous side or add few more countries, maybe some B grade comps in strong countries?

[Grahaml]

Let the minnow countries play in their own world cup.
Spice it up with like say the Australian Indigenous side or add few more countries, maybe some B grade comps in strong countries?

Don't the minnows already have their own competition? And isn't one of the rewards of performing there a world cup berth?

As for adding B grades from other countries that would ruin the whole point of the tournament. I don't know what the make up of the indigenous side is, but would they be competitive with these minnow nations? We have some first class cricketers in most of the minnow nations so unless the indigenous side also has first class standard blokes they'd be the minnows of the minnow comp.

[gadj1976]

By performance, a team like WI or NZ could be easily classed as minnows. Seems crazy to stop teams from playing in a WORLD cup because they may not be up to standard. Do they get measured against the lofty standards like Pakistan sometimes set?

I'd like to stress the emphasis on WORLD in World Cup. Maybe it should just be "better nations cup".

[Grahaml]

By performance, a team like WI or NZ could be easily classed as minnows. Seems crazy to stop teams from playing in a WORLD cup because they may not be up to standard. Do they get measured against the lofty standards like Pakistan sometimes set?

I'd like to stress the emphasis on WORLD in World Cup. Maybe it should just be "better nations cup".

Maybe a "nations the ICC care about" cup and another "nations the ICC doesn't care about" cup. Only trouble is Australia might get lobbed into the second to leave India A v India B in the main comp to fight it out.

[gadj1976]

By performance, a team like WI or NZ could be easily classed as minnows. Seems crazy to stop teams from playing in a WORLD cup because they may not be up to standard. Do they get measured against the lofty standards like Pakistan sometimes set?

I'd like to stress the emphasis on WORLD in World Cup. Maybe it should just be "better nations cup".

Maybe a "nations the ICC care about" cup and another "nations the ICC doesn't care about" cup. Only trouble is Australia might get lobbed into the second to leave India A v India B in the main comp to fight it out.

Agree and disagree Graham. The ICC care about nations that they can make money from. So it might be India vs Sri Lanka final

[Phantom Gossiper]

Let the minnow countries play in their own world cup.
Spice it up with like say the Australian Indigenous side or add few more countries, maybe some B grade comps in strong countries?

Don't the minnows already have their own competition? And isn't one of the rewards of performing there a world cup berth?

As for adding B grades from other countries that would ruin the whole point of the tournament. I don't know what the make up of the indigenous side is, but would they be competitive with these minnow nations? We have some first class cricketers in most of the minnow nations so unless the indigenous side also has first class standard blokes they'd be the minnows of the minnow comp.

Very true, was just a random thought.. sorry :'(

[Grahaml]

Let the minnow countries play in their own world cup.
Spice it up with like say the Australian Indigenous side or add few more countries, maybe some B grade comps in strong countries?

Don't the minnows already have their own competition? And isn't one of the rewards of performing there a world cup berth?

As for adding B grades from other countries that would ruin the whole point of the tournament. I don't know what the make up of the indigenous side is, but would they be competitive with these minnow nations? We have some first class cricketers in most of the minnow nations so unless the indigenous side also has first class standard blokes they'd be the minnows of the minnow comp.

Very true, was just a random thought.. sorry :'(

Random thoughts are what a forum is for.