Hayden, Gilchrist keen to cut tri-series

[Hondo]

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=327425

What do we think? Time for a change?

I agree with the lads on this one ... tri-series has reached its use-by date

[smac]

I agree also - I think a best of 7 series against the main test opponent for the Summer would be a better idea. Give them a quick tour of the country and it's all done with in about 3 weeks. Keeps the test cricket as the dominant part of the Summer as well.

[Dirko]

In some ways, I agree others I don't.
I will wait until the end of summer when they roll out the "too much cricket" line.
If say Haddos & Gilly say something along those lines, I'd assume they'd cancel
the $$$$$ trip to India for the 20/20 event in which they've signed.

[smac]

Good point.

So it's perhaps "not enough super-high paying cricket" instead of "too much cricket".

[MAY-Z]

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=327425

What do we think? Time for a change?

I agree with the lads on this one ... tri-series has reached its use-by date

nope it gives all the nation a chance to see plenty of international cricket- if they say there is too much cricket then dont play the 20/20 thing in india

[blink]

I am putting myself up to get shot down by a few of you here, but I have the perfect idea how CA can inject new life into the Tri-Series...

If any of you can remember back in 1994-1995 Australia A was brought into the ODI series to inject some life. The other teams were of course Australia, along with England and Zimbabwe. I was only 9 when this happened but a year or so after I some how got hold of an official highlights VHS and it was some damn good cricket. Zim finished last but played some excellent cricket and really pushed all the sides.

I think that CA should look at bringing the Australia A team back in again to play against Australia and maybe one other team. Only downfall I can see, and the same happened back in 1994-95, is that crowds will support the Australia A side rather than that of the true Australian side.

[Pup]

I am putting myself up to get shot down by a few of you here, but I have the perfect idea how CA can inject new life into the Tri-Series...

If any of you can remember back in 1994-1995 Australia A was brought into the ODI series to inject some life. The other teams were of course Australia, along with England and Zimbabwe. I was only 9 when this happened but a year or so after I some how got hold of an official highlights VHS and it was some damn good cricket. Zim finished last but played some excellent cricket and really pushed all the sides.

I think that CA should look at bringing the Australia A team back in again to play against Australia and maybe one other team. Only downfall I can see, and the same happened back in 1994-95, is that crowds will support the Australia A side rather than that of the true Australian side.

I have always liked the Australia concept and personally loved that series, but unfortunately i dont think that will ever happen again, as you said people started to support Australia A because they wanted the so called 'Lesser' players to win. I also dont think the other International teams were that impressed with it either in fact i dare say they saw it as a big insult.

[spell_check]

I think they should not have changed the format where say one team had their Test series against Australia; then some of the tournament; then the other Test series; then the rest of the tournament. Problem with that is of the tighter schedules since this was last done in 1997/98.

I wouldn't mind the Australia A concept again either; although as was the case in 1994/95, they probably won't be classed as ODIs. And that would stick the wind up the sub-continent if we were to see Aus vs AusA in the finals; with India or whoever missing out!

[Aerie]

I'd like to see some sort of league for both Test, One-Day and even Twenty20 cricket. I know they have the rankings tables which give an indication of the best team in the world, but I'd like to see this turned into a proper competition with a final to signify the best team in the world.

Every Test series would be best of 3, every one-day series best of 5 and a best of 3 Twenty20 series. Perhaps have two divisions of six teams with the winner of division 2 being promoted and the loser of division 1 being demoted after each season. This demotion and promotion based on an overall table inc Test/One Day/2020 with a weighting more heavily favoured towards Test cricket.

The following trophies would be up for grabs: Div 1 & 2 Test Champions, Div 1 & 2 One Day Champions, Div 1 & 2 Twenty20 Champions and all these would be decided by having a final between the teams placed 1 & 2 on the ladder at the end of the season.

Each country would have 15 Tests, 30 ODI and 15 Twenty20 matches per year plus the finals.

For example - div 1 would be Australia, England, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and div 2 would be West Indies, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Kenya.

Australia's program might look something like:

Test/One Day and 2020 Series vs England in Australia Nov/Dec
Series vs India in Australia Jan/Feb
Series vs Pakistan in Pakistan Mar/Apr
Series vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka May/Jun
Series vs South Africa in Darwin/Cairns/Testra Dome Jul/Aug
Finals in Sep/Oct

You could still have series played for trophies i.e. we'd still play for The Ashes every time we played England. Every match would be meaningful and have importance - getting rid of these meaningless one day series we always have. There would still be room in the program for a World Cup or special tournament if the need was there. Developing countries would get the opportunity to play plenty of Test cricket and therefore hopefully improve. There would be more series played between the best countries.

[matt]

Excellent post Aerie. Some very sound logic and a lot to like about the concept.
The biggest issues will be those of self interest of the respective cricket boards.
Only if decisions were driven by the 'best interests' of cricket and not respective contracts with media corps...

[locky801]

I'm waiting for the next inovation 10/10 cricket Aerie you should be the next CEO of Australian cricket, you have pointed out some very relevant points in the way that world cricket should be played, funny when you look around the world at cricket though these days where do you get sell out crowds, basically only here for every tour, and England when we play over there. As much as I love the game I just think there these days is a tad too much, as we have seen it is now even starting to catch up on the Aussies with all the injury worries

[FlyingHigh]

Good post Aerie.

My idea's a bit simpler:
How about incorporating the 20-20 into tri-series.
Two 20-20 games could be played on the same day, each worth 2 points for the winner. This may help reduce the number of dead rubbers, as a team may pick up a couple of points here and there and stay in with a chance.
The 50-over games would still be worth 4 plus bonus point.
Each team could play 3 games of both against each other, which would roughly equate to the amount of cricket being played now.
A few less 50-over games may increase their appeal.

And another idea for help the one-day game - get rid of the stupid f****n ropes around the grounds that make them all about the same size - lets reintroduce some variety and uniqueness.

[heater31]

And another idea for help the one-day game - get rid of the stupid f****n ropes around the grounds that make them all about the same size - lets reintroduce some variety and uniqueness.

disagree there in part. Player safety must a priority for administrators with the athletic fielding seen these days or we could be seeing some great players career's crashing to a halt prematurely. however I do agree in regards to the straight boundaries ie Adelaide oval for instance. Back in the days when grade cricket was regularly played on it the only was to get a 4 straight was too bloody run it.

[spell_check]

The ropes are in a way a necessity, but they should be in no more than 5 or so metres, similar to a boundary line in footy. Ricky Ponting has spoken about grounds losing its character because of the ropes being in so far; and I've said before, I love the chase between fielder and ball.

[FlyingHigh]

And another idea for help the one-day game - get rid of the stupid f****n ropes around the grounds that make them all about the same size - lets reintroduce some variety and uniqueness.

disagree there in part. Player safety must a priority for administrators with the athletic fielding seen these days or we could be seeing some great players career's crashing to a halt prematurely. however I do agree in regards to the straight boundaries ie Adelaide oval for instance. Back in the days when grade cricket was regularly played on it the only was to get a 4 straight was too bloody run it.

Yes, agree with that Heater. A rope maybe 3 metres in around the boundary would be 4, but would still have to clear the fence proper to be 6.

[FlyingHigh]

With the straight boundaries at Adelaide Oval it adds so many more dimensions:
All-run fours and threes
Chase between ball and fielder as you said spelly
The potential for mix-ups and run-outs - hence more action

[spell_check]

With the straight boundaries at Adelaide Oval it adds so many more dimensions:
All-run fours and threes
Chase between ball and fielder as you said spelly
The potential for mix-ups and run-outs - hence more action

You also get the cheer from the crowd when the home team fielder stops the ball; or the boos when the away team fielder stops the ball. It's almost confined to Australia because our fields are still quite large even with the ropes in, but you could get that even more with the ropes back, hence more crowd participation and atmosphere.