I thought for sure the above match was part of the ICC’s plan for an ODI tournament for the Associates, which would run alongside the Intercontinental Cup. But it seems it is simply just part of a Dutch tour of England and Scotland. Hm. The ICC just needs to come up with a plan for the Associates and stick. with. it. Every 18 months or so it seems like a new process our tournament is being announced to slowly feed the Associates into full Member status. It is oh so confusing. Hopefully this latest complicated structure of matches will do the trick.
Okay, I just spent 15 minutes reading about the Intercontinental Cup, the Intercontinental Shield, the World Cricket League Division 2 and holy crap now I am even more confused. But, wait, I just found this article over on (where else?) ESPNCricinfo – wonderfully entitled: The Mystery Unraveled. While that post is a tad old, it does clear it up a little, I guess.
But I still have found very little about this mysterious ODI tournament for the Associates – isn’t that simply the World Cricket League, division one?
Maybe this is why the ICC tried to leave the Associates out of the 2015 World Cup. The qualification process would be just too laborious.
Alas*, the ICC changed its mind yesterday and expanded the 2015 World Cup to 14 teams. They probably just could have made it 11 and allowed Ireland to play, as they seemed to be more upset about the snub than anyone. I will freely admit, however, that I don’t read a great deal about Afghani or Kenyan cricket.
(Not really “alas”, as I am happy they expanded it).
Back on the pitch: England destroyed Sri Lanka yesterday in a rain shortened ODI. It was a good old fashioned thumping, thanks mainly to James Anderson and his four early wickets. Swann also took three, while poor Stuart Broad was 0-32. Down in Bridgetown, the pitch is the man of the match so far, with yesterday seeing 13 wickets in the first day’s play. Back in England, Sussex are finally playing a County Championship match again – it feels like it has been nothing but t20 for them lately. Unfortunately, it is showing, as they have lost five early wickets. Nash, Joyce, Wright…all gone.
Oh, and finally, while reading the early notes on the test match in Bridgetown, I learned players can earn up to one million USD for playing in Australia’s t20 tournament – also known as the Australian BIG BASH. Which is, seriously, and excuse me, the dumbest fucking name for anything…ever. I will take corporate sponsorship names for tournaments over that any day. What’s next, is MLB going to rebrand itself as AMERICAN SUPER HOME RUN TOWN? Or maybe the Friends Life NOTHING BUT SIXES?
Why am I shouting?
The ESPNCricinfo commentator says it right: give me test cricket any day.
I don’t mind twenty20 cricket, but this super premiere league cash grabs just feel…gross. And there is just one after another after another. I guess I am on the anti-t20 bandwagon now.
But I am still excited to watch the Sri Lankan Premiere League on ESPN3. Mostly because I like the league’s name.
I am fickle.
Until tomorrow.
Limited Overs 