Michael Vaughan: Test match cricket needs promotion and relegation

[Muhammad10]

Former England captain Michael Vaughan says Test cricket needs promotion and relegation to make it more competitive.

England overwhelmed Sri Lanka inside three days at Headingley in the first Test of the summer, with Vaughan likening the current tour to a "Premier League football team playing a Division One team continually for five weeks".

Vaughan suggests introducing a three-division system of four teams with sides in the same division playing each other home and away.

"We need to get the best teams playing each other more often. Australia against West Indies over the winter was garbage. You knew exactly what the result was going to be because it was a complete mis-match".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03w2g7v

 

[MenInG]

Wow SL = first division team? Guess England were Lyari United when they got beaten by Pak in UAE!

 

[StreetSmart]

Wow SL = first division team? Guess England were Lyari United when they got beaten by Pak in UAE!

Hahahahahahaahh good one sir jee. Micheal Vaughn please send your current english team to Bangladesh and see the majic. But this is really a worrying sign for Srilankan team their standards really went down badley.

 

[Hasan123]

No just keep it how it is. Just cuz it works for 18 counties doesn't mean it will work in international cricket

 

[HitWicket]

Hahahahahahaahh good one sir jee. Micheal Vaughn please send your current english team to Bangladesh and see the majic. But this is really a worrying sign for Srilankan team their standards really went down badley.

Going to be there in about 5 months time.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Every format needs a league system where 1 team is crowned champion. Equal home and way series. Everyone on level playing field.

 

[Markhor]

No thanks, already sick of the same teams playing each other ad nauseum.

We need a league format for Tests where everybody plays each other home and away in a 4-5 year cycle. But that'll only happen if ICC properly implements FTP.

 

[StreetSmart]

Yes, The best way to do it is to re-introduce test championship like we use to have Asian Test championship

 

[rhony]

Tier 1: Eng, AUS, NZ, SA
Tier 2: Pak, Ind, WI, SL
Tier 3: Who cares?

That would be a good idea. The games will be close considering the AUS, ENG, SA don't get knocked off on subcontinent pitches. Similarly, Ind, Pak can continue clobbering SL home and away. WI cricketers stay in India for most of the year anyway so it's convenient for them to be in this group.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Who decides the tier?

Aussies get whitewashed in India and UAE and would lose badly in England. So basically can win in Aus, SA and NZ. Maybe SL too. And almost minnow WI.

NZ compete everywhere and lose mostly. Win a few in NZ.

Saffers have been decent till recently.

England have been decent too.

India can win only in Asia and almost minnow WI.

Pakistan can win only in Asia and almost minnow WI (I know they haven't won but they will if they tour now).

SL are struggling to win anywhere.

So who decides what tier?

At best, England and SA can be in top tier. Maybe Aus too (if they can win in SL).

Aus, India, Pakistan, Aus and NZ in tier 2.

SL, WI and Bangladesh in tier 3.

Let these teams play each other over and over again and test cricket will live long.

 

[AFM]

Test cricket doesn't need a tier system, but a proper scheduled Championship. There must be a way to schedule a 3 Test series for each team home and away over a 4-5 year cycle. After the cycle - the top 4 teams play knock-out semi finals with winners playing the Championship final. The location of the play-offs could either be at:

1) England - the home of cricket and in my view the best place for Tests.
2) The country who is in position first - so there is a reward for topping the table.
3) Randomly decided from the top 4 teams.

To me option 2 would be the fairest. As for the OP, the most surprising thing to hear was Vaughan put Pak-Ind series at the same prestige as the Ashes

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

But you dig deep and England has won in England, SA, India and SL only.

Lost badly in UAE, Aus and drew with almost minnow WI.

Most likely will lose in India later this year.

So why should they be in top tier?

lol.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Wow SL = first division team? Guess England were Lyari United when they got beaten by Pak in UAE!

This was an epic stomp. Nothing like the UAE.

They couldn't last a day in two innings.

 

[AFM]

J

But you dig deep and England has won in England, SA, India and SL only.

Lost badly in UAE, Aus and drew with almost minnow WI.

Most likely will lose in India later this year.

So why should they be in top tier?

lol.

This England side should be judged on performances since the ashes in Aus as that is when this Eng side started developing. They pushed Pak in UAE far harder than anyone expected them to.

And besides, India should be wary. If Moeen could destroy them in England, imagine what will happen in Nagpur

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

J

This England side should be judged on performances since the ashes in Aus as that is when this Eng side started developing. They pushed Pak in UAE far harder than anyone expected them to.

And besides, India should be wary. If Moeen could destroy them in England, imagine what will happen in Nagpur

We are always wary.

England is our nemesis both home and away.

 

[AFM]

We are always wary.

England is our nemesis both home and away.

Moeen is in good form as well. Everyone is raving about Anderson, but Moeen had the best avg and SR from all of bowlers in the Headingly test. Seamer conditions indeed

 

[Gabbar Singh]

2 divisions of 6 would work if we give Ireland and Afghanistan test status however they probably don't deserve this right now so perhaps in a few more years.

Top division:

Australia
England
South Africa
New Zealand
India
Pakistan.

Division 2:

West Indies
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe
Ireland
Afghanistan

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Who will watch division 2 tests?

How will they make revenues?

Why would they even play tests when they won't make revenues?

 

[HitWicket]

Who will watch division 2 tests?

The same people who currently watch tests between what would be between division 2 teams surely?

 

[Robert]

Former England captain Michael Vaughan says Test cricket needs promotion and relegation to make it more competitive.

England overwhelmed Sri Lanka inside three days at Headingley in the first Test of the summer, with Vaughan likening the current tour to a "Premier League football team playing a Division One team continually for five weeks".

Been saying this for years.

SA, AUS, IND, ENG, PAK in the first division. WI, NZ, SL, BAN, ZIM in the second. IRE, NTH, AFG etc. in the third.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

The same people who currently watch tests between what would be between division 2 teams surely?

the viewership of those followers are abysmal.

no fans = no money = no tests = 1 division anyways

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Been saying this for years.

SA, AUS, IND, ENG, PAK in the first division. WI, NZ, SL, BAN, ZIM in the second. IRE, NTH, AFG etc. in the third.

Just a small problem of economics.

 

[HitWicket]

the viewership of those followers are abysmal.

no fans = no money = no tests = 1 division anyways

I don't see how, for example, a New Zealand v Sri Lanka test series is going to suddenly lose a huge amount of viewership because it's suddenly denoted as a 'division 2 game' rather than no classification at all.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Gotta have a test tournament

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I don't see how, for example, a New Zealand v Sri Lanka test series is going to suddenly lose a huge amount of viewership because it's suddenly denoted as a 'division 2 game' rather than no classification at all.

Cos NZ makes money playing tests with India, Aus and Eng.

That allows it to "afford" playing tests with others.

Take out the money spinners and these boards will slowly cut down tests to zero cos it doesn't produce money.

 

[Firebreaker]

I don't see anything wrong here.SL is most likely to get whitewashed and I do not have high hopes for Pakistan as well

 

[Ab Fan]

This tier system is crap. Bring the test championship for God sake.

 

[#GreenRoars]

League format would be good.

 

[Cric_fan_4_eva]

A proper FTP is a more practical way forward.
Over 4-5 years all teams would play each other home and away, this would give a clearer team standings.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Make each team play with other home and away in 3 test series,over a period of 3 years.Make a points table and make the top 2 teams play a final at a neutral venue

 

[HitWicket]

Make each team play with other home and away in 3 test series,over a period of 3 years.Make a points table and make the top 2 teams play a final at a neutral venue

Making everyone play everyone in a series I can see working and being something I'd get behind, but to make all of those series a 3 match series just wouldn't work.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Making everyone play everyone in a series I can see working and being something I'd get behind, but to make all of those series a 3 match series just wouldn't work.

But more than 3 tests in a series would be a drag.And 2 test series between teams like England and Australia or Australia v India,would be too short.

 

[HitWicket]

But more than 3 tests in a series would be a drag.And 2 test series between teams like England and Australia or Australia v India,would be too short.

I think even with an everyone plays everyone system you can till have variable series lengths. The biggest test series between the likes of England, Australia and India can still have the 5 match slots whilst those involving Zimbabwe, or Bangladesh can be a bit shorter for example.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I think even with an everyone plays everyone system you can till have variable series lengths. The biggest test series between the likes of England, Australia and India can still have the 5 match slots whilst those involving Zimbabwe, or Bangladesh can be a bit shorter for example.

But Uniformity(in the amount of games played) is required for a points table.

Or else there could be a system where a team receives points for winning or drawing series(no matter the length) e.g 10 points for winning a series and 5 for drawing etc

 

[the Great Khan]

The ICC or big three will decide the top tier. Aus England India saffers. Tier 2 Pakistan Sri Lanka new Zealand windies Bangladesh
Tier 3 Zimbabwe Ireland Afghanistan Scotland.

Eventually they will scrap relegation and promotion and forget about div 1.

Mark my words promotion relegation will be the death knell for Pakistan cricket.

The best thing to do is have a proper league system and a final playoff.

 

[InziRules]

Relegation and promotion system for Associate sides?

Should we have a Relegation & Promotion system for sides? Currently, teams like Zimbabwe have no need to improve. They have test status, they will get series, and they can do whatever they want. With a system of promotion and relegation, being 9th and 10th in the ranking will have actual effects. We could do this annually, so no one's out of it for too long.

We could promote two associate sides, and they'd have an year to get their points up. Thoughts?