Test Tri-Series - Why they are never played?

[Bhaijaan]

To spice up test cricket, tri series could be a very interesting idea.

It will also allow for some dream scenario neutral venue matches like India vs Australia at Lord's, England vs Australia at Mumbai, Pakistan vs Bangladesh at Jamaica etc

What are your thoughts.

Should boards consider this.

Is it a practical idea?

 

[Mesozoic]

Would be great but it will work only if the host country is England or Australia where most foreign teams (even NZ) get good support.

Just imagine a South Africa vs New Zealand Test at the kotla or an Australia vs West Indies test at the wanderers.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Would be great but it will work only if the host country is England or Australia where most foreign teams (even NZ) get good support.

Just imagine a South Africa vs New Zealand Test at the kotla or an Australia vs West Indies test at the wanderers.

Actually they will see decent crowd too although I get your point.

But there are always compromises to be made for something new. Boards make most revenue now from broadcasters and other sponsors. Ticket sales aren't a huge part of test cricket revenue I presume.

 

[Mesozoic]

Actually they will see decent crowd too although I get your point.

I'm not sure about that. India's home games are hardly half packed these days, so I don't think people would bother going for a neutral game. Nor I think fans will travel to India.

But there are always compromises to be made for something new. Boards make most revenue now from broadcasters and other sponsors. Ticket sales aren't a huge part of test cricket revenue I presume.

Agree but I was talking about the viewing experience which will be quite poor.

 

[sweep_shot]

I personally would love to see it.

Last time they had a Test tri-series was back in 2001 or something (Asian Test Championship).

 

[MenInG]

The time commitment for such a series would be too much especially in days where T20 tournaments are so frequent.

 

[MMHS]

There was one tri series played - summer of 1912. But that time the third team (SAF) was too weak to compete with other two teams and lost all six (or five of six) games. England went on to win the series beating Aussies and spectators hardly had any interest for games involving SAF - most of the newspapers considered that tournament as another version of Ashes with SAF giving practice. It wasn’t commercially successful with six of nine games hardly drawing much public interest. However, the concept was appropriated and a next addition was planned sometimes in 1914 - unfortunately war broke out in Europe and English cricket stopped for good five six years. Upon resumption of cricket in 1920 winter, both TCCB & ACB was more interested to arrange Ashes and the alternate year 5/6 Test Ashes calendar was locked for next few rounds. Those days travelling wasn’t that easy and even in his last series (1948) Bradman’s team actually sailed to UK rather than flying and arranging triangular tournaments was extremely difficult, expensive as well - it never happened since.

 

[Slog]

Would be great but it will work only if the host country is England or Australia where most foreign teams (even NZ) get good support.

Just imagine a South Africa vs New Zealand Test at the kotla or an Australia vs West Indies test at the wanderers.

i dont think even australia would see much crowd for a neutral test unless it involves india maybe. even in the odi tri series they used to have every year the neutral match was always plagued with low attendances which is the reason they cut that from their summer schedule.

only england would. its one country where the population genuinely follows and enjoys going to test matches + it has significant expat communities of most test playing nations.

triseries in one day even are dying out tbh.

 

[sindhiboy]

England is the only place where a tri series would attract a large crowd due to the diversity of fans present.

No one in india or west indies will watch new Zealand vs South Africa.

However under covid regulations tri series are feasible

 

[U$ofA]

The hay days of test cricket are well in the rear view mirror. So just regular test series these days are not practical. Let alone a tri-test series.

These days I think even India homes tests are sparingly attended. Not sure what the tv ratings are. Combine this with SL, Pak, WI, BD, and to an extent NZ and SA, you have $$$ losses written all over. In fact several in the non Big3 have now resorted to one test "series" or downright cancelling tests.

Currently anything between the Big3 in Eng or Aus is the only practical series. With Ashes the only one thriving.

So tests in general, not practical in the real world.

 

[Ellipsism]

i dont think even australia would see much crowd for a neutral test unless it involves india maybe. even in the odi tri series they used to have every year the neutral match was always plagued with low attendances which is the reason they cut that from their summer schedule.

only england would. its one country where the population genuinely follows and enjoys going to test matches + it has significant expat communities of most test playing nations.

triseries in one day even are dying out tbh.

The interest is about the same in both England and Australia; it’s more of a social occasion than it is watching the cricket. The 20,000 seater stadiums in England just make it look like there’s always decent crowds in even when there’s only 10-15K. On the other hand in Australia you’d probably get a similar or slightly larger crowd but in stadiums with 40,000+ capacity.

With regards to a tri series it would take like 2-3 months to play out, and that too on a tight schedule. Nobody has the time for that.