Only Test: New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Napier Jan 26-30, 2012

[Hallatia]

I think they're better than Bangladesh, I think they proved it too, despite having been out of the game for a while

 

[African Monkey]

1 test match, geez whats going on

I thought it was crazy enough that we had 4 which is stupid but 1 test is even stupider

It's because Zimbabwe want to ease their way back into test cricket, and feel that playing one off tests iss the best way to go about it.

 

[Twizzle]

I would think the best way to ease your way back into test cricket is to play more test cricket

 

[Wilson1]

1 test match, geez whats going on

I thought it was crazy enough that we had 4 which is stupid but 1 test is even stupider

4 tests are great if it was a close series. Your series against both New Zealand and South Africa could have done with one or maybe even two extra tests.

 

[Meth]

Zimbabwe aside, New Zealand play nowhere near enough Test cricket- a very good reason for our low ranking. We simply don't play enough to really improve, and have subsequently worsened over the years from a middle-of-the-pack side (ala Pakistan, Sri Lanka) to a virtual minnow.

 

[African Monkey]

Zimbabwe aside, New Zealand play nowhere near enough Test cricket- a very good reason for our low ranking. We simply don't play enough to really improve, and have subsequently worsened over the years from a middle-of-the-pack side (ala Pakistan, Sri Lanka) to a virtual minnow.

The players don't care either. All they want is their IPL contracts.

 

[aussies1st]

This is partly the ICC fault and partly NZC. The ICC needs to make 3 test matches a minimum for a series, these 2 and now 1 test match series are stupid. NZC has made no effort to play more Test cricket, they got rid of their boxing day test for a T20 match and this year they had an HRV cup game on that day. Obviously they don't have the same tradition to it like SA and Aus but I do remember them trying to make it into one.

 

[Meth]

The players don't care either. All they want is their IPL contracts.

Sign of the times unfortunately. It's a shame that T20 is simply far more lucrative and players (not just NZ'ers) understandably follow the money trail.

 

[Wilson1]

This is partly the ICC fault and partly NZC. The ICC needs to make 3 test matches a minimum for a series, these 2 and now 1 test match series are stupid. NZC has made no effort to play more Test cricket, they got rid of their boxing day test for a T20 match and this year they had an HRV cup game on that day. Obviously they don't have the same tradition to it like SA and Aus but I do remember them trying to make it into one.

Yeah exactly. Not playing any international cricket over Christmas/New Year is a joke. By the time we play our tests against South Africa it will be March and people will be watching rugby/league.

 

[Fast Eddie]

It is a joke, but you can understand why this particular season. It's a way to get good crowds and make money of domestic Twenty/20.

 

[Wilson1]

It is a joke, but you can understand why this particular season. It's a way to get good crowds and make money of domestic Twenty/20.

Would domestic 20/20 get worse crowds with no black caps? That is the question.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Probably not by much. But if there is no Internationals on then it becomes the only Cricket to go to over the xmas/new period so they have been getting almost sell out crowds at the Basin etc, and when there is 3 games a day thats a bit of profit. I think NZC will want to do it like this more often unless there is a big name oppenent, so pretty much Aus, Eng, SA or India who are supposed to tour round that period.

 

[Hallatia]

Zimbabwe aside, New Zealand play nowhere near enough Test cricket- a very good reason for our low ranking. We simply don't play enough to really improve, and have subsequently worsened over the years from a middle-of-the-pack side (ala Pakistan, Sri Lanka) to a virtual minnow.

disagree about Pakistan being mentioned there. I think Pakistan's problems are mostly internal. However, no matter how inexperienced their pack is, it is always loaded with talent and I am looking forward to a big rise from them over the coming years. I am even expecting them to really challenge England in the UAE. They have already risen to 5 and as long as they can keep the issues out, they should be consistently one of the best sides.

 

[Meth]

disagree about Pakistan being mentioned there. I think Pakistan's problems are mostly internal. However, no matter how inexperienced their pack is, it is always loaded with talent and I am looking forward to a big rise from them over the coming years. I am even expecting them to really challenge England in the UAE. They have already risen to 5 and as long as they can keep the issues out, they should be consistently one of the best sides.

I see it like this.

England, South Africa, Australia and India are the top sides

Sri Lanka, Pakistan are the middle of the pack

West Indies, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are at the bottom.

 

[Hallatia]

come the end of this Summer and you might feel inclined to switch Pakistan and India around

 

[Horrie Is God]

disagree about Pakistan being mentioned there. I think Pakistan's problems are mostly internal. However, no matter how inexperienced their pack is, it is always loaded with talent and I am looking forward to a big rise from them over the coming years. I am even expecting them to really challenge England in the UAE. They have already risen to 5 and as long as they can keep the issues out, they should be consistently one of the best sides.

If the Pakis beat the poms it would throw a cat amongst the pidgeons..

I wonder what it would do to the test rankings??..

 

[Hallatia]

If the Pakis beat the poms it would throw a cat amongst the pidgeons..

I wonder what it would do to the test rankings??..

http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/test_predictor.php

 

[Hallatia]

if Australia beat India 4-0, Australia and India will be on the same rating points, but India will still be ahead on fractions of a point. And they'll be third, Australia will remain 4th

 

[Fast Eddie]

I see it like this.

England, South Africa, Australia and India are the top sides

Sri Lanka, Pakistan are the middle of the pack

West Indies, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are at the bottom.

While Pakistan have improved of recent I still think that at home we could beat them and possibly even Sri Lanka. We will move into that middle pack if we compete well with South Africa and then beat the Windies away.

 

[Hallatia]

I would love if all ten were top sides