I get the rationale but this stunts the growth of the game. England and India are the worst offenders for this and everyone else falls into line behind them. It's even more strange at a time when there is an avenue for an associate nation to gain test status. I know it's not the same but top level international experience is vital for whoever gets that spot.
So the test playing nations are England, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Zimbabwe & West Indies. I gather the tournament will be made up of the hosts (England), the other top seven teams in the one-day international world rankings and two qualifiers from an event in Bangladesh. I just hope that Ireland and Scotland knock out one of those sides (Zimbabwe?) England should be doing all it can to help Ireland achieve Test status - maybe Ireland playing in the County Championship would be a good first step?
England are the main obstacle for Ireland. Ireland are tied to one Odi a year at a time of England's choosing. Invariably they chose early season to all but guarantee a washout. England and India are the biggest draw in world cricket. Having Ireland next door looking for test matches make take one money spinner away, or an opportunity for a county side to get quality opposition. Playing in the county championship might be good for improving quality but there's no money in it to make it commercially viable. Away matches would be a huge drain and home matches too much effort for the away team. The club scene here is not too bad. I'm trying to get a local team involved in a project I'm working on at the minute. Hopefully promote them a wee bit.
The ECB should be doing all it can to help not be an obstacle - maybe they could subsidise Ireland to play in the CC (e.g by paying travel costs for both teams)
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the 2nd test in Columbo Sri Lanka 315 (Silva 80, Mathews 77, Yasir 6-96) and 153 for 3 (Karunaratne 50, Mathews 43*) - Pakistan 138 (Hafeez 42, Kaushal 5-42, Prasad 3-43) and 329 (Azhar 117, Shehzad 69, Prasad 4-92, Chameera 3-53) Series level at 1-1
To be honest, Ireland's ambitions are beyond that now. When there is a place in the test arena at stake then it would be hard to regress. England are squarely in the way of it. Needlessly so imo.
I was thinking maybe the CC could be a stepping stone to the ultimate goal of test status To be honest the way the ECB has been run in the last 3 or 4 years I'm not surprised as nearly every decision they made was wrong (hoping that under Strauss things might improve)
Sri Lanka batsman Upul Tharanga will replace Kumar Sangakkara for the third Test against Pakistan starting Friday in Pallekele. Sangakkara made himself unavailable for the last Test of the series partly because of commitments with Surrey. He will also not play the third Test against India in August, having already announced his international retirement.
Ajinkya Rahane has been selected to lead a virtual "second-string" India side to Zimbabwe for the proposed three ODIs and two T20Is. ODI captain MS Dhoni, Test captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan and Umesh Yadav were rested for the tour.
Sri Lanka are 272 for 8 at the end of the 1st day of the 3rd Test against Pakistan in Paalekele Sri Lanka 272 for 8 (Karunaratne 130, Tharanga 46, Yasir 4-77)
South Africa beat Bangladesh by 52 runs in the 1st T20 in Mirpur South Africa 148 for 4 (du Plessis 79*, Sunny 2-19) - Bangladesh 96 (Duminy 2-11)
Sri Lanka with 5 2nd innings wickets standing lead Pakistan by 291 runs at the end of Day 3 in Paalekele Sri Lanka 278 and 228 for 5 (Mathews 77*, Tharanga 48) - Pakistan 215 (Sarfr az 78*, Azhar 52, Pradeep 3-29, Kaushal 3-37, Prasad 3-78)
South Africa beat Bangladesh by 31 runs in the 2nd T20 in Mirpur South Africa 169 for 4 (De Kock 44, de Villiers 40) - Bangladesh 138 (Sarkar 37, Leie 3-16, Abbott 3-20, Phangiso 3-30)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the 3rd Test in Paalekele Pakistan 215 (Sarfraz 78*, Azhar 52) and 380 for 3 (Younis 171*, Masood 125, Misbah 59*) - Sri Lanka 278 (Karunaratne 130, Yasir 5-78) and 313 (Mathews 122, Chandimal 67, Imran 5-58) Younis Khan's epic, unbeaten 171 led Pakistan to their highest successful chase, the second highest in Asia for any side, and the sixth highest in all Test cricket. It also gave them their first series win in Sri Lanka since 2006, and catapulted them to third in the ICC Test rankings.
South Africa beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the 1st ODI in Dhaka Bangladesh 160 (Al Hasan 48, Rabada 6-16) - South Africa 164-2 (Du Plessis 63*) 6/16 Kagiso Rabada's bowling returns in this match - the best by a South Africa bowler in ODIs and by any debutant. This included a hat-trick
India beat Zimbabwe by four runs in the 1st ODI in Harare India 255 for 6 (Rayudu 124*, Binny 77, Chibhabha 2-25) - Zimbabwe 251 for 7 (Chigumbura 104*, Axar 2-41)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the 1st ODI in Dambulla Pakistan 259 for 4 ( Hafeez 103, Malik 55*) - Sri Lanka ( Chandimal 65*, Mathews 38, Hafeez 4-41)
Bangladesh beat South Africa by seven wickets in the 2nd ODI in Mipur Bangladesh 167 for 3 (Sarkar 88*, Mahmudullah 50) - South Africa 162 (du Plessis 41, Nasir, 3-26, Mustafizur 3-38)
Not only did Bangladesh square the series with their win over South Africa, but they also secured their spot in the 2017 Champions Trophy. One of West Indies or Pakistan will miss out on the tournament.
