Do you think Tony Greig is right to question the Test status of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe?

Question

On The Tony Greig show, the eponymous host has questioned whether Bangladesh and Zimbabwe should be allowed to maintain their Test status. He acknowledges that every team can have a bad run, but the current form of the two nations has gone beyond the joke. He argues that the ICC need to start making decisions for the benefit of cricket, rather than a particular faction.

What are your thoughts? Shoud Zimbabwe and Bangladesh be allowed to keep their Test status? Would it actually benefit them more to be stripped of it, and have it reviewed in say, another ten years, giving them time to sort themselves out, and re-enter the Test arena wiser and readier?

Answer 1

No they should not lose their test status, just as a country such as kenya should be granted test status... the only way for the game to progress is to expand. Although I accept that it is a miss match England v Kenya, unless they are given the chance they will not improve!!! I dont think Zimbabwe and Bangladesh should lose their status... it is something of honour too.. i know very little about cricket really, but i do know that bangladesh have a hanful of good young players at their disposal and that if they lost their status then the players personally would suffer!

Answer 2

Zimbabwe could quickly recover once mugabe dies and we should hang on.Bangla is a basket case,so many people,such poor cricket.You don't need money to have good cricketers.But we should also persevere.They both play less test matches as a result of their poor quality(when Zim was incl) and that is their penalty.Remember that WI had very close to same form as those two for a long time,but last 2 years recover,So no chucking out

Answer 3

I downloaded it on my Ipod, im yet to hear it.

But I agree with him on Bangladesh. Since they started, there has been no improvement on them. They only win matches once every 3 years. They have a poor record and the ICC really need a hard look at themselves. They don't look like they're going to improve at all.

Zimbabwe are capable of producing a good team. They have produced many great players (Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Heath Streak etc) and have the capabilities of being a great team. Unfortunately, the political circumstances in Zimbabwe are not ideal and so they can't participate in International cricket. So cricket from Zimbabwe isn't possible.

Answer 4

I agree with Tony Greg!

Answer 5

Both teams should have their test status withdrawn immediately. They are an embarrassment, both in sporting terms and in Zimbabwe's case also in political and moral terms.

The record books should also be adjusted to show all Zimbabwe's test matches from the tour of England in 2003 (the first one after the Olonga/Flower world cup protest), and all Bangladesh's test matches, as first-class not tests. Too many great past test performances are being eclipsed by good players filling their boots against poor opponents, for example Hayden's 380 vs Zimbabwe and Gillespie's 201* in Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe and Bangladesh are both capable of producing competitive teams in the future, and they should continue to receive touring teams and to tour, but only as first-class opposition, much as Sri Lanka did for many years before 1982. That would allow them to measure themselves against the best teams without devaluing what a test match is all about.

Answer 6

yes, Tony is right, strip off the test status, we don't want cake walks for teams like Australia who have a heavily set up schedule with countries like these to improve their ratings by 1 or 2 points !

Answer 7

Tony Greig entitled to his view personally I think they should stay as test status country we need more

Answer 8

Tony Greig has every right to question what Tony Greig likes! In this case, I think he is right on the one hand, but maybe in the interests of cricket in general, we should cling to everything we can to keep it alive.

Answer 9

The best thing to do is not remove thier test status but create a kind of league format.....

the first 8 ranking teams stay put...... and to that you add another 4 + teams give them test status or wahtever and make them play within themselves...... and to the teams who rank 1 & 2 give them 3 tours agianst the better teams.

something like that.

but they should not be removed from test status......... there should be an alternative course for them.