WCC call for World Test Championship

Date released: 14 July 2009

The MCC World Cricket Committee at Lord's Following their seventh meeting the MCC World Cricket Committee believes that now is the time to implement a World Test Championship.

The MCC World Cricket Committee met at Lord’s on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 July 2009. It was the Committee’s seventh meeting and the future of Test cricket dominated the agenda.

MCC World Cricket Committee recommends a World Test Championship, a trial of day/night Test cricket and pink balls

MCC World Cricket Committee believes that now is the time to implement a World Test Championship.

Except for certain icon series, such as the Ashes, Test cricket throughout the world, and in particular the lower-ranked nations, is in very real danger of dying.

A World Test Championship would reinvigorate players, spectators and broadcasters for what is the pinnacle of the game.

Every series would have a meaning and every Test match would have a context. Players would have the motivation to compete on the biggest stage and would have an annual or biannual chance of winning the title.

IPL: "The main career aspiration for many" MCC’s research proved that attendances at Test cricket have declined in recent years. In addition, there is a growing ambivalence towards the longer format of the game from cricketers in certain nations, with player surveys revealing that an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract was the main career aspiration for many.

Indeed, it was noted that the IPL is entirely market-led, as explained by its Commissioner Lalit Modi at the meeting.

There are already World Championships in twenty and fifty-over cricket. World cricket needs a World Test Championship and it needs one within the short-term.

Work should commence immediately on devising the appropriate format.

The committee believes Test cricket is not marketed sufficiently around the world, certainly not to the same extent as other forms of the game, and that crucial to its success is a focused and well-resourced marketing strategy.

The MCC World Cricket Committee also believes that a trial of day/night Test cricket should take place within the next twelve months.

Trials should be conducted in first-class cricket beforehand to assess the suitability of the playing conditions and the type of ball used.

WCC member Steve Waugh playing in match with a pink ball After hearing endorsements from Shaun Pollock and Steve Waugh, who had both been involved with trials of various coloured balls, the committee were unanimous in their support of the pink ball, which would enable Test cricket to continue to be played in white clothing.

MCC produced research showing a decline in Test match attendances worldwide over recent years. The committee feels that a trial of day/night Test cricket could bring new audiences to the game, both in grounds and on television.

Twenty20 cricket: MCC World Cricket Committee concerned about overkill, financial imbalance and enforcement of the No Objection Certificates

MCC World Cricket Committee believes that national boards must carefully control the release of their contracted players to domestic Twenty20 leagues.

The No Objection Certificates (NOC) required from boards for the release of players for domestic Twenty20 cricket are crucial and must be enforced.

Domestic leagues must honour the current agreement whereby cricketers without an NOC are not permitted to compete for two years since their last international appearance.

The committee is deeply concerned that the proliferation of lucrative domestic Twenty20 leagues, such as the Indian Premier League, will lead to the premature retirement of quality international cricketers.

Those from the lower-ranked Test nations could be particularly susceptible to such a career choice, based on earnings alone.

Shahid Afridi celebrates Pakistan's ICC World T20 win at Lord's In 2010, international cricketers will compete in the Indian Premier League, the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies and the inaugural English P20 within a matter of months.

There will be no sustained opportunity for these cricketers to play first-class or Test cricket in this period.

The Committee feels that this is too much Twenty20 cricket but recognises that players might be forced to make a difficult decision between playing for their country or taking the money on offer elsewhere.

Lalit Modi, the Indian Premier League Commissioner, addressed the MCC World Cricket Committee meeting on the impact of the IPL, outlining the successes of the 2009 tournament and potential plans for expansion in the future.

The committee was impressed with the aggressive marketing campaign which resulted in a 93% attendance rate in the grounds in South Africa, with 70% of this audience seeing live cricket for the first time.

Test playing countries must be proactive in their marketing strategies for the longer formats of the game.

MCC World Cricket Committee endorse ICC’s Umpire Decision Review System

MCC World Cricket Committee gave its continued support to ICC’s trials of the Umpire Decision Review System and made the following recommendations for its future use:

• A specialist TV umpire panel should be created, ensuring that those in the role are comfortable in using the required technology.

The Committee felt that the skills required in the 3rd umpire role are not necessarily the same as those of the on-field umpires.

• Training of umpires and players is crucial; all parties must be fully briefed on the correct procedures.

The WCC's Geoff Boycott (right) examines the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology The Committee noted three particular successes from the trial, namely: an increase in the percentage of correct decisions being made; a marked improvement in on-field player behaviour; and endorsement of the system from the umpires themselves.

The Committee was also pleased to learn that ICC (International Cricket Council) has sought to rectify areas of the system that caused problems or confusion.

The Committee supports ICC’s proposed use of the predictive element of ball-tracking technology for LBW decisions, subject to the introduction of enhanced software which builds in a degree of certainty and would still give the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.