Berry S: Eng schedule looms as a vision from hell (24Jul94)

TCCB's seventh Test heaven looms as a vision from hell

Scyld Berry laments the economic priorities which are shaping England's programme

Visionaries have recently proposed that two divisions of Test cricket be created, the prospect of promotion and relegation adding to the inherent interest of a series. But a division of the Test-playing countries into two sections has already happened - based on money, not merit. As is evident from the crowds of 28,000 at Lord's over the first three days, England's Tests against South Africa are major league money-spinners. So are the Tests against Australia and West Indies, while Pakistan's tours of England are big money, as long as they have brilliant fast bowlers. In the second division, along with New Zealand and India, come Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, minnows so small that England keep them at arm's length. Sri Lanka have been given five one-off Tests in 12 years to aid their development. Zimbabwe? Forget it. "There are gaps to be filled in," according to the TCCB, on the subject of England's future programme, but the small fry will be lucky to squeeze in. The hard-nosed new fact is that England are now selecting their opponents on commercial grounds. In the days of MCC's control, there used to be some belief that England had a duty to foster the game worldwide. Now the only question appears to be "how much?" Take India, perhaps the opponents with whom England have been best matched over the last two decades. Just like a nice cup of Darjeeling tea: not too strong - no nasty quick bowlers - and not too weak. Yet in the space of 12 years, from 1990 to 2002 at the earliest, India will play three Tests in England. In response the TCCB says that it has to bear in mind the interests of its constituent members, the first-class counties, as well as those of other Test-playing countries. Point taken; but the pendulum is swinging too far. Now that the TCCB can bring in @10 million annually from England's Test cricket, the counties' existence is not in danger and there is scope for wider concerns. Yet the future has been shaped on other lines. The traditional pattern of playing Australia every four years home and away is sacrosanct, and rightly. The modern pattern of treating West Indies similarly is not wholly desirable, but lucrative tours to England are central to the very survival of West Indian cricket. Still, within these limits, England should arrange its schedule more equitably. Next summer, for instance, West Indies are to play six Tests here, "as an experiment", to gratify the plea by each of our Test grounds for a Test match. Only Australia have before played a six-Test series here, and an unsatisfying arrangement it is from every viewpoint except the financial, since five is the correct length for a full series. It also means that Sri Lanka do not get their quadrennial sop of a one-off Test. To accommodate everybody, the TCCB says that consideration is being given to staging a seventh Test in September. Ye gods, spare us: a fairer distribution, not more cricket, is wanted. Touring Pakistan is another matter, given the prickly nature of England's last visit in 1987-88 - all right, of most England visits. At least a dozen years will pass between Mike Gatting's tour and England's next. This objective of maximising income can run directly counter to England's interests on the field. It was unfortunate that in the calendar year of 1990 England had to undertake the two hardest tours, to the West Indies and Australia, as it made for a year's solid cricket except for a three-week rest in October. By the end, a good trio of pace bowlers had been lost: Devon Malcolm exhausted, Gladstone Small burnt-out for ever as an England bowler, and Angus Fraser crocked for the next two years and more. To arrange exactly the same schedule for this year was careless: already, no more than halfway through, England's main pace bowlers in the West Indies are keeling or have temporarily keeled over. To have the same schedule in four years' time is lunatic. This isn't cricket. It's business. And the purpose in playing smaller fry is not altogether altruistic; if England did so more often, they might even win some Test series.

ENGLAND'S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME 1994-95.- Overseas: Australia. 1995.- Home: West Indies. 1995-96.- Overseas: South Africa, World Cup (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka). 1996.- Home: India/Pakistan. 1996-97.- Overseas: New Zealand. 1997.- Home: Australia. 1997- 98.- Overseas: West Indies. 1998.- Home: South Africa. 1998-99.- Overseas: Australia. 1999.- Home: New Zealand, World Cup (England). 1999-00.- To be arranged. 2000.- Home: West Indies. 2000- 01.- To be arranged. 2001.- Home: Australia. 2001-02.- To be arranged. 2002.- Overseas: Australia.

(Extracted from a Sunday Telegraph article)