League for Tests gaining support (27 Nov 1997)

27 November 1997

League for Tests gaining support

By Clive Ellis

DAVID LLOYD, the England coach, yesterday lent enthusiastic support to proposals for a Test cricket world championship every four years.

Plans could be approved in principle by the International Cricket Council at their meeting in Calcutta next week. Lloyd said: "I'm sure it would spice up interest in the game worldwide."

Lloyd, who flies out to Pakistan today to watch the West Indies play in the second Test in Rawalpindi, added: "It is a great idea in principle. Now someone has to sit down and work out the logistics: who plays who, where and when."

Denis Rogers and Ali Bacher, members of the ICC sub-committee who have been examining the case for a Test overhaul over the past six months, made optimistic noises yesterday about the chances of the ICC executive voting for change.

Rogers, chairman of the Australian Cricket Board, said: "We believe it should be in the form of a tournament rather than points for existing matches."

Dr Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, has previously voiced his support for a biennial one-day World Cup, but he admitted that the Test plans, which would result in some form of world competition every two years, had superseded that way of thinking.

Provided the ICC give the go-ahead, Dr Bacher favours involving past Test captains and former greats in ironing out the "nitty gritty" of the championship's exact shape.

Allan Border, the former Australian captain, said: "A world championship would not simply enhance Test cricket - it would save it."

The ICC have received numerous suggestions for the championship, which could be launched in 2001, anything from a four-team play-off based on ongoing rankings to a complete calendar year devoted to a 16-match league.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)