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 ad-
ding 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 In-
dia, 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 coun-
ties, 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 lu-
crative tours to England are central to the very survival of West
Indian  cricket.  Still,  within these limits, England should ar-
range 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 con-
sideration 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 na-
ture of England's last visit in 1987-88 - all right, of most Eng-
land 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 Eng-
land 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  half-
way  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 altogeth-
er  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 (Eng-
land). 1999-00.- To be arranged. 2000.- Home: West Indies.  2000-
01.-  To be arranged. 2001.- Home: Australia. 2001-02.- To be ar-
ranged. 2002.- Overseas: Australia.

(Extracted from a Sunday Telegraph article)
 Contributed by Vicky (VIGNESWA@*umass.edu)