Cricket neighbor relationships-Part 1

Part 1 of my "cricket neighbor relationships" series, enjoy!

Cricket neighbor relationships-Part 1

An analysis of how Full Members are currently helping Associates, and how they can improve

Eitan Shai

Cricket is growing tremendously all over the world, and has reclaimed it's status as the world's 2^nd largest sport. Teams from countries like Ireland, Afghanistan and Scotland are already challenging more established cricketing nations. Unfortunately, I think we can all agree that the Full Members are not doing enough to help the newer countries. Currently the Full members are only acting in their own narrow interests, and fail to look at the greater picture. In this short series of articles I will look at what each full member is doing to help it's neighbours, and I will suggest ways how they can improve.

I will exclude Zimbabwe from this discussion, since they have a serious financial crisis of their own, because of their government, and can't do anything really to help anyone.If they had any money, it would be better spent in paying their players!

OK, let's begin.

Australia:

Australia are probably doing the most out of any full member to help out Associates. They have included young players from PNG into their scholarship program for a long time now, and this year are also including a PNG team in the South Australian Premier League (a feeder competition for the Shield). Australia also give money to Cricket PNG, and send coches over to help PNG development. Australia try involve PNG in matches with touring teams, such as the recent U-19 tournament with Australia,New Zealand and India, where PNG was included as the 4^th team.

Rating:

9/10.

Ways to Improve:

Australia are doing a good job at the moment with helping PNG, and they just need to continue like they are now. One thing they should do more is include Vanuatu and Indonesia in their aid, such as including Vanuatu players in their club competitions, and sending skilled coaches to Indonesia to help their grassroots.

Overall one-sentence summary:

Australia are doing a good job of helping their neighbors, and because of that we will probably see the EAP region start to rise up the rankings.

Pakistan:

Pakistan are also doing a lot for their neighbors Afghanistan. This year they invited Afghanistan to send a team to their domestic set-up, but Afghanistan turned down the offer. They send in a lot of support to Afghanistan, both monetarily and in the ICC. Afghanistan's amazing coach, Kabir Khan, is also from Pakistan, and a large part of Afghanistan's success in the world stage is due to him.

Rating;

7/10

Ways to improve:

Matches. Despite no teams wanting to play in Pakistan, they have only played one 50 overs match against Afghanistan. This is very harmful for Afghanistan, and as a result Afghani players have much less match experience. Pakistan should be scheduling an annual 3 match 50 over series against Afghanistan, together with a T20, at least.

Overall one-sentence summary:

Pakistan are doing an OK job, providing much needed help, and hopefully will continue the good work.

England:

Until recently, England were the best neighbors of all, including teams from Scotland and the Netherlands in their domestic competition, while almost all Ireland's players participated in the County Championship, and also included players from Jersey and Guernsey in club cricket. They also used to have regular matches against Ireland and Scotland, providing those countries with high level opposition. However, this year everything has gone downhill. England have cancelled all foreign involvement in their competitions, along with their matches against Scotland. Although Ireland still has players in the counties, however, that probably will also be drastically reduced, especially now with the new domestic tournaments in Ireland. Meanwhile, the very annoying trait of poaching players continues, with Boyd Rankin the latest player to switch sides. Because of all this, England is currently among the worst offenders of this crime (not helping Associates)

Rating:

3/10.

Ways to Improve:

Two vital things: bring back all the help that was taken away, and stop poaching players!

Overall one-sentence summary:

Although England used to be good, nowadays they are withholding help, which has a very damaging effect and will cause the affected teams a lot of problems.

Part 2 of the series discusses India, Bangladesh and West Indies. Until then, goodbye.