[themaclad]

Have been granted Test Status, good luck to both although were Afghanistan play is open to doubt, can't see England playing at Khandahar or Kabul

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Yeah, home matches for Afghanistan are a no-go, but then we've had that for years with Pakistan; they'll be welcome on tour nevertheless.

Excellent news, even if it's come a few years too late for Ireland really, but then it's an incentive for them to produce more young players. Could now do with some real drive from the ICC to get a two-tier league/ranking system in order: let Ireland, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Windies and Bangladesh compete against one another regularly with good financial rewards for players to keep Test cricket as the ultimate aspiration over ODIs and T20s. Give them occasional short series against the major Test nations so they have chance to improve further, and promotion/relegation every two years or so for the highest "minor" nation and the lowest "major" nation so there's something at stake for all.

[themaclad]

Good post Ska

[Lord Snooty]

Can't believe the West Indies have sunk so low as to be mentioned in the same breath as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

[themaclad]

West Indies problems stems from a lot of things an incompetent board, island rivalry and the better players chasing gold in the slog fest sad really as they always brought enjoyment to the game

[jjamez]

Themaclad, the board is composed of people with blinkered vision of yesterday and are deluded, they expect players to play for peanuts, the players do right to chase the money. The island rivalries are nothing major, its mainly fans who are compelled by the rivalry, its only like over here where a surrey fan would want stoneman in the england side, whilst a durham fan would want jennings ect, the Caribbean fans believe the players from their island deserve a place and that the teams fortunes would change if they got their chance. Its normal really.

As for Ireland and Afghanistan, its about time that someone new got test status especially with Zimbabwe struggling as bad as they are. I hope it doesnt end with just ireland and Afghanistan, I hope that some others make that step eventually. When they do test cricket and odi cricket can have a proper revamp and even I have an idea on what could be done in that regard...

[themaclad]

Fair points JJ