Ian Chappell: What's the ICC up to?

Sydney As winter bears down on Australia and football news abounds it was surprising to hear cricket especially the Test version flooding the news with reports of the national team regaining the number one rankingAustralian players stand in the slips during Day Five of the third Test against South Africa at Cape Town on March 5 2014 PicGetty Images It was even more surprising to hear captain Michael Clarke say I dont think Ive had a more satisfying day or feeling in my careerIts not that I dont think Clarke should be pleased with the achievement on the contrary but I wouldve thought the events of December 17 and March 5 wouldve brought more satisfactionThose were the dates when Australia regained the Ashes in Perth and then clinched the series against South Africa in Cape TownSurely winning on the field by defeating an opponent in a hard fought battle means more than a computer clicking over to confirm a rankingThat thought led me to consider matters like a World Test Championship and other considerations for the longer gameWith the battle for number one in Test cricket now more evenly contested than when first the West Indies and then Australia completely dominated the game its the ideal time to introduce a World Test ChampionshipThe fact that such a tournament has languished through minimal television interest is further condemnation of an administration that lacks both credibility and foresightNo greater expert on the matter than media magnate Kerry Packer who in the late seventies disrupted cricket to eventually gain the rights to televise Australian cricket implored Rugby League officials Never let a media company run your sportIf the ICC marketing men cant put together an attractive television package for a World Test championship then theyre either not trying or their selling credentials are worse than mineInstead of bickering over power and how the money will be split it would be more productive if the ICC initiated a thinktank on Test cricket preferably with most of the officials outside rather than inside the receptacleIn addition to coming up with a feasible format for a World Test championship ideas on how to revitalise the game could be kicked around Ideas like how best to fast track daynight Tests and improve the competitiveness of the bottom half of the competitionReallyIts interesting to hear players of the calibre of Clarke and Kevin Pietersen say theyre not sold on daynight Tests During Packers World Series Cricket days more than 35 years ago Super Tests were played at nightI enjoyed playing those games the time frame meant you basically avoided the heat of the day and was more conducive to large public attendance but the one down side was the ballFinding the right colour and durability is the key to daynight Tests that and ensuring you dont play matches at venues when theres likely to be a heavy dewOn the matter of greater competitiveness the first priority is to ensure the West Indies get going again When playing well they are one of the top draw cards and Test cricket cant afford to have them languishingWhile Ive been critical of both Bangladesh and Zimbabwes Test status its not likely to change under the current regimeSo in order to maintain interest in both countries and provide a wider scope for venues in the period between May and September why not merge them to make a more competitive Test sideAnd if the ICC really wants to create a pathway for the associate nations then select a combined side from the stronger affiliates like Ireland Netherlands and AfghanistanIn addition to providing incentive and widening the player production pool this would also add venue options for Test cricket at a time of year when the choice is limitedWhen Clarke was expressing reservations about daynight Tests he cited the competitive nature of some recent matchesThats indisputable but those exciting contests are far too infrequent and mainly played among the same few teamsTest cricket has to be nurtured and fostered not just left to tread water while the officials concentrate on shortterm choices designed to fill the coffers