The ODI WC is still, I believe, ICC's biggest earning event. And I think its still the most prestigious cricket title to hold. So that's not going anywhere from the current 4-year event. And the new FTP still has plenty of bi-lateral ODIs in it. Unfortunately its going to mean that there's going to be a lot of international games where countries are not playing their best XI. There's just way too much cricket for the best players to play every game. I personally detest this scenario as it de-values what it means to play for your country.
One approach that could have been deployed to mitigate this, is that bi-lateral ODIs could have been scheduled only in the 2 years leading into a WC. And in those 2 years, they should be part of the ODI League. Removing that context from games is one of the ICC's craziest decisions ever.
During these 2 year ODI windows, you lighten the T20I load at the times furtherest away from the 2-yearly T20 WCs. Then increase it in the year straight after an ODI WC.
The one thing that does make this approach come unstuck is the Champions Trophy. This puts an ODI event in the middle of each ODI WC cycle. I'm not sure of the value of the Champion Trophy events in terms of what ICC revenue they bring in, but in my mind they are matches/events that should be stopped, allowing for ODI cricket to only be played in the 2 years (or 18months) preceding a WC.
The ODI WC is still, I believe, ICC's biggest earning event. And I think its still the most prestigious cricket title to hold. So that's not going anywhere from the current 4-year event. And the new FTP still has plenty of bi-lateral ODIs in it. Unfortunately its going to mean that there's going to be a lot of international games where countries are not playing their best XI. There's just way too much cricket for the best players to play every game. I personally detest this scenario as it de-values what it means to play for your country.
One approach that could have been deployed to mitigate this, is that bi-lateral ODIs could have been scheduled only in the 2 years leading into a WC. And in those 2 years, they should be part of the ODI League. Removing that context from games is one of the ICC's craziest decisions ever.
During these 2 year ODI windows, you lighten the T20I load at the times furtherest away from the 2-yearly T20 WCs. Then increase it in the year straight after an ODI WC.
The one thing that does make this approach come unstuck is the Champions Trophy. This puts an ODI event in the middle of each ODI WC cycle. I'm not sure of the value of the Champion Trophy events in terms of what ICC revenue they bring in, but in my mind they are matches/events that should be stopped, allowing for ODI cricket to only be played in the 2 years (or 18months) preceding a WC.
2tests only during the festive season? Look at the numbers, play then both at Newlands