ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2016

Matches in 2016 This section includes the Test rubbers taking place in the 2016 season outside England and Wales, namely: New Zealand’s tour of Africa, in which they played 2 Tests against each of Zimbabwe and South Africa; Australia in Sri Lanka (3 Tests and a preliminary first-class game); and India in West Indies (4 Tests). These Tests are referred to in the introductions to the countries concerned. In addition, there were a number of matches involving ‘A’ teams or other developmental sides. Australia hosted tours by South Africa A and India A, each of which played two games against the host’s ‘A’ side. The results are testament to Australia’s strength in depth: the hosts won three of the games and would have made it four out of four had rain not accounted for the last day of the second match against India A. Zimbabwe also hosted two games between its ‘A’ team and South Africa A. The home side was able to force a draw in the first game but lost by an innings in the second. A match between a Zimbabwe Development XI and Sri Lanka Emerging Players at the end of August was also accorded first-class status by Cricket Zimbabwe, even though matches of an apparently similar character played by the Sri Lankan side on the South African leg of its tour did not receive first-class status. There was some discussion among statisticians about the relative merits of the decisions of the South African and Zimbabwean authorities: but in the end, such matters unquestionably rest with the home board and occasional inconsistencies of this nature, although clearly undesirable, have arisen before. At any rate, the game was well contested, the Sri Lankans emerging victorious by five wickets. The remaining games in this section formed part of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-17. The current table appears below, and it will be seen that the Cup has taken shape compared with the very early stage that the competition had reached at the same point in 2015. It is no surprise that Ireland, whose status as the leading non-Test nation is beyond serious doubt, has established itself at the top with full points from the four games played so far; Afghanistan’s second place is also what might be expected. In October 2016 the ICC recognized Ireland’s position as the principal non-Test nation by according first-class status, with effect from 2017, to its main domestic tournament, the Inter-Provincial Championship. Accordingly, this will be featured in the 2017 Annual. The 2016 Championship was unfortunately again badly affected by the weather, and (as in 2015) five of its six matches were drawn. Only the game between North West and Leinster reached a result: an innings win for the latter, who thus retained the title. (JCB) ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-2017: Interim table P W WLF L LWF DWF DLF ND A TL Pts Quot 20 14 0 6 9 3 3 10 1 Ireland 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 1.873 2 Afghanistan 4 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 61 1.590 3 Netherlands 4 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 46 0.861 4 Hong Kong 4 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 30 0.980 5 Scotland 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 4 26 0.896 6 Papua New Guinea 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 0.791 7 Namibia 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0.640 8 United Arab Emirates 4 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0.664 The table is shown as at the conclusion of Ireland v Hong Kong, 30 August - 2 September 2015 565