ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2019

661 Rest of the World in 2018/19 Since 2017/18 there has been a distinct narrowing of the reach of first-class cricket outside the twelve Test nations. The most important reason is that the ICC has chosen to discontinue the Intercontinental Cup, which since its inception in 2004 had afforded to leading non-Test nations the chance to take part in the first-class game. There is thus no obvious further opportunity in this form of the game for teams such as Scotland, Intercontinental champions in 2004, whose existence as a first-class entity dates back to 1905. The ICC was silent on the status of any one-off matches played in future by Scotland or the other former Intercontinental sides against recognized first-class opponents; perhaps it is simply assumed that no such fixtures will be arranged. Aside from new Test nations Ireland and Afghanistan, there was one Intercontinental side that had a clear route to continue to play regular first-class cricket. But in what appeared a conscious decision to turn its back on that form of the game, Namibia chose to withdraw from the South African Three-Day Tournament. The consequence is that in the 2018/19 season only ten first-class matches took place outside a Test country. All of them were in the United Arab Emirates, and nine of them were effectively Pakistan ‘home’ matches against international opposition. The Australians toured for a two Tests preceded by a first-class game against Pakistan A. Then the latter side was in action again for two draws against New Zealand A before the corresponding senior sides met in the highly competitive three-match rubber won 2-1 by the Kiwis. Kane Williamson’s tally of 386 runs at 77.20 set a new record for New Zealand in a rubber against Pakistan (previously 347 by Brendon McCullum in 2014/15). In addition, England Lions met (and lost to) Pakistan A in a one-off first-class match in a tour otherwise devoted to limited-overs cricket. The one match that did not involve a Pakistan team was the annual fixture between MCC and the defending County Champions, which reverted to the UAE after taking place in Barbados last season. The Champions, Surrey, thanks particularly to 251 from Ollie Pope, had much the better of proceedings but MCC held out comfortably enough for a draw. (JCB)