3 Nations Who Could Be Playing Test #Cricket? #WT20

The ICC World Twenty20 is underway in Bangladesh with the minnows taking on each other for a chance to take on the big guns later on in the month.

While the cricket hasn't exactly been vintage quality, it is often entertaining to see the associate ICC members play each other at a level that they are comfortable at - more entertaining perhaps than if they were playing the top 8 test cricket nations, knowing that they probably will be well beaten.

Mind you remember when the Netherlands beat England in the World Twenty20 in England?

In saying that, Twenty20 cricket is a good leveller of the game, while the longer formats of the game do show the difference in skill levels between the associate and established test cricket nations.

Therefore, the next nations to play test cricket will be the ones to show that they're not far off from the bottom tier of test cricket, i.e. Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka.

Which nation could be playing test cricket in the next 10 years? Here are 3 potential candidates -

1. Ireland

The Emerald Isle has definitely established itself in pole position to be the next test nation given their form in the 50-over and 20-over game, as well as contributing the likes of Boyd Rankin and Eoin Morgan to international cricket. Cricket in Ireland is well organized and a growing sport even if it is a minority sport when compared to the amateur Gaelic sports also played in the summer. The ICC could do the game in Ireland some good though by giving Ireland test status, ensuring its best players can stay and play test cricket for the country rather than have to move to England to further their careers. Plus it would ensure another test member in Europe.

2. Kenya

They were once tipped to be the next nation to be given test status thanks to their form in the 2003 Cricket World Cup and having hosted the ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000. However, instability and corruption in the game as well as the retirement of players including legend, Steve Tikolo, meant that a huge decline in Kenyan cricket which saw them lose their ODI status recently as they failed to qualify for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Test status now seems unlikely at this time but could return if Kenya can regain the form earlier in the century - and they could be in a good position to take advantage if the ICC wanted to expand the game in Africa.

3. Afghanistan

The rising associate member of the game, Afghanistan's improvement has been remarkable given the political instability in the country and the constant threat of the Taliban which does not allow any form of professional sport in any region under its rule - epitomised by the book The Taliban Cricket Club by Timeri Murari. Afghanistan qualified for the recent World Twenty20s and will continue to improve in the longer versions of the game. The only problem right now is the fact that the team can't play in Afghanistan at the moment due to the danger of playing in the country currently, meaning test status is unlikely for now - especially considering that established test nation, Pakistan, are still unable to play at home currently for the same reasons. However, given that Asia is the ICC's largest market, adding Afghanistan to the test cricket list could very well be an option - albeit a highly risky one.