Considering Zimbabwes ongoing problem's and performances for a long while have been getting worse rather than better. And there does not seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel.
Should Ireland take over thier test and international status.

I wouldn't remove Test status from Zimbabwe and give to Ireland, instead I would create a second Tier of Test Cricket.

Teams like Zim, Bangla, Kenya and Ireland (you could also add Scotland and Canada to that list) would play each other, rather than the big Test nations, and after two-three years the top team would play a series against the Bottom placed Test nation, win that and they get promoted, and the bottom team demoted.

This would create an element of competition, reduce the fixture list for all teams and remove pointless one sided thrashings by the established test teams of the new boys.

I like that idea FF, since it gives the developing teams a chance to test themselves against the major test nations whilst keeping the test nations from complaining about the standard of competition too much. A fair system to me, with a promotion/relegation contest every two years seemingly about right with one or two teams going up/down then.

I wouldn't say that Ireland are ready for test cricket yet as they have yet to test themselves against the established nations. However their ODI displays in the World Cup were occasionally good enough to beat the established teams whilst at other times being way short of the standard (but so were England's!), so I would possibly consider swapping their ODI status with that of Zimbabwe who can't compete in either form right now. With the improvements shown by Bangladesh over the past couple of years I think we'd have fewer easy beatings going on.

Let's not forget that Ireland did not beat Zimbabwe ('only' tied) and suffered serious beatings from Australia and South Africa (I think) and Sri Lanka in the Super Eights. Any idea of replacing Ireland with any of the test teams is ludicrous; the difference between the top teams and the associates is much bigger in test cricket as a great performance by a 'poor' team is much more difficult to sustain over 5 days than one (hence, for example, Bangladesh have sprung some great surprises in one dayers, but have fallen at the final hurdle in their best chances to beat major test opposition, losing to Pakistan by one wicket, and being on top against Australia at Chittagong? and being bested by Gillespie's double hundred)

Personally, the situation that the ICC has created for the associates is probably one of their best initiatives - regular four day first class games (minus the best players usually) have made a big difference and I personally think Bangladesh deserve to be at the top table with the big boys, even in test cricket.

I reckon the current set up should be left as is for 3 or 4 years and then reviewed. However, the situation with Zimbabwe is a bit different and I don't think they should continue to play test cricket and be humiliated.

Ireland are not ready for Test status yet. In my opinion, the closest next to Test cricket is Kenya, and they still have a long way to go, aren't Zimbabwe resuming playing Tests some time soon? Or was that just in my head?

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Frank Skinner: "You know when Glenn McGrath trod on that cricket ball? Don't you wish it would've been a landmine?"

I dont think Australia is interested in visiting Zimbabwe.

And I question wether any of the current Zimbabwean squad would make it into any of the domestic teams of the Test playing nations.
As for Ireland not beating Zimbabwe in the World Cup well they tied and then beat a team that flogged Zimbabwe.

I'm in agreement with FF. Let them play "Tests" against Zimbabwe, Kenya, Holland etc. They're not ready for Test status yet. I think we need to see how they get on at the next World Cup once they've played more ODIs. The performance this year may turn out to be a fluke.

Might be a fluke but is a test series against England vs Zimbabwe in England likely to draw many fans or even interest pay tv in picking it up.

The last "tour" England made of Zimbabwe, even SKY didn't bother covering, the BBC were not allowed into the country and I can't see any other British network that would be keen to show it!!

If Zimbabwe could pull a full strength side together they would deserve to be up there, but at present that prospect is a long way off. Be honest - and without looking up on cricinfo - how many of you can name the Zimbabwe Captain, opening bowler, keeper and opening bowler, off the top of your head. I can do it with every other Test nation (except England as they haven't got a clue who any of them are!!).

My system of a two tier Test championship will give sides, like Ireland, the opportunity to earn Test status, rather than being given it. The prospect of playing Test cricket will then keep the Portfield's, O'Briens etc in the team (rather than playing for England) but there is no point doing what was done with Bangladesh and offering them 5 years of being beaten in three days.

I would agree that Ireland would be better off playing in a second division of the Test nations, but as that is not likely to happen any time soon I would go for moving Ireland into the top tier, that way any nation touring England could also tour Ireland probably for a one or two match test series and 3 ODI's.

I think there would be interest in England touring Ireland and Ireland touring England and such an arrangement could be made to comprise two mini tours with potentially a three way ODI series including Scotland, each side plays home and away and follows up with a final possibly at Sophia Gardens.

The other point to this is that the Irish players would be able to play for Ireland rather than qualifying for England and being lost to Irish cricket.