With Kenya and now Canada asking for more playing time against the Test playing Nations (outside of major events such as the World Cup) expressing the fact that without it they will not be able to improve enough to become test playing nations.

I guess we have a stalemate situation now - The Associate countries are not good enough to play the Test Nations, but without playing them they can't improve enough to challange them.

Canada, though has come up with the proposal of the two top associates should be playing against the two lowest test nations.

Well,that sounds fair enough.It's only going to be ODI's though.Kenya should be the only Associate member considered for Test Status within the next 10 years or so.As I've stated before,no country should be considered for Test Status unless they have a well organised and established first class domestic structure.

I agree GS, the associates should not be playing matches classed as test matches.

That does not mean they shouldn't be playing 5 day first class matches against each other. I can also see some value in Holland being admitted into the UK domestic programme in the same way Ireland and Scotland have been and Namibia have been in South Africa.

The trouble with this, however, is that these teams best players are not always available. Ryan ten Doeschate will play for Essex during the domestic season, Geoff Barnett of Canada will be a Central Districts opener in New Zealand ahead of any games for Canada (outside of the World Cup) - not to mention Alexei Kervesee, Dougie Brown and Eoin Morgan who all play FC cricket.

Its a tough act to balance, but one thing is certain - they should all be playing MORE cricket, not less.

I recall going to an "Unofficial Test Match" between India and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon and as yet without Test status) in 1964. Such matches were obviouisly not real Tests, but they offered 'upwardly mobile' teams to get some practice against stronger nations and were accorded for First Class status. I think that could be the answer for the likes of Kenya; Bangladesh & Zimbabwe should have spent more time in that position before being given full Test status.

I would love to send A-teams to have matches with these types of teams...on a more regular basis...help to develop talent?

But using only 'A-teams' of regular Test nations against upcoming ones defeats the purpose. They need to face the top teams and make a fight of it at least some of the time.