[Cricket] GCF World Test Challenge season 12 - SCHEDULING

[NS Global Cricket Federation]

Test Cricket — Season 12

• NSSport Cricket Discussion Thread
• Season 11 scheduling thread
• Season 10 scheduling thread
• Season 9 scheduling thread
• Ko-oren's guide to RPing cricket
• Wikipedia page on Test Cricket
• Explanation of how Test cricket works
• Beginner's Guide to Cricket

Welcome to the latest season of Test cricket on NationStates, now in its 12th edition. This is the scheduling thread for bilateral Test series – while there will be a league table and a finals tournament, there is no set requirement that teams must play every other team. As such, league points will be averaged by the number of games played.

Fixtures must be scheduled for one of 12 set matchdays. Each fixture must be scheduled according to the following conditions:

• Tests must be scheduled in series of two to five matches, against the same opponent, in the same home country.
• There will be no one-off Test matches scheduled.
• Nations can only schedule one series with any given opponent.
• Puppets should be declared, and series should not be scheduled against one's own puppet.
• NEW NATIONS: New Test nations may schedule a MAXIMUM of FOUR matches (whether as a single four-test series, or two series of two games). This limit will be lifted once the nation participates actively in cricket RP to the satisfaction of the season's host.
  
  • This rule also applies to previous World T20 or ODI World Trophy participants making their Test debut.
  • This rule will also apply to all Affiliate Members, as Affiliate Members, by definition, have not met the standard for scheduling more Test matches.
  • Nations that have attained the rank of Associate Member or higher in previous GCF seasons, but are returning as Candidate Members (i.e. no longer ranked), are NOT restricted by this rule.

Proposed matchdays (subject to change):
Matchweek 1 - 1 Oct
Matchweek 2 - 6 Oct
Matchweek 3 - 11 Oct
Matchweek 4 - 16 Oct
Matchweek 5 - 21 Oct
Matchweek 6 - 26 Oct
Matchweek 7 - 31 Oct
Matchweek 8 - 4 Nov *note shortened gap
Matchweek 9 - 9 Nov
Matchweek 10 - 14 Nov
Matchweek 11 - 19 Nov
Matchweek 12 - 24 Nov
World Test Challenge final - 28 Nov *note shortened gap

Full schedule in the first post of the everything thread.

To enter: Put your match invitations in this thread or do it by telegram. A series will be added to the schedule when both nations have confirmed the same in this thread including dates to be played and host nation. Matches in a series must be played consecutively. Matches outside the GCF Test framework, such as bilateral ODIs, T20s, or tour matches, may, of course, take place during these series, irrespective of Test match scheduling.

The World Test Challenge Final will be played at a ground designated by the higher seed, and the neutral final will not be returning for this season.

Do not indicate ground modifiers here. Once a series has been confirmed for the calendar, and when the RP thread is posted, you may indicate all ground modifiers for your home matches in that thread.

[NS Global Cricket Federation]

Pre-season 12 GCF Test Rankings

Full Members                       Score  Pts/MP  Adjusted
 1 Darmen			 FM  121 (4130/34)  110.74
 2 The Plough Islands		 FM  120 (3258/27)  110.33
 3 Ethane			 FM  118 (2141/18)  109.47
 4 Liventia			 FM  112 (3608/32)  106.38
 5 Teusland			 FM  112 (2478/22)  106.32
 6 Ko-oren			 FM  109 (3624/33)  104.91
 7 Apox				 FM   91 (1825/20)   95.63
 8 Lisander			 FM   86 (950/11)    93.18
 9 Jeckland			 FM   85 (856/10)    92.80
10 Sajnur			 FM   70 (983/14)    85.11
11 Pratapgadh			 FM   63 (1148/18)   81.89
12 Elejamie			 FM   61 (615/10)    80.75
13 Eastfield Lodge		 FM   57 (1561/27)   78.91

Associate Members
 1 Sylestone			 AS   93 (372/4)    101.00
 2 The Grearish Union		 AS   66 (264/4)     88.00
 3 Krytenia			 AS   39 (119/3)     75.00

Affiliate Members
 1 Damukuni                      AF  148 (1783/12)  119.00
 2 Busoga Islands		 AF  111 (890/8)    100.00
 3 The Sherpa Empire             AF   94 (282/3)    102.00
 4 Northwest Kalactin		 AF   82 (741/9)     97.00

Inactive Members/CTE
 1 Eura		              IN/FM   99 (1389/14)   99.61
 2 New Lunenburg	      CE/AS  136 (816/6)    113.00

The GCF Season

1. Each GCF season runs for a period decided by the season host. The schedule must afford each nation the opportunity to schedule at least ten Test matches, one per scorination period. (There is no maximum number of Tests.)
2. Each nation may have at most one Test scheduled per scorination period (matchday). Determination of home ground is up to the nations who agree to play.
3. Nations are strongly encouraged to schedule series of two or more consecutive Tests with the same host nation instead of one-offs. Nations are not allowed to schedule home-and-away series or two or more one-offs in the same season with the same opponent.

The GCF Rankings

4. Definitions

• One-off Test: Any Test not part of a series. One-off results are added to ratings of Full Members and Associate Members immediately; for Candidates the results are held until qualification for Associate Member status and then added in.
• Series: Two, three or more consecutive Tests between the same parties and played in the same host nation. Results for both the series and all constituent Tests are added into ratings only after the series is complete.
• Match: All Tests and all series are considered matches. A one-off Test is one match. A two-Test series is three matches; a three-Test series, four matches.
• Full Member (FM): A nation calendared in the current Test season that has accumulated 10 or more matches, counting this season and the two most recent completed seasons, and is not an Affiliate Member.
• Associate Member (AS): A nation calendared in the current Test season that has completed at least one series but does not yet meet the standard for Full Member, and is not an Affiliate Member.
• Affiliate Member (AF): A nation calendared in the current Test season that has completed at least one series, but has not been allowed to schedule more than five Tests due to roleplaying restrictions.
  Affiliate Members can be promoted to Associate Members; once Associate Membership is obtained, the nation will retain Associate or Full Membership permanently while active. Returning Associate or Full Members will start at Candidate level, but bypass Affiliate status once the appropriate criteria are met.
• Candidate (CA): A nation calendared in the current Test season that has yet to complete a series.
• Competitors in the most recent complete season that have not calendared in the current Test season are coded IN for Inactive, or CE if their federation has Ceased to Exist. Records are maintained for a possible return to activity.

5. A Candidate has a adjusted rating of 100 for scorination purposes, and will have a calculated rating of 80 for rankings calculation purposes.
6. When rating one nation in a series, if their opponent is rated (calculated rating) more than 40 points higher/lower at the start of the series then the ranking formula in Clauses 9 and 10 below apply and the ranking formula in Clause 8 below does not apply.
7. A Match win (including a Series win) will count as one series point and a Match draw (including a Series draw) will count as half a series point for ranking calculation purposes.
8. The rating points earned by one nation in a series (or a one-off), where both nations are rated (calculated rating) within 40 points of each other, equal the team's series points multiplied by the opponent's calculated rating plus 50, plus the opponent's series points multiplied by the opponent's calculated rating minus 50.

Example: Four-Test series, A (rated 125) in B (rated 90). A wins Tests 1 and 4, B wins Test 2, and Test 3 is drawn.

Team A has 3.5 series points (two Tests and one series won, one Test drawn). Team B has 1.5 series points (one Test won, one Test drawn).

Team A gets 3.5*(90+50)+1.5*(90-50) = 490+60 = 550 rating points.
Team B gets 1.5*(125+50)+3.5*(125-50) = 262.5+262.5 = 525 rating points.

9. The rating points earned by one nation in a series (or a one-off), where that nation is rated (calculated rating) more than 40 points higher than its opponent, equal the team's series points multiplied by the team's own calculated rating plus 10, plus the opponent's series points multiplied by the team's own calculated rating minus 90.
10. The rating points earned by one nation in a series (or a one-off), where that nation is rated (calculated rating) more than 40 points lower than its opponent, equal the team's series points multiplied by the team's own calculated rating plus 90, plus the opponent's series points multiplied by the team's own calculated rating minus 10.

Example: Four-Test series, A (rated 125) in B (rated 70). A wins Tests 1 and 4, B wins Test 2, and Test 3 is drawn.

Team A has 3.5 series points (two Tests and one series won, one Test drawn). Team B has 1.5 series points (one Test won, one Test drawn).

Team A gets 3.5*(125+10)+1.5*(125-90) = 472.5+52.5 = 525 rating points.
Team B gets 1.5*(70+90)+3.5*(70-10) = 240+210 = 450 rating points.

11. An Associate or Affiliate Member whose calculated rating is above 100 averages the calculated rating with 90, rounding towards 100; an Associate or Affiliate Member whose calculated rating is below 100 averages the calculated rating with 110, rounding towards 100.
12. All Full Members average their calculated rating with 100, for their adjusted rating.
13. A four-step procedure is used to update ratings.

• a. Add the rating points for each nation to their previous total.
• b. Add the number of matches played to that previous total.
• c. Divide the new rating points total by the updated number of matches to get an updated calculated rating.
• d. Average the calculated rating with the required constant as specified in Clauses 11 and 12 above, producing an adjusted rating correct to two decimal places for Full Members and rounded towards 100 for Associate and Affiliate Members.

14. Ratings are based on data from the current season and and the two immediately preceding complete seasons. At the end of each season all older results are purged and ratings recalculated accordingly.
15. Scorination will be done using each team's adjusted rating.

The League standings and World Test Challenge Final
16. League points will be awarded as follows: 16 points for a win, 9 for a tie, 5 for a draw, an additional 4 points for a first-innings lead or 2 points for a first-innings tie, 1 bonus point for a win by 10 wickets or an innings.
17. To qualify for the final League standings and the World Test Challenge Final, teams must play a minimum of one home and one away series, and a minimum of six matches (not including series). Teams that play at least six matches but all at home or all away shall not be eligible for the final League standings.
18. To account for the different number of matches each team may play, the final total – not including bonus points – will be averaged by the number of matches played. This does not include series (unlike when tabulating the rankings, which do count series as matches). Bonus points are to be added after the average. Points will be rounded to the nearest 0.1 point. Teams tied on points shall not be separated, except where there is a tie for a deciding qualifying spot for the World Test Challenge Final.
19. After 12 matchdays, the top two qualified teams in the League standings will play a one-off World Test Challenge Final, to be played at a venue selected by the League standings winner.
20. Should there be more than one team on the same number of points (rounded to the nearest 0.1) that would qualify for the World Test Challenge Final, the tie(s) shall be broken as follows: Points not including bonus points, number of wins divided by number of matches played, number of wins plus draws plus ties divided by number of matches played, world ranking (Full Members shall always be considered to be ranked higher than Associate Members).
21. Should the World Test Challenge Final be drawn or tied, the team with the first-innings lead in the Final shall be crowned champions. If there is a tie on first-innings scores, the World Test Challenge title shall be shared.

[Gruenberg]

I believe I will be a "candidate member". Looking to schedule series.

• My preference is for 3 Test series, except against nations I have previously played in Tests for whom I'd consider a 4 Test series.
• I like making scorecards. If you've seen them in previous GCF events you know what to expect. I'm only interested in opponents who will allow me to make such scorecards (whether or not they make scorecards of their own) and who can commit to providing a basic enough roster that one can be made (i.e. more than just 11 names on a cocktail napkin).
• I am willing to have ODI/T20 series concurrent with the Test series and to scorinate these should my partner wish, but it's not a requirement.

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Puppet of Gruenberg.

I will be a New nation for the purposes of this competition. Therefore I'm looking to schedule 2 2-Test series in Weeks 1-4, ideally one home, one away. Open to anyone, from fellow new nations on up.

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

New nation, I guess I'll be looking for...4 matches (2 2-test series). One home, one away as well.

[Krytenia]

Calling out the Plough Islands for a three-test series at their choice of who hosts.

Other than that, a two and a three test series, either home or away.

[Liventia]

Liventia will look for three three-Test series, on MD2–4, MD5–7, and MD9–11.

Ideally, we would offer to play Darmen AT HOME as part of the Edwards-Winter Trophy, as the first edition last season was played away. If this is not possible, that series will be re-scheduled for Season 13.

Otherwise, no restrictions on what we're looking for in the other two series, whether at home or away or who it it against.

[The Licentian Isles]

I'd be interested in two two-test series in the early stages of the season, ideally one home and one away. I assume that's all I'm allowed to schedule for the time being given I've been gone for a fair while, but let me know if that assumption is wrong. Happy to discuss requests here, by TG, or on Discord.

Disregard for now as I assumed wrong, I'll have a proper schedule up soon.

[Liventia]

I'd be interested in two two-test series in the early stages of the season, ideally one home and one away. I assume that's all I'm allowed to schedule for the time being given I've been gone for a fair while, but let me know if that assumption is wrong. Happy to discuss requests here, by TG, or on Discord.

As the Licentian Isles is a returning former Full Member, you have full range in scheduling.

[The Licentian Isles]

I'd be interested in two two-test series in the early stages of the season, ideally one home and one away. I assume that's all I'm allowed to schedule for the time being given I've been gone for a fair while, but let me know if that assumption is wrong. Happy to discuss requests here, by TG, or on Discord.

As the Licentian Isles is a returning former Full Member, you have full range in scheduling.

Thank you! In that case, disregard the above for now: I'm in work and only able to make quick posts, so I'll have a proper schedule up later on.

[The Plough Islands]

:3 it's time for that time again! The Plough Islands Cricket Association will be looking to schedule four series this season;

MD1 and MD2 - a two-Test series at home against a new (or recently returning) nation to GCF competition - accepting offers for this one!
MD3, MD4, and MD5 - as per this post, accepting the invitation of Krytenia to play three Tests, and suggesting the Foxes tour the People's Republic of Adanac (with potentially some other grounds in Krytenia to be used on the grounds of sense).
MD8 and MD9 - a two-Test series away against any nation, new or veteran - also accepting offers for this one!
MD10, MD11, and MD12 - I'd like to invite Ko-oren to tour the Plough Islands for a three-Test series, potentially also including some exciting post-season ODIs if we're not too burned out?

[Lisander]

Lisander & Alice Bay Cricket Board (LCB) test calendar:

MD1-MD2 Ethane, in Casterwill (LIS)
MD3-MD4: Liventia, touring
MD5-MD7: Gruenberg, location to confirm
MD8-MD9 or 10: Baggieland, in Cap Navarre (AB) - pending confirmation
MD11-MD2: The Licentian Isles - pending confirmation

If possible, in order to have some buzz generated on my next domestic competition, would like to have a T10 or 100-ball cricket match with each one of the three nations (exact format TBD).

[Ko-oren]

:3 it's time for that time again! The Plough Islands Cricket Association will be looking to schedule four series this season;

MD10, MD11, and MD12 - I'd like to invite Ko-oren to tour the Plough Islands for a three-Test series, potentially also including some exciting post-season ODIs if we're not too burned out?

Gladly accepted!

We'll be looking for three opponents in the following weeks:

MD1-2 - against newer nations, Affiliates, Associates, or returning members
MD(3-)4-5(-6) max 3 out of 4 MDs, but preferably 2
MD(6-)7-8(-9) max 3 out of 4 MDs, but preferably 2
MD10-11-12 Plough Islands

I'd specifically like to ask Darmen, Krytenia, the Grearish Union, Sylestone if they have gaps in their schedules that line up well with the above slots.

At the same time, feel free to TG me for matches in other formats (T20/ODI, or even T10/100-ball) - it's not Test related, after all.

[The Sarian]

Candidate nation here - looking to build on success in white ball competitions. Would like to schedule a two match series at home for MD1&2 (with all the pomp and ceremony the Saari Cricket Board can muster) and an away series for MD3&4. If we’ve clashed repeatedly in the limited overs competitions, I’m extra interested!

Proposed Schedule
MD1-2 - Home - Gruenberg (Confirmed)
MD3-4 - Away - Looking

[Brookstation]

New nation, I'll be looking for 4 matches (2 2-test series). One home, one away

[Bollonich]

MD1-2 - against newer nations, Affiliates, Associates, or returning members

Would like to take you up on the two test series on MW 1-2, at Ko-oren preferably.

[Gruenberg]

And I'd like to have a series with Gruenberg, especially to understand better how to develop scorecards, including ODI and T20s. Dates and location for this one, provided not clashing with the others, are offered to Gruenberg to choose. We're okay with both home and away.

Works for me. Let's say MD5-7, 3 Test series. I'm happy to include a T10/Hundred game if you have means of scorinating one, else I can probably adjust the T20 formula to work.

I will clarify Home/Away once I've scheduled another series so I can have a balance?

Seeing as I'm doing a series 5-7, I'll change my earlier preference and try to fit 2 2match series into 1-2 and 3-4:

Candidate nation here - looking to build on success in white ball competitions. Would like to schedule a two match series at home for MD1&2 (with all the pomp and ceremony the Saari Cricket Board can muster)!

We'd like to take you up on this for weeks 1-2.

[Ko-oren]

MD1-2 - against newer nations, Affiliates, Associates, or returning members

Would like to take you up on the two test series on MW 1-2, at Ko-oren preferably.

Sounds good!

MD1-2 home v Bollonich
MD10-12 away at Plough Islands

That still leaves room for 2 series of 2 (or 3) matches each in the middle of the season.

[The Grearish Union]

Currently looking at the following series (as confirmed over Discord):

Matchweek 1 through 3 - Away @ Sylestone (3 tests)
Matchweek 4 through 7 - Away @ The Licentian Isles (4 tests)
Matchweek 8 through 9 - Away @ Ko-oren (2 tests)
Matchweek 10 through 12 - Home vs Krytenia (3 tests)

With that, the Grearish have a fully-stacked schedule for the WTC.

EDITS: Confirming the Krytenia series.

[Darmen]

The Darmeni Cricket Board ACCEPTS the offer made by the Cricketing Board of Authority of Liventia to contest the Edwards-Winter Trophy in Liventia. The DCB proposes the tour take place over matchweeks 5-7.

While the DCB would prefer that the Friendship Trophy be held over three test matches, the DCB acknowledges that Ko-oren's schedule does not currently allow for this. The DCB therefore proposes a two test match tour of Ko-oren over matchweeks 3 and 4, followed by the Friendship Trophy played under its original format, as a three match ODI series.

That leaves matchweeks 1-2 and 8-12 open for other matches, which Darmen would prefer to play at home. Preference will be given to nations we have faced before as well as Rushmori nations. If however a nation has not previously played against Darmen and/or is not located in Rushmore, feel free to send a large gift basket of chocolate turtles to the DCB and they may change their minds.

All opponents are also welcome to propose that a three match ODI series (or a one-off ODI/T20I match if they'd prefer) be held preceding or following their tour of Darmen.

Current Proposed Schedule
MW 1-2: OPEN
MW 3-4: Darmen in Ko-oren (2 matches: plus 3 match ODI Friendship Trophy) - pending confirmation
MW 5-7: Darmen in Liventia (3 matches: Edwards-Winter Trophy) - pending confirmation
MW 8-12: OPEN

[Delaclava]

The newly formed Delaclav Association of Cricket seeks to make its debut in this Test season, and hopes to schedule two series of two tests each.

We have no preference on location for either, but would prefer to debut no earlier than Matchweek 4.

EDIT: Sorry for the quick takeback, but we will not be making our debut at this time.

[Krytenia]

Grearish Union: MD10/11/12 confirmed.

Ko-oren: MD 7/8 in KOR good with you?

One more spot for me, if anyone wants to come to Krytenia for a warm-up series of two tests on MD1/2, let me know.

[The Sarian]

Candidate nation here - looking to build on success in white ball competitions. Would like to schedule a two match series at home for MD1&2 (with all the pomp and ceremony the Saari Cricket Board can muster)!

We'd like to take you up on this for weeks 1-2.

Amazing, confirmed :)

[Liventia]

Liventia will look for three three-Test series, on MD2–4, MD5–7, and MD9–11.

Ideally, we would offer to play Darmen AT HOME as part of the Edwards-Winter Trophy, as the first edition last season was played away. If this is not possible, that series will be re-scheduled for Season 13.

Otherwise, no restrictions on what we're looking for in the other two series, whether at home or away or who it it against.

The CBA confirms Test series at home to Lisander and Alice Bay (MD2-4) and Darmen (5-7), and will only schedule an away series from MD9-11. Willing to leave this slot empty for now so an affiliate that gains associate status later in the season can potentially schedule against us.

[The Licentian Isles]

Okay, so a preliminary schedule for the Licentian Isles:

MW1-2 - @ Plough Islands
MW4-7 - vs the Grearish Union
MW8-12 - FREE

I'm happy to either do a single home four test series in that gap at the end, or to do two away series of 2 and 3 or 2 and 2. Message me by TG or on Discord to organise!