article_snippet: While they were still in the tournament, there was always the promise of a horizon to cross, an itch to scratch, a wrong to right.
article_snippet: It is a period that will define both captain and coach, assuming both captain and coach emerge unscathed.
article_snippet: ‪'@ICC so memorable and inspiring that you have decided to cut the next WC to 10 teams.
article_snippet: But, as I wrote in the 2012 Wisden, the tournament would benefit from losing the quarter-finals altogether.
article_snippet: THE QUARTERS are a nice conceit: THE QUARTERS ensure seven knockout matches rather than three, and create the illusion that there are eight teams who can actually lift the trophy.
article_snippet: But THE QUARTERS presence continues to make a turkey of the group stage, which stretches over a month and is grateful for whatever storylines are tossed its way.
article_snippet: So here's the plan: allow 12 teams to take part in 2019 (not 10, as per the ICC's plan), stage two groups of six (all play all), and scrap the quarter-finals altogether.
article_snippet: With only two teams progressing from each group, all the early matches would be meaningful, which would more than compensate for the loss of THE QUARTERS.
article_snippet: Only 33 matches, compared with the 49 we have now.
article_snippet: And even one game a day would still allow the tournament to last a month.