there are also four more countries who have full test status: zimbabwe (1992), bangladesh (2000), ireland the irish team represents both parts of ireland – (2018), and afghanistan (2018). of these only bangladesh has played regularly against the longer-established nations. there is a real gulf in playing standards between the top teams and the newcomers. this explains why there have been no test series between the stronger test countries and the weaker countries. a test series must be competitive for it to be commercially viable. television rights need to be sold, and spectators attracted to the matches. also, a country must be able to keep some cricket grounds to test standards.