The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly in talks with India, Australia, and England to introduce a two-tier Test cricket system. ICC Chairman Jay Shah, Cricket Australia Chair Mike Baird, and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Richard Thompson will meet this month to discuss the proposal, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The discussions gained momentum after record-breaking viewership and attendance during Australia’s recent 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory against India. The report claims the two-tier structure may take effect after the current Future Tours Program ends in 2027.
If implemented, the system will allow India, England, and Australia to play each other twice every three years instead of the current four-year cycle. This would mean these teams could avoid playing Test matches against several other nations.
The two-tier concept was first proposed in 2016. It suggested splitting Test cricket into two divisions, with seven nations in the first tier and five in the second. However, opposition from the BCCI, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) shelved the idea then.
World Test Championship’s Future Uncertain
The report suggests that adopting the two-tier structure could limit the World Test Championship to one more cycle. Despite adding context to Test matches since 2019, the championship may lose relevance under the new structure.
The cricketing world now awaits the outcomes of these discussions, which could redefine the future of Test cricket.
Also Read: Australia Beat India By 6 Wickets In 5th Test To Claim Border-Gavaskar Trophy After A Decade
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