ICC To Revamp World Test Format Ahead Of India’s Tour To England
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Test Cricket’s Potential Two-Tier Format
The upcoming World Test Championship final to be played between Australia and South Africa will bring us to the end of the current format of white-ball cricket, which will be revamped into a two-tier system before India head to England later this summer. The current competition, which has been criticised for its structure and fairness, is now under scrutiny and the ICC are seeking to implement a more balanced and competitive format.
One of the major issues with the current model is inconsistency, with teams not playing every other nation within each two-year cycle. Additionally, external factors such as political issues have prevented the likes of India and Pakistan from facing each other, which has affected the competition's integrity. Similarly, South Africa reached the final of the current cycle without having played Australia even once, though they will clash for the title at Lord’s in June.
A proposal being considered at present is the introduction of a two-tier system, which would effectively split Test cricket into divisions. While this change is intended to enhance competitiveness, it also poses challenges, as teams may be reluctant to face the threat of relegation, and those in the lower tier could find it difficult to maintain their relevance on the global Test stage.
Discussions are also set to address the feasibility of four-day Tests, which could facilitate more three-Test series, especially in an era that is increasingly being influenced by franchise leagues such as the IPL. However, it is understood that some of the more prestigious series like the Border-Gavaskar and Ashes will still be played over five days. If the new structure is implemented, India is expected to be placed among tier-one teams, meaning they would likely avoid four-day Tests.
As it stands, the new structure could see India, England, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand pooled in tier one, while the West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe will make up tier two. So far, the proposed system has received mixed feedback, with some legends of the game such as Clive Lloyd and Arjuna Ranatunga criticising the concept, while former England captain Michael Vaughan and India’s Ravi Shastri have indicated that a change is needed for Test cricket to survive.
