Australia, England and India are in discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about creating a two-tier system for Test cricket. According to the latest news reports, Australia, England, India and the new president of the International Cricket Council, Jay Shah, want to split the sport into two.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 witnessed massive crowds and record viewership. The series was attended by a total of 837,879 spectators, the fourth most attended Test series in Australia and the highest for any series other than the Ashes, with records set at various venues across the country.
Jay Shah will meet CA and ECB presidents to discuss the two-tier structure of Test cricket
According to The Age, Jay Shah will meet Cricket Australia (CA) president Mike Baird and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) president Richard Thompson later this month. It has been reported that the possibility of a two-tier structure for Test cricket is expected to be a major topic during the upcoming meeting.
Any plan for a two-tier system in Test cricket would be implemented after the end of the current futures tour program in 2027. The two-tier structure would enable the “Big Three” – Australia, England and India – to face each other. Twice every three years instead of playing each other twice every four years.
However, it could have negative consequences for smaller cricketing nations such as Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe, who may suffer from limited opportunities at lower level.
He also served as a sound reminder of the former ICC-India coach
Last week, former Team India coach Ravi Shastri backed the idea of dividing Test cricket into two parts. Shastri said the best teams should play each other frequently in order to maintain the five-day format.
“When the best teams play, the toughest and best form of the game remains alive and thriving. It was also a sound reminder to the ICC that the best must play the best for Test cricket to survive.
“I will say there is a lot of chaos otherwise. This match also underscores why we need a two-tier system with the top 6-8 teams and then including promotion and demotion. He added: “You won't get that kind of crowd if you don't have two proper teams playing.” “.
The two-tier testing system has been opposed by the BCCI
The ICC proposed creating a league for the top seven cricketing nations in 2016, but the plan was scrapped following objections from the BCCI. Small countries would lose revenue and opportunities to play against big teams, said Anurag Thakur, then president of the BCCI.
“The BCCI opposes the two-tier testing system because small countries will lose and the BCCI wants to take care of them,” Anurag Thakur, then president of the BCCI, said in 2016.
“It is necessary to protect their interests. In a two-tier system, they will lose a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams. We don't want that to happen. We want to work in the interest of world cricket, and that's why our team plays against all countries.”
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