According to The Age, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is looking to divide 12 Test nations into two divisions. The move is aimed at pitting the finest teams against each other to make the games competitive and helping the test format remain alive. It will also mean the Ashes series between Australia and England could be played twice every three years.
The reports further claimed that ICC chair Jay Shah, Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird and England Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson will likely meet later this month to discuss the idea. Their meeting comes on the back of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy becoming the fourth-best attended series ever in this country, with the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground drawing a record 373,691 spectators.
Interestingly, the concept of a two-tier structure was floated at the ICC level in 2016. However, India refused to go ahead with the plan, as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe opposed the plan as they felt their hard work to earn Test status would be wasted by this structure. At the time, the BCCI felt that the lower-ranked countries would lose out on revenue and the opportunity to clash against top teams.
However, eight years later, the broadcasters are eager to accommodate more games between India, England and Australia. The interests of the broadcasters in terms of shelling out money look to be tantalizing for the ‘Big 3’.
However, even if the idea of the two-tier structure goes through, it will come into effect from 2027, after the conclusion of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC). Since its inception in 2019, New Zealand and Australia have won the titles in 2021 and 2023. The Aussie side will look to defend their crown against South Africa in June this year in Lord’s, London.
Clive Lloyd slams the idea of two-tier structure in Tests
Former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd, who led the side to title victories in 1975 and 1979 World Cups, was appalled by the idea of dividing the Test-playing nations into two divisions. He wondered how the lower-ranked teams would be able to improve themselves, if they don’t clash with the top teams.
“I think it will be terrible for all those countries who worked so hard to get the Test status,” the 80-year-old said. “Now they’ll be playing among themselves in the lower section. How are they going to make it to the top? When you play against better teams.”
Moreover, Lloyd claimed that all teams need to be given the same amount of money to improve their performances in the longest format.
