Should there be two tiers of Test cricket? Or maybe it’s ‘horrible’ in some countries? | cricket news

The future of Test cricket is always a hotly debated topic within the sport.

This has been the case ever since franchise T20 competitions began to proliferate, starting with the Indian Premier League in 2008.

The tournament became mega-scale and other white-ball showcases sprang up around the world, including Big Bash, The Hundred, Pakistan Super League and SA20.

Test cricket has found itself fighting to attract attention, remain relevant and retain players, with constant conversations about how to maintain the purest form of the game.

A new report from an Australian newspaper melbourne era ICC chairman Jay Shah has suggested he will soon meet with colleagues in the UK and Australia to discuss a potential two-tier system.

This will see seven sides in the top flight – England, Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand – while the other Test nations – West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe – are in the second division.

In that scenario – that can’t happen until the Future Tour program ends and the next World Test Championship cycle ends in mid-2027. – Marquee series could be held more frequently, with two Ashes contests every three years instead of the current two. At 4 o’clock.

Atherton: Segments are fine, but hierarchies are fine.

In that sense, the charm of the second floor is clear, but sky sports cricket Expert and former England captain Michael Atherton said the new structure should allow for movement between leagues and not create an “entrenched elite”.

he said Sky Sports Cricket Podcast: “Tier and division are two different things. For me at least, a division means opportunities for promotion and relegation. That’s okay with me.

“But I think it would be a half-tier where the bottom tier would have no chance of getting into the top tier and that would be an established elite.”

A proposal for two divisions in Test cricket was rejected in India in 2016 amid concerns that the gap between the format’s top-performing teams and the rest would widen further.

The appetite to feature in Test cricket is waning for players in the second division, and certainly if the opportunity for promotion is not on the cards, this will again be a concern.

Lloyd: Play your best and you’ll get better

Sir Clive Lloyd, who captained the West Indies during their golden era in the 1970s and 1980s, is “uneasy” by the idea of ​​a two-tier system and wants struggling Test nations to challenge at the highest level more often.

He said: “I think it will be a terrible thing for all the countries who have worked so hard to get testing status. Now they will be left playing among themselves in the lower section.”

“How can they get to the top? Playing against better teams. That’s how you know how good you are and how bad you are. I’m very nervous.

“A better system would be to give teams the same amount of money so they can get the tools to improve.

”We face a lot of difficulties. A special providence is needed. Some at the bottom are not playing Test matches and some are playing the world of Test matches. The system is incorrect.

“They have to sit down and figure it out. That’s why they exist. That’s their duty, it’s their job to do it.

“We (the West Indies) have been a cash cow for many countries for many years. People need to recognize that. But now we are in a situation where we need help and we cannot get it.”

Hussain: Test cricket has been great lately.

West Indies currently sit eighth in the ICC Test rankings and have won just three of their last 17 matches against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Australia.

The win against Australia in Brisbane in January 2024 was a thriller in which fast bowler Shamar Joseph took seven wickets with a broken toe, and the tourists won by eight runs.

This saw Sri Lanka beat England at Kia Oval, New Zealand inflict their first series loss to India at home since 2012 and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India in front of a record 373,691. The year of Test cricket has begun with . Crowds flock to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground for five days of the Boxing Day Test.

Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain said: “Am I being naive? I watched Test cricket this year and it was fantastic, it was a hit.

“Some of the cricket, some of the crowd, some of the competition was amazing.

“Why do people keep saying it’s a hard product to sell? We’re watching great Test match cricket and people are saying it’s not a product for the future.”

But the success of Australia vs India and the money these two and England are making in the series may convince decision-makers that best vs best is the way to go.

Get rid of ‘miscellaneous things’?

This is certainly the direction former England captain Michael Vaughan sees the game heading. whole body: “I’ve been saying for a long time that the way to keep Test cricket relevant is to reduce inconsistency.

“I believe this is a four-day product, with a set number of overs being played each day, a minimum of three matches per series and two divisions of six, including promotion and relegation.”

Former India player and coach Ravi Shastri has been added. sen radio After his country’s series in Australia, which the home team won 3-1: “It was a healthy reminder to the ICC that if Test cricket is to survive, the best must be at their best. Otherwise, it’s too complicated.”

There is also an argument to be made that it would be more enjoyable for lower ranking countries to play against each other and have a greater chance of winning than to get a pass from the elites.

Although not without its critics, football’s Nations League has seen teams like San Marino and Gibraltar, who had previously been repeatedly battered by countries including England, score rare wins over teams of more equal standards.

The second tier of Test cricket could suit the latest format teams in Afghanistan and Ireland. Of course, if promotion is still possible.

Ireland had won the previous two Tests, beating Afghanistan by six wickets in the UAE and Zimbabwe by four wickets in Belfast after starting the term with seven straight losses, including two losses to England and a two-innings loss to Sri Lanka.

‘Test cricket will not go beyond a six-nation or seven-nation format’

For former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, Test cricket will always have fewer elite teams compared to T20, but he believes the longest format of the sport can be prone to poor fitness.

“For me, Test cricket can never be more than a Six or Seven Nations format,” Smith said. Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

“You can’t potentially grow to eight, nine, 10, 11, 12 teams like T20, so I think more work needs to be done to make sure there is a bilateral program for Test cricket.

“If you can keep six or seven strong, people will always be watching. When a good team comes to South Africa, you see good crowds and interest in Test cricket.”

But he added: “World cricket needs a strong South Africa, it needs a strong West Indies, it needs a Sri Lanka to get better.”

But how best to keep them strong is the question, and if there is indeed discussion of a two-tier system, it is likely that those in charge will have one thing on their minds.

Another factor is what happens in the India vs Pakistan match. The countries do not currently play each other outside of ICC events due to political tensions.

Even in these competitions, India will not play in Pakistan until at least 2027 and vice versa. Neutral stadiums will be used for the tour side.

For example, India will play in Dubai when Pakistan hosts the ICC Champions Trophy in February and March.

Watch the ICC Champions Trophy live sky sports England’s first match is against Australia on February 22.