ICC and Cricket Boards Consider Two-Tier Test System for Future

This is the International Cricket Council's revised version of having a two-tier Test system that is coming through in conjunction with cricket boards of India, Australia, and England. After 2016 discussion, it looks like there may be a stiffer competition to attract regular series between top cricketing nations following a new format that is supposed to come out after the new season. This idea is not so new but returns to the fore with renewed thrust on cementing the Test format.

The new conversation on the topic, as of reports, is headed by Jay Shah, the newly appointed chairman of the ICC. The cricket boards of India, Australia, and England are also part of these conversations with Shah, in which Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird and ECB chair Richard Thompson will meet later this month to further discuss the finer details of the proposed system.

It is also disclosed that there had been discussions for many years now that there could be a two-tier Test system. This initially surfaced as an idea way back in 2016 and then came up in subsequent years in real seriousness towards trying to make this a new norm in Test format. The idea is to create a more competitive system whereby the better teams can play each other as often as possible so that there is always healthy competition and less of a lower rank match.

One two-tiered system would be considered wherein one is a first tier and another is a second tier. This would open up the system to even more competitive matches between the major countries: India, Australia, and England. That could mean that the number of series played between these cricketing giants would be higher, offering more exciting matches for fans and more opportunities for broadcasters to become involved with the sport. It would also make sure that the teams that top the list are the ones playing more against each other, and the profile of Test cricket will further go up.

Even as the idea is still at the talkative stages, it has caught on in good measure with the major cricket boards that are directly interested in retaining and developing Test cricket in its glory. Creating a two-tier system seems like a panacea to breathe life into a format that, due to a mix of various factors, had faced challenges to keep itself relevant in the age of limited-overs cricket.

By splitting the teams into two divisions, the ones at the top tier will play much more frequently against each other with better quality games which should build up viewership and fan involvement. The lower tier would see less frequency in matches against the elite teams but could provide equal opportunities for better contests within their ranks. This system may bring about a more dynamic structure, where promotion and relegation could play a role in determining which teams ascend to the top-tier competitions.

This would also address contemporary concerns that some of the less competitive Test matches were diluting the overall appeal of the format. The two-tier system could attract more viewers and keep the format fresh and exciting by ensuring that the most exciting and competitive series are given priority.

The timing could not be more crucial for the ICC and the three major boards, given the continued evolution of the global cricketing landscape with the rise of T20 leagues and the increasing dominance of limited-overs formats. Since these short formats have grabbed more attention and brought more promising prospects for the players as well as the boards, there is a need to preserve the glory of the long format of traditional Test cricket format of the game. A two-tier system could answer this because it can develop a structure that is competitive but appealing to contemporary viewers.

Such a system would be beneficial in the long run as it could be helpful to talent in countries that are not presently in the top ranks by gaining some experience and exposure. Cricketing infrastructure and talent would be developed more as a chance for second-tier teams to climb the ranks would exist. This may make Test cricket more attractive to the world and allow teams from all parts of the globe to compete at the highest level.

In the end, the two-tier Test system has been found to be a very debatable concept, as the ICC, BCCI, CA, and ECB try to get Test cricket back in limelight, being relevant, and exciting again. As of now, the details of the proposal are still being discussed, but the idea is to make a structure that would encourage more competitive series between the top teams without compromising the integrity and development of the game in the world.