The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly working to bring the two-tier system in Test cricket in the near future. Newly elected ICC Chairperson Jay Shah is leading to charge to implement the two-tier system, and is currently in talks with the cricket boards from India, Australia, and England to host more Test series in a cricketing calendar. The Apex Cricket Council got the idea of two-tier system in Test cricket after a record attendance in the recently ended Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under where a total of 837,879 people came to enjoy the action from the stands.
In a two-tier system, as per the report from India Today, the Test playing nations will be divided into two groups where the top-tier teams like India, Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand will be seen competing more against each other. On the other hand, bottom tier teams like Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland, who don’t have much success in Test cricket in recent times, will be seen playing less matches in the longest format of the game.
Best should play the best: Ravi Shastri comes in support of two-tier system in Test cricket
As the reports of the two-tier system in Test cricket has come out, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri also showed interest in seeing it implemented soon. The former cricketer said that it is important that the best teams play against each other for the Test cricket to survive. Shastri believes that the crowd will not come to see the match if two different tier teams play against each other in Test cricket.
“It [the MCG Test] was also a sound reminder to the ICC that the best should play the best for Test cricket to survive. I will say that there’s too much clutter otherwise. This match further emphasises why we need a two-tier system with the top 6-8 teams and then include promotion and demotion. You will not get these kinds of crowds if you don’t have two proper teams playing,” Ravi Shastri was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
