Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri presenting BGT with Mark Taylor in Sydney. Photo: X | Ravi Shastri Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri presenting BGT with Mark Taylor in Sydney. Photo: X | Ravi Shastri The idea of the potential introduction of the two-tier system in Test cricket is reportedly under discussion among Cricket Australia (CA), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the newly elected ICC chairman Jay Shah. (More Cricket News)
Though there is no news from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the matter, the big nations in cricket are in favour of such a system which will allow them to play against competitive teams more often.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan and former India head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri batted for the inclusion of the two-tier system in Test cricket with the latter calling it "need of the hour to survive Test cricket".
Media reports indicate that a new plan may classify cricket teams into two tiers. In tier one, we could see India, Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. The second tier would include the West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. This tiered system is expected to be introduced after the current Future Tours Programme concludes in 2027.
During the final Test match between India and Australia in Sydney, Ravi Shastri expressed his satisfaction with the crowd turnout and emphasized the importance of showcasing the best teams to ensure the survival of Test cricket. According to an official statement from Cricket Australia, a total of 837,879 spectators attended the series across five venues: Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
"It serves as a strong reminder to the ICC that the best teams should compete against each other for Test cricket to thrive. There is too much clutter otherwise,” Shastri stated on SEN Radio.
He further commented, "This match highlights the necessity for a two-tier system, featuring the top 6-8 teams, along with promotion and relegation. We will not attract these kinds of crowds unless we have two competitive teams playing against each other."
Lalchand Rajput, the current head coach of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national cricket team, has proposed that implementing a two-tier system in cricket could be beneficial.
"Such a system would foster healthy competition and enhance the excitement of the sport. In this setup, the best teams would face each other more frequently, while lower-ranked teams would have a clear incentive to perform well in order to climb into the top tier", said Rajput.
Following a World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the bottom two teams from the top six could be relegated to the second tier, while the top two teams from that tier could be promoted", the former India coach suggested.
He likens this proposed two-tier system to the Ranji Trophy, where the elements of relegation and promotion contribute to a more thrilling competitive environment.
Former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd, who led the team to victory in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, has criticized proposed plans, stating they "must be stopped now." He expressed concern that countries striving for Test-match status would end up playing in a lower tier, hampering their progress.
"It will be detrimental to all those countries that work so hard to achieve Test-match status, as they will end up playing among themselves in a lower tier," Lloyd, 80, expressed.
"How are they supposed to reach the top? Competing against stronger teams helps you improve. That's how you determine how good or bad you are. I am very disturbed by this."
free slot machinesLloyd suggested that all teams should receive equal financial support to improve their skills, emphasizing, "The system is not equitable."
Former England batter Ebony Rainford-Brent also opposes the proposals, arguing that focusing only on top teams undermines the global nature of the sport. She highlighted the importance of scheduling key series to avoid major events while maintaining the integrity of the game.
"If we only see the top teams facing each other, it might be entertaining, but what does that mean for the game?" she said.
"The reality is that we are part of a global sport, and we should aim to promote a more inclusive agenda rather than just focusing on a few countries to maintain excitement."
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