Tuesday, February 18th, 2025

Explainer: What is the two-tier system in Test cricket, why is it being opposed?

highlights

Two-tier system will soon become a reality in Test cricket All test playing countries will be divided into two different categoriesICC President Jay Shah is going to hold a meeting at the end of this month

Two-tier test cricket system: The two-tier system will soon become a reality in Test cricket. This is a proposal under which all the Test playing countries will be divided into two different categories. The aim of this system is to make Test cricket more exciting and to provide more and more matches between the top teams. According to recent reports, a mega meeting on this plan will soon be held under the leadership of International Cricket Council (ICC) President Jay Shah. The two-tier system for the World Test Championship (WTC) will be similar to the football structure followed in most countries. Where there will be a top division for some teams and a second division for the remaining teams.

Talk of a possible split of the Test structure was already in the news, but it began to look like a reality when on 6 January the Melbourne Age reported that ICC president Jay Shah would meet with Cricket Australia chief Mike Baird and England and Wales later this month. The Chief of Cricket Board (ECB) will meet Richard Thompson to discuss the two-tier format of the World Test Championship. This is so that the Big Three (India, Australia, England) can play against each other more often in blockbuster series. However, at present there is no clarity as to how the ideal two-tier system for the WTC will be implemented.

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What is the two-tier system in Test cricket?
It is believed that in such a structure, the team or teams finishing bottom in the top division at the end of the WTC cycle will be relegated to the second tier. Meanwhile, the top team or teams in the second division will gain promotion to the top level, creating a competitive and dynamic structure. According to reports, India, Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand could be part of tier one, while West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe will be placed in the second tier. It is also reported that the two-tier system will be introduced after the current Future Tour program ends in 2027. This is also the year when the 150th anniversary Test match between Australia and England is scheduled at the MCG.

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Why was there a need for a two-tier system?
This is mainly due to the financial pressure on the cricket boards of every country. T20 and especially franchise cricket is gradually becoming a major force. Cricket boards need good revenue to keep control over their players. Because players are being offered multi-year contracts from private leagues. Recently, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was also forced for the first time to give multi-year contracts to its top players so that they do not stop playing international cricket. However, to do this the ECB needs to generate the necessary revenue.

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Emphasis is on collecting more revenue
Unlike the BCCI which earned Rs 20,686 crore in the 2023-24 financial year, other boards like the ECB or Cricket Australia earn around Rs 500 crore annually. When we talk about small teams, this figure reduces considerably. In such a situation, it is very important for England and Australia that they become part of the top level and get a chance to play against India more often. In a two-tier system, the Ashes or the Border-Gavaskar Trophy could be held twice every three years, whereas under the current format it is held twice every four years. The discussions about this system have gained momentum due to the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series. Five Tests are played in it, which is the fourth most watched series in Australia. This includes record crowds in Melbourne and Sydney as well as a large number of TV viewers.

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Why are former cricketers protesting?
According to a TOI report, West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding warned in his/her column in ‘The Telegraph’, “The two-tier system makes sense, but the top countries should make room for tours by those in the lower bracket. Otherwise small countries will disappear.” Holding’s former captain Clive Lloyd also expressed his/her uneasiness. he/she believed, “Instead efforts should be focused on ensuring that struggling teams get more opportunities to play against top teams. I think it would be unfair to all the countries who have worked so hard to achieve Test status. Now they will be forced to play among themselves in the lower class. How will they reach the top? (Only) by playing against better teams.” Clive Lloyd, 80, said, “To be honest, there should not be a two-tier system. “This is not ideal because only the top three teams will earn more revenue.”

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These steps are necessary to save the test
There are also supporters of the two tier system. Commenting on SEN Radio during the fifth Test in Sydney, former India coach Ravi Shastri expressed concern over the hectic schedule, and advocated for more ‘best versus best’ matches in Test cricket. Shastri said, “I have always believed that if you want to keep Test cricket alive and move forward, this is the way. Top teams should play each other more often, thereby creating competition.”

Current UAE head coach Lalchand Rajput said, “It is a very good idea. If you can have six top cricket countries in tier one and six in tier two, it can work well. For example, a lower ranked team like Zimbabwe will face defeat if it plays against India or Australia. “This will mean that there will be something to play for in all WTC matches.” Former England captain Vaughan is one of the most prominent names to support the two-tier Test system. he/she recently said that the two-tier system will keep Test cricket relevant and help avoid mismatches.

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Unexpected results in test in 2024
Amidst all this turmoil, it is important to note that 2024 was a year of unexpected results in Test cricket. These results made the red ball format unusually exciting. This included West Indies surprising Australia in the pink-ball Test at the Gabba in Brisbane and India’s 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last week. In this matter, many people argue that Test cricket has been reborn last year. Because a few years ago in 2022, Bangladesh achieved its first Test win in New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. So we need to ensure that Test cricket remains alive and exciting. This could perhaps be an initiative in that direction.

tag: bcci cricket, icc cricket news, Jai Shah, test cricket

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