Revolutionary move! India, Australia, England in talks with Jay Shah to split Test format into two tiers

Australia, England, and India are in discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about creating a two-tier system for Test cricket. According to the latest news reports, Australia, England, India, and the International Cricket Council's new chair, Jay Shah, want to split the sport into two divisions.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 saw massive crowds and record-breaking viewership. A total of 837,879 spectators attended the series, the fourth most-attended Test series in Australia and the highest for any non-Ashes series, with records being set at various venues across the country.

Jay Shah to Meet with CA and ECB Chairs to Discuss Two-Tier Test Cricket Structure

According to The Age, Jay Shah will meet with Cricket Australia (CA) chair Mike Baird and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chair Richard Thompson later this month. It was reported that the possibility of a two-tier structure for Test cricket is expected to be a key topic during the upcoming meeting.

Any plan for a two-division system in Test cricket would be implemented after the end of the current Future Tours Program in 2027. The two-tier structure would enable the 'big three' - Australia, England, and India - to face each other twice every three years instead of playing each other twice every four years.

However, it could have negative consequences for smaller cricketing nations like Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe, who might struggle with limited opportunities in the lower tier.

It Was Also a Sound Reminder to the ICC - Former India Head Coach

Last week, former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri backed the idea of splitting Test cricket into two divisions. Shastri said that the best teams should play each other more frequently in order to keep the five-day format alive.

“When the best teams play, the toughest and best format of the game is still alive and thriving. It was also a sound reminder to the ICC that the best should play the best for Test cricket to survive,” Shastri penned for The Australian.

“I will say that there’s too much of a 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,” he added.

The Two-Tier Test System Was Opposed by the BCCI

The ICC proposed a league for the top seven cricketing nations in 2016, but the plan was scrapped after objections by the BCCI. Then-BCCI president Anurag Thakur said that smaller countries would lose out on revenue and opportunities to play against top teams.

“The BCCI is against the two-tier Test system because the smaller countries will lose out and the BCCI wants to take care of them,” then-BCCI president Anurag Thakur said in 2016.

“It is necessary to protect their interests. In the two-tier system, they will lose out on a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams. We don’t want that to happen. We want to work in the best interests of world cricket and that is why our team plays against all the countries.”

Also read: India star announces shock retirement after BGT debacle