The International Cricket Council is planning a radical overhaul of the World Test Championship, including the introduction of a two-tier structure to make the competition fairer and more competitive. This decision has been mooted by England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson and ICC chairman Jay Shah, who have been in discussion over the future of the tournament.
The WTC final between Australia and South Africa in June at Lord’s would be the last under the system before changes, which would go into effect prior to India’s tour of England later this summer.
Why is the Change Necessary? Problems with the Existing Format
The present format has received criticism for various reasons:
There is inconsistency in scheduling, such that teams are not playing all other nations within the cycle. This distorts rankings.
Lack of Competitive Balance – An overdose of two-Test matches has marred the legitimacy of results.
Political Limitations – India and Pakistan do not play each other due to political reasons, which somehow taints the competition’s fairness.
Unequal Competition – Some teams reach the final without playing strong nations. For instance, South Africa played its way into the 2025 final without facing Australia in league matches.
Two-Tier Structure
This is a new model for the ICC, ensuring the best teams are pitted more often against one another and lesser teams have ample opportunities to work their way to the top. The plan covers the following:
1. Teams are categorized into two divisions.
Tier 1: A likely candidate includes India, Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
Tier 2: West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe.
2. Promotion and Relegation System
Teams at the bottom of Tier 1 will be relegated to Tier 2.
The top teams from Tier 2 will be promoted to Tier 1.
This mechanism aims to reward consistent performance and allow emerging teams a chance to compete at the highest level.
3. Four-Day Test Matches for Smaller Series
The ICC is also looking to introduce four-day Tests for non-marquee series to allow national boards to fit in franchise leagues like the IPL, SA20, and Big Bash League.
Marquee events like Ashes, India vs Australia series, and England vs India Tests will remain five-day Tests.
Debate and Controversy: Mixed Reactions from Cricketing Legends
Criticism from Former Players
The two-tier system has received opposition from many cricketing legends:
Clive Lloyd (great of West Indies) – referred to it as “disastrous for smaller teams” and argued that cricket should not be dictated by financial considerations.
Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain, had criticized the plan, saying that it would benefit only the rich cricket boards, and widen the gap between elite and struggling teams.
Mominul Haque (Bangladesh cricketer) & Steven Finn (former England pacer) – Expressed concerns that the move would limit opportunities for emerging cricket nations.
Support for the Two-Tier Model
Some cricketing figures support the plan, believing it could enhance the quality of Test cricket:
Michael Vaughan (former England captain) – Suggested that having top teams play each other frequently would help sustain interest in Test cricket.
Ravi Shastri (former India coach) – Was in favor of making the tournament competition more lean, with high-intensity matches.
What’s Next? ICC’s Timeline for Decision
The ICC has about five months to decide and present the new WTC format until India’s tour of England in June 2025.
A follow-up series of talks will decide the details of the promotion-relegation rules, the format of four-day Tests, and the revenue share among the teams.
It looks to ensure Test cricket remains relevant in the fast-emerging scenario of T20 franchise leagues.
The two-tier model is a bold shift in the structure of Test cricket. It is meant to increase competitiveness and ensure that matches are of high quality, but it will be challenging to balance elite teams with smaller cricketing nations. As the discussions continue, the ICC needs to address all the concerns from the stakeholders to protect the integrity and inclusivity of the longest format of the game.