India To Be Part Of 'Two-Tier' System In Test Cricket Along With Australia And England : Report

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Australia and England and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are set to meet later in January to discuss the possibility of introducing a two-tier structure in Test cricket.

The recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia has prompted these discussions due to its record-breaking attendance and viewership.

The series ranked as the fourth-best-attended Test series in Australia and reportedly became the most-watched Test series in cricket history.

The proposed two-tier system would come into effect after the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) ends in 2027. It aims to increase the frequency of matches between top teams, allowing them to play each other twice in three years instead of the current four-year cycle. Proponents believe this adjustment would boost Test cricket's popularity.

This concept was first introduced in 2016, with a model dividing teams into a top tier of seven nations and a lower tier of five. However, the proposal faced significant opposition from boards like the BCCI, SLC, BCB, and Zimbabwe Cricket, citing concerns over marginalizing lower-ranked teams and reducing their exposure to high-profile matches.

If implemented, the two-tier structure would replace the World Test Championship (WTC), ending its global competition cycle. While this change might enhance marquee matchups, critics argue it could undermine the inclusivity and long-term sustainability of Test cricket.

"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. It is necessary to protect their interests'', former BCCI President Anurag Thakur said back in 2016.

"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," he further added on the best interests of world test cricket.