Former England captain Kevin Petersen He has once again weighed in on the future of Test cricket. Responding to recent reports about the potential split of Test cricket into two tiers, Pietersen reminded his followers of the prediction he made in 2021.
“Do you remember what you said a few years ago?” Pietersen wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account, referring to his earlier statement that by 2026, only a handful of countries will be playing Test cricket.
Petersen's 2021 predictions
In September 2021, Pietersen predicted a major change in the landscape of Test cricket. “In 2026, there will only be a few countries that will conduct testing,” he said in a tweet. He named England, India and Australia as the starting teams, with South Africa and Pakistan likely to join them. He also suggested that the World Test Championship would be over by then, adding: “There are no kids who want to play Tests!” Its history will help it stick with the larger boards.
Fast forward to 2025, and cricket brokers are already discussing a two-part Test structure. the International Cricket Council (ICC) is scheduled to deliberate on the proposal later this month.
The ICC is considering a two-tier test structure
According to reports, ICC president Jay Shah is set to meet Cricket Australia president Mike Baird and England Cricket Board president Richard Thompson to explore the possibility of splitting Test cricket into two tiers. The proposed structure is intended to ensure that Australia, England and India play each other more frequently.
Under the current system, these teams face each other twice every four years. The new format will reduce this gap to three years, boosting revenue from big screen series like the Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Structure of a two-section cricket theory test
If implemented, the two-tier system would likely look like this:
Section 1: South Africa, Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
Section 2: West Indies, Bangladeshireland, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe
While this structure would benefit top-tier nations, it raises concerns for teams in Division 2. Smaller cricket nations may lose opportunities to play against the best teams, affecting their growth and revenue.
Mixed reactions to the proposal
The idea of splitting Test cricket has sparked mixed reactions. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri recently endorsed the concept. “When the best teams play, the hardest and best form of the game remains alive and thriving,” Shastri wrote in his column for The Australian. He said a two-tier system with promotions and relegations could keep the format competitive.
However, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously opposed a similar proposal in 2016. Former BCCI president Anurag Thakur had expressed concerns about the negative impact on small cricketing nations. “In a two-tier system, they will lose a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams. We don’t want that to happen,” Thakur said.
The bigger picture
Australia's recent five-Test series against India attracted huge crowds, with more than 837,000 spectators in attendance. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG alone attracted a record 373,691 fans. Cricket Australia data shows Test cricket remains hugely popular when the top teams clash.
While the two-tier structure could ensure more blockbuster series, it risks marginalizing smaller cricketing nations. As discussions progress, it remains to be seen whether the ICC is able to strike a balance between profitability and comprehensiveness.
Stay updated with all the cricket happenings, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, twitter, cable and Instagram
Source link