New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) Former England captain Michael Atherton has shared his views on the ongoing discussion about the two-tier system in Test cricket, asserting that any proposed framework should enable movement between the tiers and prevent the formation of an entrenched elite.
Reports indicate that the chief of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Richard Thompson, alongside representatives from the BCCI, is set to meet ICC Chairman Jay Shah later this month to deliberate on a potential two-tier Test system that could be implemented in 2027.
If the two-tier Test system is established, Australia, England, and India could avoid playing Test matches against many nations, allowing these three countries to face each other twice every three years instead of the current four-year interval.
“Tiers and divisions are two different concepts. Divisions suggest, to me at least, an opportunity for promotion and relegation. I’d support that. However, I would oppose tiers that eliminate the possibility for the lower tier to ascend to the upper tier, leading to an entrenched elite,” Atherton stated on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
Interestingly, the idea of a two-tier system was first introduced during an ICC Board meeting in 2016, where it was proposed that seven nations would compete in the first division while the remaining five would form the second division.
Former South African captain Graeme Smith believes Test cricket will continue to be a format involving only six or seven nations. “For me, Test cricket is unlikely to expand beyond six or seven nations. It is not going to grow to 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 teams like T20 might. Therefore, I think more focus should be placed on establishing a bilateral program for Test cricket.”
“If we can maintain six or seven strong nations, there will always be an audience. Whenever a strong team visits South Africa, we witness substantial crowds and keen interest in Test cricket. Global cricket needs South Africa to be strong, the West Indies to remain competitive, and Sri Lanka to improve.”
