Two-tier Test format likely before India's tour of England: Report

NEW DELHI: The present format will be discontinued after Australia plays South Africa in the World Test Championship final. It will be reintroduced as a two-tier system prior to India's trip of England later this summer.
ICC chairman Jay Shah and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Richard Thompson, who leads the ICC's strategic growth committee, recently met to discuss a "fairer competition." The two will spearhead the proposal.
Thompson acknowledged the urgency of the matter, given that the next cycle will begin in five months, with England playing India at Headingly starting on June 20.
"It is fully understood that the current structure does not work in the way it should and we need to find a fairer, better competition, but at this stage no recommendations have been put forward," Thompson told Telegraph Sport.
"We have five months to work on this, step back and look at what the structure should be going forward. The World Test Championship should be fairer and more competitive. It is going to change to ensure it always encourages the best teams to reach the final and encourages other nations that want to play Test cricket, to play Test cricket.
"We will protect, grow and ensure the integrity of Test cricket because the format is crucial to the DNA of the game."
The inconsistencies in the current model have been criticized.
In the two-year cycle, teams do not play every other country, and too many two-Test series have distorted rankings.
Due to political reasons, India and Pakistan do not compete against one another, which compromises the competition's integrity.
Similar to this, South Africa advanced to the final without facing Australia, despite the fact that they would face one other in the June title match at Lord's.
According to the source, discussions will also look into the prospect of four-day tests, which might assist boards plan three-test series around franchise leagues.
Interestingly, since 2019, no three-Test series has been played between teams other than the "big three" of Australia, India, and England.
However, tier-one matches and high-profile series like the Ashes will not feature the four-day Tests.
After Australia's thrilling series against India, which broke attendance records, there was a renewed drive for a two-tier system.
The top-tier nations will play each other more regularly under the proposed paradigm, possibly excluding other teams and series, which has caused the game's legends to react negatively.
Clive Lloyd, a legend of the West Indies, has been a vocal opponent of the concept, claiming that it would be "disastrous for smaller teams."
"All these countries have worked very hard to get there. We have been in ICC for nearly 100 years. We've a great history and now you're going to tell us, because of a monetary situation, this is how it's going to be," Llyod had said.
Arjuna Ranatunga, the captain of Sri Lanka that won the World Cup, has also criticized the plan, claiming that it will only help the three boards.
"Sport isn't just about Pounds, Dollars and Rupees. Administrators must nurture and protect the game."
Steven Finn, a former pacer for England, and Mominul Haque, a batter for Bangladesh, have both criticized the idea.