India, Australia, and England are reportedly in discussions to introduce a two-tier system for Test cricket, aimed at increasing the frequency of high-profile series between the “Big Three” nations.
The proposal is being taken seriously by the International Cricket Council (ICC), led by chairman Jay Shah. According to reports from The Age, Shah, along with Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird and England Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson, is set to meet later this month to discuss the two-tier structure in detail.
Under the proposed system, the top division would include seven teams: South Africa, Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
The second division would consist of West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe. This two-tier model was initially proposed in 2016 but was rejected by smaller cricketing nations, who feared it would diminish their status in the Test arena.
The plan was also dropped due to opposition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the time, with then-BCCI president Anurag Thakur stating that the move would harm the interests of smaller cricketing nations.
Despite past resistance, the idea is once again gaining traction as cricket’s powerhouses look to secure more competitive encounters in the longest format.
The broadcasters also have vested interests in more cricket between the Big Three, as they desire more matches between the three countries. According to broadcasters, the more matches there are, the better it is for them.