The International Cricket Council (ICC) had proposed a two-tier test system earlier, which aimed to divide test cricket into 2 groups. 1st tier will consist of the top 9 ranked teams, and the rest will be in tier 2. This will ensure more test matches between the top test-playing nations, and the lower-ranked team will get the opportunity to fight and get promoted to tier 1. This idea, as of now, has been delayed by the ICC for the WTC cycle 2025-27. This might come into existence after this WTC cycle.
Since the start of WTC, ICC has faced a lot of criticism about the format of the game, and some teams getting a slight advantage due to fixture schedules. For eg, in the last WTC cycle (2023-2025), South Africa played only 12 test matches, whereas England played 22 test matches, India and Australia played 19 each. This suggests that South Africa had a slight advantage as they played fewer test matches. Most of the cricketing experts suggested that the WTC should also be played like other World Cups, where every team will get equal matches, ensuring fair competition. Hence, ICC was looking to change the format of the game, which would ensure fair competition and fan engagement too.
The ICC was pretty confident regarding the two-tier system, but many cricket experts had a contradicting opinion, which made the ICC rethink and postpone this plan for the time being. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), along with some associate nations, opposed this proposal as it may create financial disparity and reduce opportunities for associate nations. Legends like Clive Lloyd and Arjuna Ranatunga have also criticized this proposal because, according to them, the ICC is prioritizing profits over sports integrity, which damages the image of the sport.
The England Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) were in support of this proposal, as it will create competitive cricket matches and will increase revenue. Also, former players like Ravi Shastri and Michael Vaughan supported the idea to ensure high-quality Test matches.
Pros of the two-tier system
- More Competitive Matches: A two-tier system will reduce the one-sided test matches, giving the audience a treat to watch close encounters daily, top ranked teams will be playing against each others.
- Financial Aspects: India, Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa playing against each other will bring on a lot of sponsorship and broadcasting deals, giving financial benefits for the board.
- Fan Engagement: Making a league-like format for test cricket will increase the interest among the fans and will engage the audience globally.
Cons of the two-tier system
- Injustice with tier 2 teams: Tier 2 teams like Zimbabwe, Ireland, Afghanistan, or even Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may get out of quality cricket permanently as they will not get the necessary exposure to the game.
- Revenue Inequality: Teams like India, Australia, and England may generate higher financial returns, but smaller cricket boards in tier 2 might struggle to generate revenue.
- Less Global Representation: The underdog stories like Afghanistan beating Australia will be completely vanished from the picture.
Cricket's beauty lies not just in rivalries and revenue, but in its inclusivity and unpredictability. The ICC must therefore strike a balance—one that preserves the integrity of the format while ensuring that no team is left behind in the race for progress. As the cricketing world awaits the next decision, it’s clear that any reform must be guided not just by economics, but by the spirit of the game.
About the Author
Advait Kadam is a sports writer at Vygr Media, specializing in cricket coverage and match analysis. With a background in Sports Management and a passion for storytelling, he brings sharp insights and fresh perspectives to every game.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Vygr’s views.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
