ICC mull two-tier Test cricket

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World cricket's custodians are to consider a revolutionary proposal to bring relegation and promotion to Test matches as a partial sop to the imminent death of the World Test Championship (WTC).

The ICC executive board is expected to consider the proposal at the next round of meetings later this month, the same gathering expected to end any hopes for the WTC due to the reluctance of broadcasters and the lack of certainty around the format of an event that was postponed from its original 2013 launch date and re-launched for 2017 last October.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the board will instead entertain the promotion/relegation plan, which will open up the possibility of nations like Ireland and Afghanistan earning their way into Test matches while at the same time placing the likes of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on the precipice. It will be introduced on the "no disadvantage" condition that none of the current ICC Full Member nations would lose that status and its financial advantages.

Instead, the Associate nations will have the chance to press for spots at the Test match table on the basis of performance against the lower-ranked Full Members. This would provide a strong incentive for nations currently playing Test matches to improve themselves while also offering opportunities for Associates to compete at the highest level of the game.

Precise details of how promotion and relegation from Test cricket would work in practice are yet to be revealed, but the concept of play-offs for Test status every four years is believed to be one of the options under consideration. The idea of dividing Test cricket up into two tiers has been debated for some time, with various noted voices on the game expressing opinions on its merits.

In 2013, the former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested that the incentives provided by promotion and relegation would also add context and value to Test cricket, perhaps to the point of dissuading some players from fringe nations prioritising the IPL over representing their country at that time of year.

"Just imagine if New Zealand have to come to England and win one out of three Tests to stay in the first division or win promotion," Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph. "If there is a proper financial incentive to playing in the first division, like there is in football's Premier League, then players would be less likely to choose the IPL instead."

In addition to promotion and relegation, the ICC is expected to consider a further enrichment of the financial rewards on offer to the teams earning the top spot on the governing body's international rankings system, for which the Test Championship Mace is currently awarded on an annual basis. The rankings have continued to function despite an increasing number of diversions from the Future Tours Programme, as nations make bilateral agreements that flout the authority of the officially agreed schedule.

India recently reduced their tour of South Africa to the minimum two Test matches while adding two unscheduled home fixtures against West Indies, while this week it was confirmed that Pakistan's series against Australia in October will be downsized from the earlier agreed three Tests to two.

The ICC have previously flagged that promotion and relegation will become part of the landscape for ODIs, coming into effect following the 2019 World Cup.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/709973.html

IF THIS HAPPENS THEN IT WILL BE A GREAT MOVE. I HOPE IT HAPPENS
 
World cricket's custodians are to consider a revolutionary proposal to bring relegation and promotion to Test matches as a partial sop to the imminent death of the World Test Championship (WTC).

The ICC executive board is expected to consider the proposal at the next round of meetings later this month, the same gathering expected to end any hopes for the WTC due to the reluctance of broadcasters and the lack of certainty around the format of an event that was postponed from its original 2013 launch date and re-launched for 2017 last October.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the board will instead entertain the promotion/relegation plan, which will open up the possibility of nations like Ireland and Afghanistan earning their way into Test matches while at the same time placing the likes of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on the precipice. It will be introduced on the "no disadvantage" condition that none of the current ICC Full Member nations would lose that status and its financial advantages.

Instead, the Associate nations will have the chance to press for spots at the Test match table on the basis of performance against the lower-ranked Full Members. This would provide a strong incentive for nations currently playing Test matches to improve themselves while also offering opportunities for Associates to compete at the highest level of the game.

Precise details of how promotion and relegation from Test cricket would work in practice are yet to be revealed, but the concept of play-offs for Test status every four years is believed to be one of the options under consideration. The idea of dividing Test cricket up into two tiers has been debated for some time, with various noted voices on the game expressing opinions on its merits.

In 2013, the former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested that the incentives provided by promotion and relegation would also add context and value to Test cricket, perhaps to the point of dissuading some players from fringe nations prioritising the IPL over representing their country at that time of year.

"Just imagine if New Zealand have to come to England and win one out of three Tests to stay in the first division or win promotion," Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph. "If there is a proper financial incentive to playing in the first division, like there is in football's Premier League, then players would be less likely to choose the IPL instead."

In addition to promotion and relegation, the ICC is expected to consider a further enrichment of the financial rewards on offer to the teams earning the top spot on the governing body's international rankings system, for which the Test Championship Mace is currently awarded on an annual basis. The rankings have continued to function despite an increasing number of diversions from the Future Tours Programme, as nations make bilateral agreements that flout the authority of the officially agreed schedule.

India recently reduced their tour of South Africa to the minimum two Test matches while adding two unscheduled home fixtures against West Indies, while this week it was confirmed that Pakistan's series against Australia in October will be downsized from the earlier agreed three Tests to two.

The ICC have previously flagged that promotion and relegation will become part of the landscape for ODIs, coming into effect following the 2019 World Cup.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/709973.html

IF THIS HAPPENS THEN IT WILL BE A GREAT MOVE. I HOPE IT HAPPENS

So,Pakistan would be in 2nd tier?
 
I think it would be two tiers of 6 teams that should work well.
 
Another stupid idea from ICC. They should be working on making sure all test teams are playing same number of test matches home and away over the period of 4 years.
 
have 3 tiers in tests of 6 teams each

tier 1 - sa, ind, eng, aus, pak, sl
tier 2 - nz, wi, zim, bd, ire, afg
tier 3 - intercontinental cup with the next 6 teams

promotion & relegation every 2 years. tier 1 & 2 teams to have official test status
 
I highly doubt that it'll make much of a difference by itself, at least in the long term anyway. Imo D/N Tests is where it's at. That's where Test cricket can make major gains the way I see it.
 
Another stupid idea from ICC. They should be working on making sure all test teams are playing same number of test matches home and away over the period of 4 years.

Spot on mate, teams like India australia england who to b honest r moderate test teams
R playing 5 test, test series amongst them selves and the rest r getting scraps
 
This is gonna hurt the WI NZ and SL as its their board n players who prioritize IPL or test cricket and continue to postponed the test series like WI scrapping SL series and postponing Pak Tests :108:
 
Another stupid idea from ICC. They should be working on making sure all test teams are playing same number of test matches home and away over the period of 4 years.

The only way such a league would work is if each team plays the same amount of games, how else can you have promotion/relegation?

But that would never work because there just isn't the demand to see a 5 match series between SL and WI as there would be for Aus vs SA for example.

The only logical solution to that is if you have points for winning a series or drawing (3 and 1 points) and a results difference, i.e. if you win a 3 match series 3-0, it's weighted more than winning a 5 match series 2-1. So that way it's equal amount of series played rather than test matches.
 
Spot on mate, teams like India australia england who to b honest r moderate test teams
R playing 5 test, test series amongst them selves and the rest r getting scraps

if those teams are so ordinary why does everybody want to play them so badly.

fans of other teams are constantly calling teams like eng/aus ordinary and then lamenting that they don't get enough tests against them, it makes no sense.

Why get so upset over missing out on a few extra tests vs teams you don't rate?
 
It will be introduced on the "no disadvantage" condition that none of the current ICC Full Member nations would lose that status and its financial advantages.

what does this mean? does this mean that the current test nations will not be relegated?

also on a Pakistan specific note this is very bad for us and our cricket.
 
if those teams are so ordinary why does everybody want to play them so badly.

fans of other teams are constantly calling teams like eng/aus ordinary and then lamenting that they don't get enough tests against them, it makes no sense.

Why get so upset over missing out on a few extra tests vs teams you don't rate?

How do they justify playin each other in 5 tests,
Upset!, im stating this regarding every team having equal matches
Only then the rankings could be justified
 
I dont quite understand how this will work? Will this mean that the countries in the top tier will only play among themselves and the countries in the lower tier will only play among themselves?
 
It's amazing how even after so many years, Cricket is still not a settled sport.
 
Danger of Smaller test nations falling behind further

Though it will make test cricket more meaningful
 
Pretty much pointless considering most teams are starting with the new generation of youngsters and senior legends are virtually all gone. Anyway, if India dropped to tier 2 then I can guarantee you that this system will be dropped.
 
Pretty much pointless considering most teams are starting with the new generation of youngsters and senior legends are virtually all gone. Anyway, if India dropped to tier 2 then I can guarantee you that this system will be dropped.
:)):)):)) true
 
Pretty much pointless considering most teams are starting with the new generation of youngsters and senior legends are virtually all gone. Anyway, if India dropped to tier 2 then I can guarantee you that this system will be dropped.

Isn't that obvious when money from that country actually subsidizes the cricket around the world. By it's own admittance 70 to 80% of ICC revenue comes due to India. From that ICC gives around 10 M$/ Yr to each of the 10 Full Member besides giving 0.1 M$ to each Associate (0.5M$ to Top 8 Associates) and 15000$ to each Affiliate member.

This 10 M$/yr is a major source of income to all except may be Ind, Eng and Aus. Even for Pak this will be a major source of income

So the game in this situation and hence ICC is forced to keep the income stream from India coming. If that stream dries out the income stream for ICC dries out. That is the catch 22 situation for ICC
 
Two tier system only means two groups of 6/7
Can't see bangladesh or west indies being too happy with having to play hong kong
 
The article clearly states that bottom 2 would involve relegation. So they virtually mean top 8 as tier 1 and BD/Zim and the rest of the associates.

This would sure provide incentive for Zimb/BD to improve their test cricket. Also it would be better for test cricket if they play teams like Ireland/Afghanistan more often as it would be an even contest.
 
This can actually be bad for teams that might fall into the lower tier. Teams like Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe dont really mind.

But its a big loss for BD, NZ and WI because it would mean top ranked sides will want fewer series against these sides. Usually, teams prefer to have a full tour-Test-ODI-T20. Its good for BD that we will have Ireland and Afghanistan to beat, but its not going to help us in the long run.
 
It's amazing how even after so many years, Cricket is still not a settled sport.

You can give ICC credit for that.

We all know change is good, but having to adjust to so many different rule is only reducing the quality of cricket played these days.
 
This can actually be bad for teams that might fall into the lower tier. Teams like Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe dont really mind.
No, because the top two teams in the second division will be promoted and the bottom two teams in the first division will be demoted. It will encourage everyone to play more competitively to avoid playing in the second division. Teams like Sri Lanka can't just decide that they don't want to play tests or they'll soon be tugging it out with the likes of Afghanistan.
 
No, because the top two teams in the second division will be promoted and the bottom two teams in the first division will be demoted. It will encourage everyone to play more competitively to avoid playing in the second division. Teams like Sri Lanka can't just decide that they don't want to play tests or they'll soon be tugging it out with the likes of Afghanistan.

And not bringing in the big bucks, would force a cricket board to make a genuine attempt at putting test cricket first- assuming that some kind of big money TV/corporate deal was done which leads to better prize money the higher up you finish.
 
No, because the top two teams in the second division will be promoted and the bottom two teams in the first division will be demoted. It will encourage everyone to play more competitively to avoid playing in the second division. Teams like Sri Lanka can't just decide that they don't want to play tests or they'll soon be tugging it out with the likes of Afghanistan.

Its a double-edged sword really.

If ICC allows a few matches between a top tier team and bottom tier team( 2 match series) then its all fair.
 
Good idea , but the thing should be properly formulated.

They need to make sure enough test matches are played.
 
And not bringing in the big bucks, would force a cricket board to make a genuine attempt at putting test cricket first- assuming that some kind of big money TV/corporate deal was done which leads to better prize money the higher up you finish.

or this could lead to death of test cricket in those countries. SLC is barely surviving as it is with the help of ODI series with India every other year.

If they have to play tests with the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan, it will only make their position worse. Same goes for countries like WI and NZ.

This model might work if its used as a way to make matches for BD, Zim more competitive and introduce associates to test cricket gradually. Top 8 shouldn't be disturbed.
 
Isn't that obvious when money from that country actually subsidizes the cricket around the world. By it's own admittance 70 to 80% of ICC revenue comes due to India. From that ICC gives around 10 M$/ Yr to each of the 10 Full Member besides giving 0.1 M$ to each Associate (0.5M$ to Top 8 Associates) and 15000$ to each Affiliate member.

This 10 M$/yr is a major source of income to all except may be Ind, Eng and Aus. Even for Pak this will be a major source of income

So the game in this situation and hence ICC is forced to keep the income stream from India coming. If that stream dries out the income stream for ICC dries out. That is the catch 22 situation for ICC

I don't understand, if a country like Zimbabwe gets between $5-$10 million a year then why are they seriously struggling with debts? they are clearly doing something bad with the funding they get and instead should be stripped of their entire full membership because of their boards corruption and handed over to Ireland. That way there wouldn't be any need of a tier system for tests. Let's face it, other than the full members, only Ireland are the next strongest, serious and realistic in terms of Cricket becoming a major sport in their country. I know Afghanistan have the interest but we all know they will never host Cricket given the situation of their country.
 
Brilliant idea. It will put an end to two-match JAMtest series vs. minnows.
 
Should International Cricket be divided into tiers?

People are fast losing interest in Cricket and we need to do something about it. I am okay with random teams playing each other in world cup tournaments but for Bilateral Cricket I think it should be divided into 2 or more tiers.

Something like a top tier where: India, NZ, Aus and Eng face each other across formats. And a second tier where teams like: SA, SRL, Pak, Ban, Wi and Zim play each other.

What do people think? Bad idea or good idea?
 
Nonsense idea. Pakistan would probably fall in tier 2 and that would be the death of Pakistan test cricket as far as I see it.
 
People are fast losing interest in Cricket and we need to do something about it. I am okay with random teams playing each other in world cup tournaments but for Bilateral Cricket I think it should be divided into 2 or more tiers.

Something like a top tier where: India, NZ, Aus and Eng face each other across formats. And a second tier where teams like: SA, SRL, Pak, Ban, Wi and Zim play each other.

What do people think? Bad idea or good idea?

Why would england go into tier 1? Their performances over the last 18 months have been abysmal
 
We already have a 2 tier league. India, Aus and England already play 4-5 tests against each other as compared to other teams who play 2-3 at the most.

This is not their fault, but the other boards, who prefer playing more T20s and ODIs. Rather than complaining they should start with playing 4-5 tests against each other at least (when was the last Pak-SA was a 4-5 test affair)

We just need to ensure that we give the best of the rest 4 test series too. For now, India NZ should also be a 4 test series. When NZ are no longer the best of the rest , the then best of the rest should get 4-5 tests. Incentives teams willing to invest into test cricket
 
People are fast losing interest in Cricket and we need to do something about it. I am okay with random teams playing each other in world cup tournaments but for Bilateral Cricket I think it should be divided into 2 or more tiers.

Something like a top tier where: India, NZ, Aus and Eng face each other across formats. And a second tier where teams like: SA, SRL, Pak, Ban, Wi and Zim play each other.

What do people think? Bad idea or good idea?

Australia,India,England,New Zealand,Pakistan
 
People are fast losing interest in Cricket and we need to do something about it. I am okay with random teams playing each other in world cup tournaments but for Bilateral Cricket I think it should be divided into 2 or more tiers.

Something like a top tier where: India, NZ, Aus and Eng face each other across formats. And a second tier where teams like: SA, SRL, Pak, Ban, Wi and Zim play each other.

What do people think? Bad idea or good idea?

Australia,India,England,New Zealand,Pakistan
 
People are fast losing interest in Cricket and we need to do something about it. I am okay with random teams playing each other in world cup tournaments but for Bilateral Cricket I think it should be divided into 2 or more tiers.

Something like a top tier where: India, NZ, Aus and Eng face each other across formats. And a second tier where teams like: SA, SRL, Pak, Ban, Wi and Zim play each other.

What do people think? Bad idea or good idea?

I am okay with it.

Top 6 should be in tier 1. Rest should be in tier 2.

I also support a promotion-relegation system.
 
T1: NZ, Aust, India (gap), (T2 irl but t1 for 6/6 split) Pk, RSA, BD.
T2: Eng, SL, Afg, Ire, Zim, WI.
 
It can't happen for complex political and economic reasons.

England would obviously be in the Second Division, and so would never play against Australia or India.

So that isn't happening.
 
It can't happen for complex political and economic reasons.

England would obviously be in the Second Division, and so would never play against Australia or India.

So that isn't happening.

Agree. The economics of test cricket is barely hanging by a thin thread outside the Big3. Any kind of tier system will not only kill test cricket in non Big3 countries, it will also deal a blow to tests in Big3 similar to the scenario you posted.
 
Two tier test cricket would be a very good idea in my opinion, will allow the associate teams a chance to get their foot in, and will add some impetus to the format
 
It can't happen for complex political and economic reasons.

England would obviously be in the Second Division, and so would never play against Australia or India.

So that isn't happening.

Do you know what, I think England couldn't care less. For them its all about the damn Ashes.

Unlike the Aussies, England are overly obsessed with Ashes. Thats where their planning starts and thats where their planning ends.
 
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