The ICC has reportedly proposed a radical restructure of the World Test Championship, which would see a series between two of the 'big three' played every year.
A seven-five split?
Under the proposal, the World Test Championship would be split into a two-tier system at the end of the next edition in 2027, with India, Australia and England in the top tier. That top tier would also reportedly also feature South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan, while the second tier would be made up of Bangladesh, West Indies, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe - making a seven-five split across divisions.
According to a report in the Melbourne Age, new ICC chair Jay Shah will meet with ECB chair Richard Thompson, and Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird later this month to discuss the proposal. The new system would mean there would be an Ashes series 18 months, while each 'big three' side would play another two out of every three years.
Such a structure would mean England, Australia and India would play more of the series' which bring in the most money. Record crowds have been seen in Australia for the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with 373,879 spectators passing through the MCG gates during the Boxing Day Test.
England are also set for a financial boost this summer with five Tests scheduled against India. That's in contrast to the 2024 summer, where crowd sizes were criticised during their series' against West Indies and Sri Lanka, with the final day's play of the Sri Lanka Test at Lord's coming under particular criticism.
Broadcast money is also reportedly a factor in the proposal, with broadcasters eager for more series between the big three which attract far bigger viewership than other series'.
Australia beat India by six wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground to qualify for the 2023-25 World Test Championship final.
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Two-tier Test cricket is not a new idea
Increasing the number of series between the big three has been vocally supported by a number of influential figures within the game. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said during last week's Test match at the SCG: "I've been a firm believer that if you want Test cricket to survive and be alive and thriving, I think that's the way to go. The top teams play against each other more often, so there is a contest - you want contests."
Former ICC Chair Greg Barclay told Telegraph Sport last month that in order for Test cricket to survive, "some structural change needed to be contemplated".
A two tier Test cricket system has previously been discussed by the ICC in 2016, but was dropped after opposition from the BCCI. At the time, the board was wary of the effect a system would have on smaller nations, who had voiced their opposition to the proposal. However, that proposal had support from Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies, and with India now on board, the plan would be harder for those less powerful ICC members to halt.
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