Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 12: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has hit pause on a controversial plan to overhaul Test cricket by introducing a two-tier system. For now, the World Test Championship (WTC) will continue with its existing nine-team league format in the upcoming cycle, beginning this summer and running through 2027, according to The Guardian.
The proposed restructuring—championed by Cricket Australia and partially supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)—was aiming to divide Test-playing nations into two divisions of six. This would have included Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe in the main competition for the first time. The idea behind the change was to boost high-profile fixtures between the traditional powerhouses—Australia, England, and India—by having them face each other more frequently. These matchups, the proponents argued, would generate significant financial gains.
However, the plan has faced pushback from several full member nations concerned about growing inequality in the Test arena. Critics argue that such a move would entrench the dominance of the "big three" while pushing smaller cricketing nations further to the margins. Concerns around financial redistribution and clarity on promotion/relegation mechanics also remain unresolved, prompting the ICC to delay any decisions until further evaluation is done.
As a result, the WTC will stick to its current structure. The new cycle is set to begin shortly after the WTC Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s, with a marquee five-Test series between England and India.
Still, the ICC is open to tweaking elements of the WTC. Among the changes under discussion is a potential revamp of the points system. Currently, all matches carry equal weight—12 points for a win, six for a tie, and four for a draw—regardless of the opponent or match context. New proposals could introduce bonus points for dominant wins (as seen in rugby), additional rewards for away victories, or points that scale based on the strength of the opposition.
The debate has intensified following South Africa’s qualification for the 2025 final, despite not playing Australia or England. Their path to the final came largely through victories over lower-ranked teams, raising concerns over the fairness of the current setup.
Over-rate penalties are also under the microscope. England has been particularly vocal about the issue, having lost 22 points in this cycle due to slow over rates—enough to drop them from third to sixth place, even though their win percentage ranks among the top three. England’s director of cricket, Rob Key, recently urged the ICC to revisit the rule, which mandates an average of 15 overs per hour, with exceptions for innings completed in under 80 overs.
Ironically, despite efforts to speed up the game, Test cricket is being played at its slowest pace since 1975. Captains like Ben Stokes have leaned into slower tactics, often to give their pace bowlers longer rest periods and reduce reliance on part-time options.
One innovation being trialled in white-ball cricket may soon make its way to Tests: the stop-clock rule. Already in effect for limited-overs games, this system requires fielding sides to restart play within 60 seconds between overs. After two warnings, each further violation results in a five-run penalty. The ICC is considering extending this to the Test format as part of efforts to maintain tempo without compromising the game’s strategic depth.
For now, the future of Test cricket remains anchored in its traditional league format—but with an evolving landscape, discussions around reforms are far from over.