The recent Test series between Australia and India generated enormous interest (Photo by Robert … More
Splitting the 12 Test countries into two divisions will be “useless” without promotion and relegation, says an influential International Cricket Council board director in what looms as a potential sticking point over a concept aimed to radically alter the traditional five-day format.
The plan, reported in January in The Age newspaper, has been floated by the three most powerful and richest cricket nations – India, Australia and England who would be part of a top tier consisting of seven teams.
Details are still murky with the plan yet to be formally presented to the all-powerful ICC board. It is not believed to be on the agenda at its quarterly meetings in Zimbabwe from April 11-13, but likely to be discussed, perhaps informally. No changes can be made under the current cycle through to 2027.
It’s a proposal that is not new, but promotion and relegation has been a contentious topic previously. The ‘big three’ countries of India, Australia and England have been reticent given that slipping into the lower bracket would scupper their money-making plans.
The Ashes is an iconic cricket series (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
Being pooled together means opportunities to play each other more often in lucrative series that generate considerable interest and huge crowds as recently seen during a riveting Test series between India and Australia that gripped the cricket world.
Armed with billion-dollar domestic media rights deals, the three power countries have been under pressure to satisfy broadcasters wanting more marquee series. Under the plan, Australia and England could play two Ashes series every three years instead of four years currently.
According to The Age’s report, West Indies and Bangladesh would be part of a second division alongside Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland – a trio of teams who are not part of the current nine-team World Test Championship and are effectively forced to play among themselves.
Zimbabwe have not played Test cricket against a ‘big three’ country since 2005, but will break that drought next month against England in a one-off Test match at Trent Bridge.
“If it’s (the plan) on the promotion and relegation basis it will get some backing,” ICC board director and Zimbabwe chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani told me. “If it doesn’t have that then two divisions is useless. There’s no point and no context. We would not support that.
“The funds from the top division need to be shared properly. We want to play Test cricket.”
Tavengwa Mukuhlani says promotion and relegation is a must (Photo by JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty … More
Some administrators have privately seethed at the proposal, cynical at the motives of the power countries. “People like me were pissed off when we heard about two divisions (proposal)… it’s a smarter way of cramming in more ‘big three’ matches and justifying it,” a senior administrator told me.
“I do actually like two divisions with promotion and relegation, it means there is more interest in the game. But division one has to properly fund division two.
“Every participating team needs to get a decent slug of money to justify the cost of Test cricket. You have to have a viable A-Team and first-class system and that all needs funding.
“The World Test Championship has to evolve as a product, but it can’t just be about cramming in more Border-Gavaskar Trophy series or Ashes series.
“They don’t seem to realize that less is more.”
