How to revolutionise Test cricket

England's Stuart Broad, centre, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Australia's Brad Haddin on the second day of the fifth cricket test match between England and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London, Friday, Aug.21, 2009. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

In recent weeks, many ideas have been thrown around aiming on trying to improve Test cricket and make it more exciting. In the past, Test cricket had captured the hearts of cricket lovers across the nation, but now in the time of Twenty20 and attacking one day cricket, domestic competitions have seemed to become more popular that the most pure form.

One idea that has arisen is the introduction of a two tiered system.

Through this, Test cricket could expand, create grand finals at the end of yearly periods, and create more tension and angst in losing Tests.

In the current era, many fans don’t care if Australia loses a Test match and a series. But with the introduction of a new format, there will be more attacking and aggressive Test cricket in the future.

Here’s the system that could be introduced:
Tiered Test Cricket system
Tier one (based on current rankings)
1.South Africa
2.Sri Lanka
3.India
4.Australia
5.England

Tier 2
1. Pakistan
2. New Zealand
3. West Indies
4. Bangladesh
5. Zimbabwe

Every year, each team would play each other team in their tier three times in a three match series, either home or away.

If, say, England were relegated, Australia would still be able to play them in a series having the same meaning and relevance as before and not having an effect on the tiered system.

In this way, teams like the West Indies could play yearly Tests against teams from tier one to earn the money that they need to support their players.

The Ashes series would still be played every second year, and in this way, each team would play 16-18 Tests a year, similar to the current amount.

*Except in the year of a Test World Cup where the competition becomes two matches against each team.
* Pakistan would host their matches in UAE in either Dubai or the Capital of UAE, or play matches in their opponent’s home territory with profits going to Pakistan cricket.

This structure would involve a points system, where each team is a awarded points for wins, wickets and runs.
Win-10 points
Draw-4 points
Wickets-.25 points
Runs-.01points
Series win-5 points

*If structure doesn’t succeed, then a first innings win could be added instead of a draw.

Extra points awarded for winning matches and the series, and lower points awarded for drawing, encouraging aggressive cricket.

Each tier would have a winning final for the first and second place teams and a losing final for the fourth and fifth placed teams. The winner of tier 2 would play the loser of tier one, with the winner gaining a place in the higher tier the following year.

The finals will be played on the higher ranked teams’ home ground and the third placed teams of each tier would play each other in a one-off Test.

The grand final would be massive and the crowds would flock from every in hope that their team can come out on top and secure a victory important for the future of their countries cricket.

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