The Australian summer has arrived and with it, the first series outside of the Ashes that actually has a meaningful purpose.
The number one team in the world versus team number three; the established South African supremacy under threat from Michael Clarke and his rejuvenated men.
The world number one ranking is at stake, the series has all to play for and, despite a draw in the first Test, the series will continue to enthral viewers until the last ball has been bowled at the WACA.
All of a sudden Test cricket becomes interesting, because there is something to play for.
The series also coincides with the hotly contested series between England and India and the cricket world is abuzz with two quality series between four quality teams. Wouldn’t this be great to occur all the time, every Test match being hotly contested, having hype, attention and a greater purpose?
A Test championship must occur quicker than the proposed ICC tournament in 2017. Test cricket is under threat from the shorter forms of the game and the time for a championship has come.
Set up could include two groups of four. Divison A would include the top four teams in the world, each playing each other for the prized test trophy, with the last placed team being relegated.
The winner of division B would be promoted to the top league, a relegation system similar to that used in European football leagues. Like football, the team that won the trophy (perhaps named after Don Bradman) would be the team at the top of the league after each team has played one another both home and away, perhaps over a two year period.
Here Test cricket has a purpose, games have meaning in both divisions and every game of Test cricket would have something at stake, not just Ashes series or battles for the world number one ranking.
Series like the present one between Australia and South Africa would be seen over the world and the flow-on effect on ticket sales and public interest would be immense, ensuring that Test cricket would become the dominant from of the game.
After all, Test cricket is unique, no other sport carries such a gruelling contest over five days, ebbing and flowing.
It is time the organisers moved to ensure that Test cricket receives the championship it deserves.
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