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While I don’t believe Test cricket is dying, it is struggling to create a meaningful experience for the viewer.
This is where a two-tier system with a Test championship can help Test cricket reach a new level. This idea has been brought about by a number of different people with the ICC last looking at seven-country tier one and a five-country tier two with Ireland and Afghanistan becoming Test nations.
I would personally have a two tiers of five countries, the top five compete for the Test Championship with the second five competing for the Test shield. The competitions will be run over a two year period with each team playing the other four countries home and away in three Test series. There would be six home and six away Tests a year.
Teams can schedule as many more Tests as they choose however they won’t count towards the Test championship or shield.
Each country will receive three points for a series win and one point for a drawn series. If points are tied, amount of Tests won will be the tie breaker.
After the two year period the bottom two in the Test Championship will drop to the Test Shield while the top two from the Test Shield will be promoted to the Test Championship. The bottom two from the Test Shield will be relegated to just Test-playing nations with two countries not competing automatically promoted to the Test Shield.
These countries can play each other in the years they aren’t in the competitions. The idea behind two up and two down is to avoid creating a divide and allow more opportunity for countries to play in the Test Championship.
An example of what this would look like based off current rankings?
Test Championship
India
Pakistan
Australia
England
South Africa
Test Shield
Sri Lanka
New Zealand
West Indies
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe
Test countries promoted to shield level
Ireland
Afghanistan
I believe this system will allow for a real and competitive Test Championship while also allowing competitive Tests for countries at different levels. Test series will have more meaning and generate more interest for the game.
Let me know what you think and if you have any other ideas on how we can create more interest and meaning in Test cricket.
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