South Africa and the West Indies have largely failed to be competitive in their combined five Tests against Australia this summer as the global imbalance gets worse.
Only India and perhaps England are currently set up to challenge Australia for Test supremacy with the Proteas and Windies joining the likes of New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in an ongoing battle to remain competitive with the “Big Three” nations.
There is no easy solution for Cricket Australia when it comes to scheduling Tests at home or the ICC for that matter in trying to deliver a fair schedule.
When India and England are on tour, ticket sales and TV ratings soar but the other half of the four-yearly cycle is where the problems appear.
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India are slated to play five matches in Australia in 2024-25 with England heading back the following summer.
Australia celebrate with the trophy. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
As it stands, three Tests against New Zealand is all that will be on during the 2026-27 home summer before a tour of India which could get under way as early as mid-January. Then the Australians are due to return home to play Bangladesh in two Tests in March. They haven’t played a home Test that late in the season since a two-match series against Pakistan in 1979.
There are 12 Test-playing nations after Afghanistan and Ireland were elevated to cricket’s elite tier in recent years but Australia, England and India rarely play the teams at the bottom of the rankings for a variety of reasons.
Australia, for example, are scheduled to play just one Test against Afghanistan (in 2026) as part of the 2023-27 ICC program.
ICC chairman Greg Barclay during a New Zealand radio interview on the weekend that cricket was in a really fortunate position as the fastest-growing team sport in the world.
However, he said with the growth in the T20 format and women’s cricket, that traditional facets of the game like Tests need to be restructured.
“Clearly not everybody is going to be able to play Test cricket. That will be the part that we see probably compromised but the ICC are committed to continuing with Test cricket,” he told NewstalkZB, pointing to the success of the World Test Championship. “Our big challenge from a cricketing point of view is the calendar. It’s incredibly congested and getting more so all the time.
“From the ICC’s point of view, we’ve taken the view that Test cricket is an integral part of the game, it’s what makes cricket special. It’s incumbent on all of us to try and make it work.
“It’s really, really tricky to make all of this work,” he added when talking about trying to factor in three formats of varying financial success.
(Photo by Jason McCawley – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Former Australian captain Ian Chappell theorised on Cricinfo recently that Test cricket should only be played by the eight traditional nations who have the infrastructure to cope, meaning the Afghans, Irish, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh would be excluded.
Perhaps a better solution would be to set up a promotion and relegation system between the 12 teams over the course of the three-year World Test Championship cycle – the current one ends with a final next June in England.
Whichever teams finish in the top six play each other for the next three years while the bottom six duke it out among themselves.
Then after playing against more evenly-matched opponents in the respective tiers over another three years, the last-placed nation in the top group would be relegated, replaced by the best side from the bottom six.
Chappell’s long-time sparring partner, English legend Sir Ian Botham, said there’s a case for two divisions “with promotion and relegation to make it a bit more exciting” in the Sydney Morning Herald on the weekend along with former Australian skipper Mark Taylor, who likes the idea of two divisions being “a way of trying to entice countries to want to play Test cricket in that top six”.
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Kyle Verreynne of South Africa. (Photo by Brett Hemmings – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
While a promotion/relegation system for Test cricket works well in theory, it would be hard to institute in reality.
The ICC currently sets the Future Tours Programme in five-year blocks, factoring in all the bilateral series across three formats for the 12 full member nations so it would be hard to rejig that on the run if teams went up or down the divisions.
And what would happen to major series such as the Ashes if England and Australia were in separate divisions? Would they be cancelled until the two nations were back in the same division or continue to be played and sit outside the world championship standings?
Despite the lopsided contests this summer, the Australian public still came out in force to support their team.
Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was the first summer since 2019-20 that wasn’t affected by pandemic restrictions, but Cricket Australia was thrilled with the crowds at the five Tests.
The opener in Perth only drew a little more than 40,000 fans across five days – that was pretty much on par with historical attendances for West Indies Tests at the WACA Ground but it was not a good look aesthetically at the much larger Optus Stadium.
Adelaide crowd figures were also up with the overall figure of 86,617 fans the highest for a match against the Windies in more than 40 years while Brisbane hosting its fixture closer to Christmas was also a winner with the Gabba attracting 29,306 and then 18,206 for what turned out to be the shortest Test in nine decades.
More than 156,000 supporters attended the four days of the MCG Test win over South Africa and there were more than 122,000 for the five days at the SCG, including just under 24,000 who turned up for the washed-out third day.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
There were all sorts of theories put forward at the start of the summer about the Australian team supposedly being on the nose with the general public due to their role in coach Justin Langer’s abrupt exit last summer and the players’ views on political issues.
It turns out the poor crowds in October and November were more due to the fact that the Aussies got off to a poor start in the T20 World Cup and that the subsequent meaningless three-match ODI series against England was seen by the fans for what it was worth – not much at all.
Australia’s Test program 2023-27
2023
February-March: four Tests in India
June: World Test Championship at The Oval
June-July: Five Test Ashes tour of England
December: Three Tests at home v Pakistan
2024
January: Two Tests at home v West Indies
February-March: Two Tests in New Zealand
December-January: Five-Test Border-Gavaskar series at home v India
2025
February: Two-Test tour of Sri Lanka
June-July: Two-Test tour of the West Indies
December-January: Five-Test Ashes series against England
2026
August: One Test at home v Afghanistan in northern Australia
September-October: Three-Test tour of South Africa
December-January: Three Tests at home v New Zealand
2027
January-February: Five-Test Border-Gavaskar Series tour of India
March: Two Tests v Bangladesh at home
JamesH
Roar Guru
All good, Bush!
CPM
Roar Rookie
Domestic MSL in 2018 were averaging over a million viewers for all 33 matches. In 2019 MSL was canceled and it changed its name again and was played, Domestic T20 has had many different names and different formats over the past 20 years the point is it has been played since 2003 and is still being played in addition to the SA20 which is the IPL. https://www.sacricketmag.com/mzansi-super-league-viewer-figures-revealed
The Bush
Roar Guru
I suppose my issue with Markram is that his overall FC statistics aren't great, an average of 41 suggests he's far from a world beater, especially when my understanding is that South African FC batting averages tend to be a few runs higher than Australian ones for whatever reason (Klaasen is 31 and averages 45, he'd have been playing for Australia for yeras if that FC average was even close to what he could produce at test level, for example). Markram is also 28, so it's concerning that his batting is going backwards, when he should be entering his peak years. I suppose this is getting into semantics, their batting is so weak right now, I'm sure Markram will get another go and I hope he succeeds, there's still plenty of room in this line up for other guys to get a go too. I probably feel the same way about Du Plessis, i.e. that we're again getting into semantics. Definitely RSA could use a guy like him right now, but I wouldn't put him in the bracken of Waugh or Rogers. Waugh batted during a much harder era and still managed to average higher for a longer period. Rogers is unlucky in that he was picked well after his prime, and again still averaged more. I'm pretty comfortable calling Du Plessis a 'modest' or 'average' test batsman, capable of amazing innings, but nothing more. Great white ball bat though, which helps him be remembered as more amazing than he was. Good chat, didn't meant to come on so strong when I first commented.
JamesH
Roar Guru
My point about Markram is that even though he's struggling at the moment, 8 tests is not a lengthy enough period to suggest he is on the decline. The T20 reference was just to reinforce his natural talent, not to imply success in the long form. He might not have contributed to this tour - and it was fair for SA to drop him on form - but there's enough in his history to suggest that this is just a rough trot and he can bounce back. And SA need him to, hence my comment "They really need Markram back in form at the top. If they can achieve that...". Part of the challenge, of course, is how irregularly SA play tests. FWIW I never said Du Plessis was a great batsman (I only listed him in the talent that SA had lost), but there's a big gap between great and modest. A test average of 40 is not modest. It's genuinely good, without being outstanding. It puts him in a similar vein to say, Mark Waugh or Chris Rogers. SA would kill to have that right now.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I dont have a clue whether the T20 competition in NZ or SOuth Africa is more popular, but I have never seen the constant news reports waiting for a TV deal from India to kick off the season like South Africa does. The crowds I have seen on some highlights look absent I dont where you get the idea they get great crowds it seems its for Indian TV and NZ they have some 10 am kick off times. The CSA T20 league well the cancelled season was 2019-2020 so cancelled before COVID and the announcement was they didnt have the funds to run it. There was an attempt at a higher level T20 franchise league already the Msanzai super league . I think first year that was delayed with the excuse no TV deal .Then that fell over. The good thing for South Africa is the new one is being run by IPL teams so they will fund the teams which is the major expense in the competition and SOuth Africa can whisk away some profits like the BCCi, as opposed to South Africa the whole show and failing. South Africa cancelled a one day tour by Australia, well Australia is actually the Claytons big three member in that , India pays heaps for overseas based cricket, England is the no 2 they pay good money for overseas based cricket as well, Australia on the other hand they pay a pittance if you host an overseas tour in comparison to the big money paid locally.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Listening to KP or reading anything he says is torture so I’ll have to regretfully decline the invitation.
CPM
Roar Rookie
The domestic CSA T20 competition has been played every year since 2003 except in the first year of Covid it features all 230 domestically contracted players. It is very popular and draws way more viewers and crowds than whatever NZ has for a domestic T20. There is also a domestic T20 knockout competition featuring all 14 professional unions as well is the u20 team. The new SA 20 is a private venture and features only the best 80 domestic players and around 70 foreign picked from the auction. The domestic structure was a mess and players left for Koplak deals and also because up to 30 players were competing for 11 places. The domestic season has since been revamped. Why will India not tour SA when the IPL owners are running a T20 competition in SA. It’s also in India prime time viewing hours unlike NZ for example?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
What exactly is an unworthy test nation? A single test match against India is also worth more than T20 series and one day series against other nations and its also worth more than a single T20 match against India. India is not at your beck and call, if a nation decides they are not playing test cricket, then India is not going to turn up to play a 5 match T20 series because they aren’t, more the case will probably never tour there again and they never make any money again. The problem with some test nations is the money they get from India is then not used to pay players properly. If you look at NZ they dont get any more money than some others I assume they get less but they do give a fair chunk to their players, who always want to play for them and that ironically somehow means they have South Africans playing test cricket for them. They also somehow run their own T20 comp whereas South Africa many years they couldn’t because it was all dependent on the TV deal from India.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Retiring their First Class competition? So in other words, they're going to give up Test Status? That's crazy... If they do this, they'll be back to competing with the likes of the Netherlands to qualify for major tournaments...
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yes, I have, but it doesn’t sound like you’ve looked close enough. Bush. Despite only averaging 13 in his last 8 tests, the guy still has a career average of 34 (which is higher than every other current SA batter except Elgar and Bavuma). Prior to that he’d hit 5 centuries and 9 50s in 25 matches at an average of 41. Couple that with a T20I average of 38.21 at a SR of 147.73 and it’s clear the guy is a talent. But that's the thing James, his career average might be 34, but it's a career average on the downward trajectory, and quickly. I'm not really sure what his T20I record has to do with it, Watson was an amazing white ball batsmen, but never quite cut it as a test batsman... they're different formats. The reality is that Markram has been struggling in test cricket and wouldn't have added anything to this line up. RSA do have some young batsmen around with impressive looking FC stats, but I dunno if they'll be able to turn that into a real batting line up - I hope they can!. I'm not sure what your point is about Du Plessis? Yes, he only 'only' had an average of 40 in test cricket. I'm not saying he wasn't decent enough, but you have to admit that 40 isn't the marker of a great batsman, he was a modest test batsman surrounded by greats (Amla, Kallis, Smith, De Villiers), his performance in 2012 against us was really not reflective of his overall career. I do agree with you that RSA benefitted from a generation of talent and yes, they're now struggling with that generation having retired. Probably the big difference between what happened to us and what is happening to them is that even when we lost all our stars between 2007 and 2009 (Langer, Hayden, Martyn, Gilchrist, Warne, McGrath), we still had Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Clark, Haddin, Johnson etc. In contrast they have Elgar, who is already 35 and not even in the class of any of the batsmen we still had access to. It's a shame they lost De Kock, they really don't have the depth to have lost him right now.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Thanks for the insight, CPM. I'd heard rumblings about the board's decision-making but I wasn't aware of all the specifics. While I don't agree with the death of test cricket narrative generally, like any other sport/format it needs competent administrative support to thrive. It would be truly sad if CSA continues down that path and kills red ball cricket in their own country.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yes, I have, but it doesn't sound like you've looked close enough. Bush. Despite only averaging 13 in his last 8 tests, the guy still has a career average of 34 (which is higher than every other current SA batter except Elgar and Bavuma). Prior to that he'd hit 5 centuries and 9 50s in 25 matches at an average of 41. Couple that with a T20I average of 38.21 at a SR of 147.73 and it's clear the guy is a talent. And Du Plessis 'only' had a test average of 40, did he? While SA have had their share of luck against Australia, I'd argue that what they really benefited from is some genuine generational talent that is very hard to replace. It feels a bit similar to what Australia went through about 12 years ago when we had lost a bunch of guns and the Poms murdered us at home.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
NZ played SA in South Africa in a Boxing Day test a few years back with zero promotion. The result was 12 spectators on Day 1. Far outnumbered by the teams support crews. So SA is on an upwards trajectory in test cricket at home. I've seen at Junction Oval in Victoria (from a passing light rail train) NSW with Taylor, the Waughs etc playing Victoria (Jones etc) and the only spectator seen was a guy walking his dogs around the boundary. Things have picked up noticably since.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Its ok because we have Chat AI, and really what else do you need?
Simoc
Roar Rookie
I'm a bit lost with this Generational thing. I was born in 1957 so am I Millenial, Gen X, Baby Boomer, can't remember the others. I normally stick with Bloody old but it doesn't fit in the trendies. But when we play Bangladesh we send them to Darwin or Cairns, so condescending of the fruitcakes they employ at Cricket Australia. I'm guessing overseas nations would love a game at the SCG or MCG. I guess when Oz is down India and others should send Australia to their suburban grounds to promote the game, as our guys would say.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
No one is stopping them from playing more, but they’ve become a highly unattractive proposition given how poor they’ve become.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Once again rubbish, I almost always go to the Gabba test, but I watch everyday of the rest of the summer on the TV. I love test cricket.
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
Yep, it is a good idea. Sadly, a slow train crash is unfolding before our eyes with test cricket and 2 divisions could help. I hardly watch short-form slog fests heavily in favor of the batsman because they are not interesting. I have never watched a big bash game and often watch the shield games. But more people these days like slog fest mania to real cricket so it looks like adios to real cricket in the not-too-distant future.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
A recent Chair/President coached my brother-in-law as a young man and is a much-loved cricket luminary in Potsch/Klerksdorp. He was unable to make meaningful change and gave up.
CPM
Roar Rookie
There was the old CSA board and now there is the new CSA board. The old CSA board. The old CSA board crazy things like revoke cricket journalists’ accreditation and banning them entering stadiums for performing their duty and informing the public. Sponsors walked away from CSA because of this. Now the new board has to clean up the mess. I like the way that they came in and fixed three lingering problem immediately, efficiently and decisively.