Why England have opposed two-tier World Test Championship plan but Australia are open to it

ECB opposes two-tier Test plan while CA keeps an open mind. (Image: Reuters)

Over the past few months, there has been intense debate about the two-tier system in Test cricket. The discussion gained momentum after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year drew a record-breaking 837,879 spectators, the highest attendance for any non-Ashes Test series in history.

During the series, former India head coach Ravi Shastri advocated for top teams playing each other more frequently. “The top teams play against each other more often, so there is a contest; you want contests,” he said.

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Shastri supports the idea of a two-tier system where elite Test nations face off regularly. The concept has been gaining traction and was one of the major topics at the ICC’s annual general meeting in July. Following the meeting, the ICC formed a working group, led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has underlined concerns about the two-tier model, particularly the risk of relegation separating England from key rivals such as Australia or India. That, they argue, could jeopardise their most commercially valuable series.

“We wouldn’t want, as England, to go through a dip and end up in Division Two, missing out on playing Australia or India,” ECB chairman Richard Thompson told BBC’s Test Match Special. “That just couldn’t happen. Common sense has to prevail.”

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Instead of overhauling the system, the ECB advocates for smarter scheduling. “Maybe you don’t need two tiers,” Thompson added. “What’s really needed is a schedule that makes more sense, balancing white-ball and red-ball cricket, managing bilateral series better, and factoring in the Olympics from 2028 onwards.”

CA CEO Todd Greenberg emphasised that any support from Australia would be conditional.

“My open mind is in reference to whether it helps grow the opportunities for those other countries to be stronger and have better resources in Test match cricket. If it does that, then I'm open to it,” Greenberg said.

A Long-Running Debate

The concept of a two-tier Test system has been circulating within ICC corridors for over 15 years. First raised in 2009, it failed to gain consensus among Full Member nations. In 2016, the proposal was revisited but firmly rejected by then-BCCI President Anurag Thakur, who argued it would marginalise smaller cricketing nations and undermine the spirit of the game.

Despite the lack of traction, the ICC has consistently shown interest. Still, the progress has been stalled by key concerns, including the loss of revenue for nations relegated to a lower tier due to the ICC’s funding model, and the risk of exclusion from high-profile bilateral series.

The ECB’s opposition is rooted in both financial and historical concerns. Relegation to a second tier could mean missing out on blockbuster series such as The Ashes or contests against India, fixtures that dominate the English and Australian cricketing calendars and generate significant revenue.

A two-tier format does not guarantee that top teams will consistently remain in the same division. This uncertainty has raised alarm bells over the future of iconic rivalries such as The Ashes or the emerging Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

While it is clear that Test cricket in countries such as India, Australia, and England continues to draw crowds and attention, akin to the popularity of white-ball cricket, future reforms must ensure that smaller Test nations are not left behind. Reducing their opportunities would only accelerate the decline of Test cricket in emerging regions.

The solution lies in building a fair and inclusive structure, one created in full consultation with all Test-playing nations.

To that end, the ICC has tasked Twose with leading a working group to evaluate potential changes to the World Test Championship. The group is expected to submit his recommendations by the end of the year.

A New Chapter?

The introduction of the World Test Championship in 2019 breathed new life into the format. It brought structure, context and competition, and has largely been considered a success.

A two-tier system could be a success too, providing more meaningful fixtures between top nations and possibly attracting greater fan engagement. However, this must not come at the expense of the game’s broader ecosystem. If implemented poorly, it risks further isolating lower-ranked sides already struggling for visibility.