Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has once again weighed in on the future of Test cricket. Reacting to recent reports about the possible split of Test cricket into two tiers, Pietersen reminded his followers of a prediction he made in 2021.
“Remember what I said a few years ago????” Pietersen wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account, referring to his earlier statement that by 2026, only a handful of countries would be playing Test cricket.
Pietersen Prediction 2021
In September 2021, Pietersen predicted a significant change in the landscape of Test cricket. “In 2026, there will only be a few Test playing nations,” he wrote on Twitter. He named England, India and Australia as the main teams, with South Africa and Pakistan likely to join them. He also suggested that the World Test Championship would cease to exist by then, adding, “No kid wants to play Tests! Her story will help her survive on the bigger boards.”
Fast forward to 2025, and the powers that be in cricket are indeed discussing a two-division Test structure. of International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to discuss the proposal later this month.
The ICC considers a two-tiered test structure
According to reports, ICC chairman Jay Shah is scheduled to meet Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird and England Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson to explore the possibility of splitting Test cricket into two tiers. The proposed structure aims to ensure that Australia, England and India play each other more often.
Under the current system, these teams face each other twice every four years. The new format would reduce this gap to three years, boosting revenue from bed series such as the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The theoretical structure of two-division Test cricket
If implemented, the two-tier system would likely look like this:
Division 1: South Africa, Australia, England, INDIA, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
Division 2: West Indies, Bangladeshireland, Afghanistan, ZIMBABWE
While this structure would benefit top-tier nations, it raises concerns for teams in Division 2. Smaller cricketing nations may miss out on opportunities to play against top teams, affecting their growth and revenue.
Mixed reactions to the proposal
The idea of splitting Test cricket has evoked mixed reactions. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri recently endorsed the concept. In his column for The Australian, Shastri wrote, “When the best teams play, the toughest and best format of the game is still alive and thriving.” He argued that a two-tier system of promotion and relegation could keep the format competitive.
However, to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earlier opposed a similar proposal in 2016. Former BCCI president Anurag Thakur had expressed concerns about the negative impact on smaller cricketing nations. “In the two-tier system, they will lose a lot, including income and the opportunity to play against top teams. We do not want this to happen”, said Thakur.
The bigger picture
Australia's recent five-Test series against India attracted massive crowds, with over 837,000 spectators in attendance. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG alone attracted a record 373,691 fans. Cricket Australia data shows that Test cricket remains very popular when the top teams clash.
While the two-tier structure may ensure more successful series, it risks marginalizing smaller cricketing nations. As discussions progress, it remains to be seen whether the ICC can strike a balance between expediency and inclusion.
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