ICC considers two divisions for Test cricket in radical shake-up

Perhaps the ICC have been reading the forum and taken on board some of the recent suggestions about splitting Test playing countries into two divisions and implementing promotion and relegation.

Quote:The International Cricket Council is considering a radical proposal that would see Test cricket split into two divisions with promotion and relegation between them, and places granted to two new nations.

In a bid to bolster the appeal of international cricket the ICC, led by its chief executive, David Richardson, is exploring a number of options that would provide greater context to all three formats of the game from 2019.

It is understood that the preferred idea within the governing body at present, in terms of Test cricket, is a plan to place seven nations into division one and five in division two, with promotion and relegation decided every two years.

Based on the current rankings, eighth-placed West Indies would slip into division two, which would still have full Test status, along with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. This second tier would then see the two best teams from the 2015-17 Intercontinental Cup, the first-class competition for associate nations, added to it, leaving Ireland, currently top of the table, poised to gain Test status.

In division one it is envisaged that all seven nations would play a series against each other, either home or away, over a two-year cycle. The leading team would win the Test championship, while the bottom side would face relegation.

There would be no exemptions to this, something originally proposed by Australia, England and India during the restructuring of the ICC in 2014. Relegation and promotion between division two and the Intercontinental Cup would also be in place, although whether this would be automatic or determined by play-offs is still being discussed.

If we can't have a Test World Cup, this would be the next best thing for me. Though I would prefer that teams play each other both home and away to negate the current home field advantages that make winning on the road a rarity.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/fe...s-shake-up

[quote author=dillinger10 link=topic=102958.msg680961#msg680961 date=1456464463]
Perhaps the ICC have been reading the forum and taken on board some of the recent suggestions about splitting Test playing countries into two divisions and implementing promotion and relegation.
[/quote]

Indeed !  Chairman should contact  ICC re: Compensation !!  8)

Anyways on this Forum we had named the Two Tiers

and still kept the Ashes intact 

The two division system idea as been banded around before though if I'm not mistaken, not just on this forum by the way, and I think it is something that the ICC should give a go.

Whatever happens, at least then they can see if it's worth implementing over a longer period if it does work out. They need to try something new, so why not this?

The SUPER Test series was give more weight but appear now abandoned !

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/conte...22445.html

close and closer 

"If we really want Test cricket to survive, we can't have the number of Test teams

diminishing. We have to create a proper competition structure which provides

promotion and relegation and opportunities to get to the top.

"If you had a top division of seven teams, you'd have six tours

- three home, three away - over a two-year period.

It works well mathematically.

We could probably make it work in 2019 "

West Indies in Tier 2 may force administrative and business philosophy changes?

Doubt that ! IF the Board could care less about # 8 ranking

why would repackaged as a Tier be of any concern ?

OR they will argue for promotion after the 1st edition !

Less money for the gravy train.

The entire proposal would be meaningless if the monetary reward is the same.