New Zealand Cricket CEO David White hopes a September meeting of ICC’s Executive Committee will go a long way towards a making dramatic change the future of test cricket.
White says there’s a lot of support around the ICC table for a proposed two-tier system for the longest format of the game which would see seven nations compete in the top tier, and five in the bottom.
The competition would run over two years with the winner of the second tier to earn promotion, while the team that finishes bottom of the top tier would be relegated.
“They’re talking about commencing it around 2019 because there’s obviously broadcast commitments that we’ve got at the moment and other commitments so getting everything ready for that 2018/19 window” White said.
“We’ve got a meeting coming up in early September where this will be discussed and everything put on the table and I’m hopeful that we’ll get more progress towards a resolution” White said.
It’s hoped the proposal will provide greater context and meaning to test cricket, and ensure global interest in every match.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have opposed the proposal, citing financial concerns. White says the recent eight-year broadcast deal signed by the ICC means there are significant sums of money available to compensate teams in the second tier.
He refuted the idea the proposal could kill test cricket among second-tier nations.
“I don’t think it’ll kill test cricket at all, I think it’ll give interest” White said.
“I think it’ll improve the level of test cricket, it’ll make it more competitive.”
