Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has once again weighed in on the future of Test cricket. Reacting to recent reports about the potential division of Test cricket into two tiers, Pietersen reminded his followers of a prediction he made back 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’s 2021 Prediction
In September 2021, Pietersen predicted a significant change in Test cricket’s landscape. “In 2026, there will only be a few Test-playing nations,” he had tweeted. He named England, India, and Australia as the primary teams, with South Africa and Pakistan possibly joining them. He also suggested that the World Test Championship would cease to exist by then, adding, “No kids want to play Tests! Its history will help its survival with the bigger boards.”
Fast forward to 2025, and cricket’s powerbrokers are indeed discussing a two-division Test structure. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to deliberate on this proposal later this month.
ICC Considers Two-Tier Test Structure
According to reports, ICC chair Jay Shah is scheduled to meet with Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird and England Cricket Board chair 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 frequently.
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 marquee series like the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Theoretical Two-Division Test Cricket Structure
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, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe
While this structure would benefit the top-tier nations, it raises concerns for teams in Division 2. Smaller cricketing nations might lose opportunities to play against the best teams, affecting their growth and revenue.
Mixed Reactions to the Proposal
The idea of dividing Test cricket has sparked 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 with promotion and relegation could keep the format competitive.
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) previously opposed a similar proposal in 2016. Former BCCI president Anurag Thakur had voiced concerns about the negative impact on smaller cricketing nations. “In the two-tier system, they will lose out on a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams. We don’t want that to happen,” Thakur had said.
The Bigger Picture
Australia’s recent five-Test series against India drew massive crowds, with over 837,000 spectators attending. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG alone attracted a record 373,691 fans. Cricket Australia’s data shows that Test cricket remains highly popular when top teams clash.
While the two-tier structure could ensure more blockbuster series, it risks marginalizing smaller cricketing nations. As discussions progress, it remains to be seen whether the ICC can strike a balance between profitability and inclusivity.
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