Cricket chiefs are ready to revolutionise the Test format by introducing two divisions with promotion and relegation.
While the five-day game remains popular in England and Australia, interest is dwindling in other parts of the world, where players prefer to play in Twenty20 franchise tournaments.
ICC chief executive Dave Richardson revealed today that the sport’s governors believe a league system will revive the longer form of the game.
The ICC cricket committee, on which England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Andrew Strauss serves, are meeting at Lord’s, though only the ICC board have the power to rubber-stamp rule changes. Richardson said: “We have a challenge keeping all formats going.
“We are looking to introduce a proper league system which will grow interest and make every series more relevant.”
The league system is just one plan to attract more interest in Test cricket. The prospect of day-night Tests is also on the table, with both Lord’s and Edgbaston keen to stage one next summer, possibly against the West Indies.
Richardson was speaking at a promotional event for the Champions Trophy, which starts one year today and pitched the game’s greatest rivals against each other in the group stages.
Hosts England and Australia were drawn together in Group A, while India and Pakistan are both in Group B. The opening game will be between England and Bangladesh at The Kia Oval.
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