Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of the Indian cricket team, has called for the introduction of a two-tier system in Test cricket. He believes that such a structure will ensure the survival of the longer format, providing a platform for better competition and increasing the standard of the game.
Shastri’s call for change follows the record-breaking Boxing Day Test between India and Australia, which saw an impressive 373,691 spectators over five days.
This crowd attendance set a new benchmark, surpassing the previous record of 350,534 at the same venue during the 1936/37 Ashes series between Australia and England.
The massive turnout serves as a clear indicator that Test cricket remains alive and well when top teams compete against each other.
Shastri pointed out that such high attendance figures were a direct result of the fierce competition between the world’s best teams.
“To break crowd records that have stood for nearly a century is a testimony to the fact that when the best teams play, the toughest and best format of the game is still alive and thriving,” he wrote in his column for The Australian.
He added that the match should also serve as a reminder to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the best teams need to play against one another for Test cricket to truly thrive.
The former coach emphasised that without such competition, Test cricket risks losing its appeal, suggesting that the current clutter of mismatched teams dilutes the overall quality of the format.
Shastri called for the implementation of a two-tier system, with the top six to eight teams playing in the upper tier, while a promotion and demotion mechanism would allow other teams to move up or down the ladder.
He argued that such a system would ensure that only the best teams face off against each other, keeping the matches competitive and engaging for fans.
Reflecting on the thrilling Boxing Day Test, Shastri noted that the five-day format was integral to the excitement of the match. Despite ongoing discussions about reducing Test matches to four days, he firmly believes that the longer format remains crucial for producing classic cricketing moments.
The dramatic events of day five, including the final moments of the match, reinforced Shastri's view that five-day Tests should remain the standard. He pointed out that reducing the length of the format would only dilute the quality of the game, especially when mismatched teams are involved.
"The theatre in the end on day five was further proof of why we need five days for a classic Test match," he added. "However, if you don’t create a two-tier system, you’ll continue to have unmatched teams up against each other and then it’s very unlikely they’ll be able to take a game into the fifth day. Then there’ll always be talk of four-day Tests.”
Australia's victory in the Boxing Day Test by 184 runs left them leading the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1, with the fifth and final Test scheduled to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on January 3.
The debate over a two-tier Test system is not a new one. In 2016, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had introduced a proposal to establish a two-tier system, but it was eventually withdrawn after a meeting of the chief executives’ committee in Dubai.
Since then, the idea has been discussed periodically, but no concrete steps have been taken to implement such a structure.
Shastri’s latest comments come at a time when Test cricket’s future remains a topic of debate. While the format has traditionally been seen as the ultimate test of a cricketer’s skill and endurance, it faces increasing competition from shorter formats like T20 cricket.
The rise of T20 leagues around the world has drawn attention away from Test cricket, and many believe that changes are necessary to keep the format relevant in the modern era.
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