ICC planning 2-tier system for Tests

The ICC, in collaboration with cricket boards of India, Australia and England, is exploring the possibility of a two-tier Test system to facilitate more series between big three nations.

According to a report, Jay Shah, the new ICC chairman, is set to meet Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird and his England counterpart Richard Thompson later this month to discuss the finer points.

The BCCI is currently gearing up for its Special General Meeting on January 12 in Mumbai where interim secretary Devajit Saikia is expected to get a full-time role. Saikia was appointed in the interim role after Shah vacated his post last month to take over as the ICC chairman.

A BCCI official indicated that the discussion floated around the ICC corridors in 2016, the first-time when a two-tier Test system was seriously considered. The BCCI and the cricket bodies of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh had opposed the move, citing the possibility of decreasing revenue. They had also argued that smaller nations would miss out on the opportunity of playing against top teams.

However, nine years down the road the modalities have changed and even some of the experts such as former Indian skipper Ravi Shastri are supporting the division.

“I’ve been a firm believer in that if you want Test cricket to survive and be alive and thriving, I think that’s the way to go. The top teams play against each other more often, so there is a contest,” Shastri said.

Even some of the top players such as England Test skipper Ben Stokes had criticised the current model of World Test Championship.

Learnt a lot in Australia, says Jaiswal

Young India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on Monday termed his maiden tour of Australia a learning experience and vowed to come back stronger after India went down to Australia, surrendering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 23-year-old left-handed batter was one of India’s standout performers, amassing 391 runs at an average of 43.44, the second-highest in the series. His contributions included a stellar 161 in the Perth Test, which India won by 295 runs. Jaiswal also scored two fifties. “I learnt a lot in Australia… Unfortunately, the result wasn’t what we had hoped for, but we’ll be back stronger,” Jaiswal posted online.

India’s loss has left fans and experts disappointed but legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar backed young talents like Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy, emphasising the need for hungry players who treat their wicket with utmost importance. “They are hungry to earn a name for India and themselves. Such players are needed. You need such players who will protect their wicket like their life,” he said.