Why Test Cricket Needs a Tier System to Stay Alive?

Test cricket is the oldest and purest form of the game; it once defined greatness. But in the age of T20 fireworks and ODI thrillers, the five-day format seems to be fading into the background. The recently concluded India Tour of West Indies is a perfect reminder of where the format stands today.

India, led by their new Test captain Shubman Gill, cruised to victory within three days, not because the West Indies lacked effort, but because the gulf between the two sides was simply too wide. This wasn’t a contest; it was a mismatch disguised as a Test match.

That’s exactly where the problem lies. When top-tier teams face struggling sides, the contest loses its soul. Fans switch off, broadcasters lose interest, and players themselves find motivation dipping. The grandeur of Test cricket, built on patience, skill, and strategy, deserves better.

That’s where the tier system comes in. The proposed 2 tier system in Test cricket aims to ensure that every match delivers competitive balance and genuine excitement for fans.

Why the 2-Tier System in Test Cricket Makes Sense?

The idea of a two-tier Test structure isn’t new. It’s been discussed by cricket boards and experts for years, but never truly implemented. Under this system, Test-playing nations would be divided into two levels based on performance, much like football leagues, with promotion and relegation at the end of each cycle. The ICC 2 tier system could revolutionise this format by introducing expulsion.

Ravi Shastri once said, “You need quality competition. You can’t have teams just filling up the calendar.” And he’s spot on. Matches like India vs West Indies prove the need for a more competitive structure.

Imagine this: Tier 1 features teams like India, Australia, England, and South Africa, where every series is fiercely contested. Tier 2 includes teams like West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Ireland, who battle for promotion. Suddenly, every match has meaning. A Test in Dominica or Dhaka wouldn’t just be another fixture; it would decide a team’s place in the hierarchy of world cricket.

Fans would get quality cricket more often. Players from smaller nations would have a realistic goal as their team would get promotion to the top tier if they performed well. The ICC could package these contests with stronger narratives, bringing back that sense of anticipation that once surrounded every Test series.

In the current structure, there’s no consequence for losing repeatedly. Teams remain informed, regardless of the form. But with relegation on the line, every run and wicket would carry weight. As Harsha Bhogle might say, “Context is the oxygen of Test cricket, without it, even the best innings can suffocate in silence.” Implementing a 2 tier system in WTC (World Test Championship) would bring more structure and purpose, making every series count toward survival or advancement.

Keeping the Format Alive

Let’s face it, the world has changed. Players are drawn to T20 leagues, broadcasters chase instant engagement, and audiences crave highlight reels over long sessions. Yet, for true cricket lovers, there’s nothing quite like the sight of a bowler working over a batsman across ten overs or a batter grinding out a day-long hundred. But for this magic to survive, Test cricket needs balance, both in competition and in scheduling. The tier system could be that lifeline. Overall, a 2 tier system in cricket could be the much-needed reform to bridge the gap between stronger and developing nations, keeping the sport globally relevant.

A strong second division would give emerging nations meaningful exposure. Afghanistan, for example, could play consistent red-ball cricket against sides of similar strength, rather than being thrown into mismatched battles. Meanwhile, the top tier would ensure that every series is a marquee event, India vs England, Australia vs South Africa, England vs New Zealand, contests that actually feel like heavyweight clashes.

A team demoted to Tier 2 would fight tooth and nail to get back. Fans would rally behind them, much like a football club chasing promotion. The stories would write themselves. And who knows? We might finally see a day where a team like the West Indies, once giants of the game, fight their way back to the top, reigniting the spirit of their glory days from the 1980s.
The India vs West Indies Test series wasn’t just a one-sided game; it was a warning sign. Without change, Test cricket risks becoming an elite club with declining interest. A tier system could be the fresh start the format needs, creating competitive balance, restoring meaning, and reigniting fan passion. The beauty of Test cricket lies in its fight, its patience, and its drama. The tier system can bring that back, turning every match into a story worth watching. Because when every session matters, Test cricket lives again.