'Too much of a clutter' - Ravi Shastri asks for two-tier system for Test cricket's survival

Former Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri has asked for revamping Test cricket by introducing a two-tier system to ensure the format’s survival. His comments were made following the record-breaking fourth Test of the India-Australia series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which attracted 373,691 spectators. Shastri believes that introducing relegation and promotion could preserve the red-ball game while keeping the competition alive.

The MCG Test created history with the attendance surpassing the previous record of 350,534 set during the 1936-37 Ashes series. This interest in Test cricket comes in the middle of the growing popularity of T20 leagues, putting questions about the future of the traditional format.

Shastri has voiced his opinion about the structure of the World Test Championship (WTC). The ICC had previously considered a two-tier system in 2016, picturing a league comprising the top seven teams. However, the proposal faced strong opposition from the BCCI, which argued that it would marginalize smaller cricketing nations

"To break crowd records that have stood for nearly a century... is testimony to the fact that when the best teams play, the toughest and best format of the game is still alive and thriving. It was also a sound reminder to the ICC (International Cricket Council) that the best should play the best for Test cricket to survive. I will say that there's too much of a clutter otherwise. This match further emphasizes why we need a two-tier system with the top 6-8 teams and then include promotion and demotion. You will not get these kinds of crowds if you don't have two proper teams playing," he said in a column for The Australian newspaper.

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If you don't create a two-tier system, you'll continue to have unmatched teams up: Ravi Shastri

Additionally, Shastri expressed strong support for retaining the five-day format, mentioning it as essential to Test cricket’s excitement and referred to the MCG Test’s conclusion on the fifth day.

"The theater in the end on (day five) Monday was further proof of why we need five days for a classic Test match. 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," he added.