Cricket’s “Big"Three"—Australia, England, and India—are reportedly in talks to divide Test cricket into two tiers, with discussions focusing on scheduling more frequent matchups between the top teams. The proposal, spearheaded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair Jay Shah, Cricket Australia’s Mike Baird, and England’s Richard Thompson, is expected to be discussed further later this month. The idea of a two-tier system has gained momentum following the massive success of Australia’s recent five-match series against India. The series has been lauded as one of the most-watched and best-attended Test series in recent history, signaling the demand for more high-profile encounters. A two-tier system would likely come into effect post-2027, after the current Future Tours Program ends, with a major anniversary Test match between Australia and England at the MCG in the same year. Former India coach Ravi Shastri has supported this idea, advocating for more “best versus best” contests to keep Test cricket thriving. Under this structure, the top-tier nations could play each other more frequently, reducing the burden of playing against smaller teams. On SEN during the SCG Test, Shastri siad, “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; you want contests.” Read also: Jasprit Bumrah as Vice captain in CT2025: Reports Two-Tier Structure to boost finances, increase Top-Team matches If the proposal goes ahead, Australia, England, and India could schedule series every three years instead of the current four-year cycle. This shift would also benefit Australia financially, reducing the number of “downside” years in its four-year financial cycle. The concept of dividing Test cricket into two tiers was first proposed in 2016 but was shelved due to opposition from smaller nations. However, with increased revenue from Twenty20 leagues and growing competition for players' attention, the push for a two-tier structure has gained significant backing from the larger boards. The potential restructuring could spell the end of the World Test Championship (WTC), but the change may bring more excitement and competition to the format.