The World Test Championship could soon grow from nine teams to 12 as cricket officials work on plans for the next cycle of the competition.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg says discussions over the change have reached an advanced stage. The ICC and national boards are now working on the next Future Tours Programme. The current WTC cycle includes nine teams. Each side plays six Test series, with three at home and three away, during a two year period before the final.
However, the competition could look very different from the 2029 to 2031 cycle. The proposed system would include at least 12 teams. It could also allow one off Tests to count towards the championship.
That change could open the door for Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan to become part of the WTC. A final decision could come during the ICC meetings in Bali next month.
Greenberg believes the expanded competition could be approved for the next cycle.
“I think that’s what will happen for the next two years,” Greenberg said when asked about the possibility of a 12 team model.
He also said the next version of the WTC could give every Test nation a chance to compete. “I think for the next iteration [of the WTC], I can understand why it is that number because they want to give every Test nation the opportunity,” he said.
However, Greenberg believes Test cricket still faces bigger problems beyond the WTC format. He said countries need to make difficult decisions about their schedules if they want the longer format to remain healthy.
“Countries are going to have to make hard decisions themselves because if revenues don’t continue to come in from the ICC at the levels that we’ve enjoyed, or they can’t generate their own FTP arrangements, then ultimately any business, ours is the same, you can’t continue to distribute more than you can earn every year,” Greenberg said.
“That’s where global cricket finds itself in some parts.”
