Black Caps: Test cricket’s two-tier plan could be good for the game - Editorial

The Black Caps could find themselves in test cricket's top tier under a planned restructure. Photo / Photosport

Editorial

Cricket fans outside of India, Australia and England were largely horrified by the suggestion this week that the men’s test scene could be restructured into a two-tier system, with the “Big Three” clearing the stage to play each other more frequently.

Under the proposed structure, the Black Caps would have a place in the top tier, alongside the “Big Three” and South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Avoiding relegation to the second tier would be crucial. In the second tier, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe would face off, striving for promotion.

As much as a balmy afternoon perched at Seddon Park pleases the purists, there’s no doubt that the only test matches that consistently pull big television audiences globally are those played between the “Big Three”. And it’s television money that keeps all sports alive.

Fans of countries outside of the trio are often riled by the notion of a “Big Three” dominating test cricket schedules – but realistically, all they would rather have is a “Big Four”, with their own side added into the existing mix. Kiwis would love to see New Zealand in there but would be less enthused at the notion of South Africa or Sri Lanka being in the limelight.

As a case in point, India’s recent tour of Australia captured the attention of neutral fans, with blazing bowling, big hitting and bristling egos. Meanwhile, South Africa’s two-test series against Pakistan played out without catching the eye of neutrals, despite some big scores and a decent mid-pitch “f*** you” contretemps between Kyle Verreynne and Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam.

You don’t need to be a fan of the Aussies or the Poms to acknowledge that the Ashes, regardless of the form of its contestants, remains the pinnacle of test cricket.

Highlighting the clashes that drive interest in the game could save test cricket – and this weird spectacle is a sporting treat that’s worth saving.

The rise of T20 has delivered us big hitting and spectacular catches – ideal shareable fodder for the social-media world. But with matches, tournaments and even World Cups rolling around with seemingly unending frequency, the T20 format delivers little of the characters, narratives and venom that test cricket – and even ODIs – can promise.

Virat Kohli’s shoulder-barge on young Aussie debutant Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day test was a petty attempt at bullying. It was also brilliant drama, the kind of soap opera the matey T20 format, where players are rivals one day and teammates in another league the next, will never achieve.

With the future of test cricket looking parlous, a two-tier system that lets the “Big Three” build big audiences might be the best of a bad bunch of options.

Next year, the Black Caps have a rare opportunity to play the Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The last time they had this chance, in 2019, they were frankly destroyed. Fans of the sport will hope that Kane Williamson (who will then be 36) is still wearing whites. Perform well, and the side will have made a case for widening the umbrella of what constitutes the top tier in test cricket.