“When you don’t have quality, that is when the ratings drop” – Ravi Shastri gives unique idea to safeguard Test cricket

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes the number of Test teams should be divided into two groups. Just like football, Shastri wants the ICC to promote and relegate the teams, based on their performance.

Currently, nine teams are taking part in the World Test Championship. The top two teams qualify for the final of the WTC, based on percentage of wins. India is currently at the top of the standings, followed closely by Australia.

Shastri reckons there is a huge gulf between the Test teams and the top teams need to face each other more often to keep the pristine format afloat.

Shastri said at the World Cricket Connects in London, “When you don’t have quality, that is when the ratings drop, there are fewer people in the crowd, its meaningless cricket, which is the last thing sport wants. You have 12 Test match teams. Bring it down to six or seven and have promotion and relegation system. You can have two tiers but let the top six keep playing to sustain the interest in Test cricket.”

On the other hand, Australian captain Pat Cummins reckons there should be a specific allotted period for Test cricket window, like it is in Australia.

Cummins said on the same event, “In Australia you know Test cricket is from November to January and basically no other cricket is going to get in the way of us playing Test cricket then. If we can have specific windows for IPL but then also Test windows, that makes the decision-making for the players a lot easier.”

It is ICC’s duty to keep Test cricket in safe hands as the T20 format is growing by leaps and bounds. For the purists, Test cricket is always the top-most priority and the big players as well as the Big 3 (England, Australia, and India) should put in their best efforts to promote the red-ball format.