West Indies are in India for a two-Test series which begins on October 2 in Ahmedabad. They start the series as underdogs against a side which, despite in transition, ranks in top three in world cricket. West Indies were once a force to be reckoned with across the globe but now are a pale shadow of the past. Their record against India since 1994 also shows their decline - they have played 10 Tests against India in India since 1994 on four tours and have not won a single one, instead lost eight times and drawn twice.<h2>Is this last West Indies vs India Test series for foreseeable future?</h2>The Test cricket's status in world cricket has been a question for a long time now. The International Cricket Council (ICC), to boost the Test cricket, introduced World Test Championship (WTC) about seven years ago but it has only widened the gap between top tier nations and other teams. In the three WTC Finals since the maiden one in 2021 - only four teams have managed to reach the final - New Zealand (2021), India (2021 &amp; 2023), Australia (2023 &amp; 2025), and South Africa (2025).Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-hits-panic-mode-after-asia-cup-final-loss-vs-india-cancels-players-nocs-to-participate-in-foreign-t20-leagues-1759311337476">PCB hits panic mode after Asia Cup final loss vs India, cancels players' NOCs to participate in foreign T20 leagues</a>There's been a new proposal sent to ICC to keep Test cricket relevant - a two-tier system which will divide the Test playing teams into two groups.<h2>How will two-tier Test cricket work?</h2>The proposal of two-tier Test cricket, if accepted, will be applied after current Future Tour Programs (FTP) ends in 2027 with the WTC 2027 final. Under the system, six teams will be part of each tier based on their rankings. The top tier is expected to include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, and India while West Indies could end up with Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan in the second tier.The top tier teams will play against each other and compete for the WTC mace while the second tier teams will compete to get into the top tier. The system, if accepted, will make it near impossible for West Indies have a Test series against India which means the upcoming series could be the final chance for West Indies to register a Test win in India for the first time since 1994.

There's been a new proposal sent to ICC to keep Test cricket relevant - a two-tier system which will divide the Test playing teams into two groups. The system, if accepted, will make it near impossible for West Indies have a Test series against India.

West Indies are in India for a two-Test series which begins on October 2 in Ahmedabad. They start the series as underdogs against a side which, despite in transition, ranks in top three in world cricket. West Indies were once a force to be reckoned with across the globe but now are a pale shadow of the past. Their record against India since 1994 also shows their decline - they have played 10 Tests against India in India since 1994 on four tours and have not won a single one, instead lost eight times and drawn twice. Is this last West Indies vs India Test series for foreseeable future? The Test cricket's status in world cricket has been a question for a long time now. The International Cricket Council (ICC), to boost the Test cricket, introduced World Test Championship (WTC) about seven years ago but it has only widened the gap between top tier nations and other teams. In the three WTC Finals since the maiden one in 2021 - only four teams have managed to reach the final - New Zealand (2021), India (2021 & 2023), Australia (2023 & 2025), and South Africa (2025). Also Read - PCB hits panic mode after Asia Cup final loss vs India, cancels players' NOCs to participate in foreign T20 leagues There's been a new proposal sent to ICC to keep Test cricket relevant - a two-tier system which will divide the Test playing teams into two groups. How will two-tier Test cricket work? The proposal of two-tier Test cricket, if accepted, will be applied after current Future Tour Programs (FTP) ends in 2027 with the WTC 2027 final. Under the system, six teams will be part of each tier based on their rankings. The top tier is expected to include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, and India while West Indies could end up with Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan in the second tier. The top tier teams will play against each other and compete for the WTC mace while the second tier teams will compete to get into the top tier. The system, if accepted, will make it near impossible for West Indies have a Test series against India which means the upcoming series could be the final chance for West Indies to register a Test win in India for the first time since 1994.

There's been a new proposal sent to ICC to keep Test cricket relevant - a two-tier system which will divide the Test playing teams into two groups. The system, if accepted, will make it near impossible for West Indies have a Test series against India.

Explained: Is this last India vs West Indies Test series before ICC introduces new system?

England and India just featured in perhaps one of the best five-match Test series in recent times, with both sharing honours at the end of it. Barring the result, all matches reaching day five, with almost all getting wrapped up inside the final session, answered queries or even concerns surrounding the format’s future. Even though the full-packed houses at different venues across the UK reflected the country’s love for Test cricket, its board fears that the introduction of a two-tier Test system, currently under work, could see England fall into the second bracket sometime, potentially compromising its age-old rivalries against Australia (Ashes) and India.&nbsp;Meanwhile, to further improve WTC ahead of the next cycle, which begins in July 2027, the ICC formed a working group last month, led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, during its annual conference. Even though the Big 3, including India, England and Australia, have always kept Test cricket paramount, other boards feel pressurised trying to balance the Test cricket calendar with the congested franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-hopefuls-sam-konstas-nathan-mcsweeney-in-australia-a-squad-for-red-ball-tour-of-india-1754545218824">Ashes hopefuls Konstas, McSweeney in Australia-A squad for red-ball tour of India</a>&nbsp;Speaking on the same lines, ECB Chairman Richard Thompson rejected this idea, saying the two-tier system is not the answer to improving Test cricket structure, further warning boards of its complications should the ICC introduce it.&nbsp;"There's a lot of options that we've got to look at - tiers would be one of them," Thompson said. "We wouldn't want, as England, we may go through a fallow period, and that means, what, we fall into Division Two and we don't play Australia and India? That couldn't happen. There has to be a sense that common sense needs to play out here."&nbsp;On the other hand, Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia’s (CA) CEO - another influential voice on this subject - feels the top-earning boards must do more than just a bit to support those struggling on and off the field. He urged the Big 3 to step up and help smaller nations' cricket grow, mainly by working on improving their first-class cricket.&nbsp;"The real challenge here is what role do we all play," Greenberg said in a chat on SEN Radio on Wednesday (Aug 6). “When I say we, those three countries that [are] putting resources and energy into Test cricket, what role do we have to help others make sure that they step up because it's in our interest to see a strong West Indies, a strong Pakistan, New Zealand, [and] South Africa. We want those countries being strong in this format of the game, but clearly they're going to need help. They can't do it alone. It's incumbent on all of cricket to help.”&nbsp;He, however, admitted being open to the idea of a two-tier Test system should it serve the bigger purpose and involve fewer complications.&nbsp;"My open mind is in reference to, if it helps grow the opportunities for those other countries to be stronger, and have better resources in Test match cricket, if it does that, then I'm open for it," he said. "But if it doesn't achieve that, and it actually affects the opposite, then I wouldn't be supportive."

To further improve WTC ahead of the next cycle, which begins in July 2027, the ICC formed a working group last month, led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, during its annual conference.

England and India just featured in perhaps one of the best five-match Test series in recent times, with both sharing honours at the end of it. Barring the result, all matches reaching day five, with almost all getting wrapped up inside the final session, answered queries or even concerns surrounding the format’s future. Even though the full-packed houses at different venues across the UK reflected the country’s love for Test cricket, its board fears that the introduction of a two-tier Test system, currently under work, could see England fall into the second bracket sometime, potentially compromising its age-old rivalries against Australia (Ashes) and India. Meanwhile, to further improve WTC ahead of the next cycle, which begins in July 2027, the ICC formed a working group last month, led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, during its annual conference. Even though the Big 3, including India, England and Australia, have always kept Test cricket paramount, other boards feel pressurised trying to balance the Test cricket calendar with the congested franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide. Also read | Ashes hopefuls Konstas, McSweeney in Australia-A squad for red-ball tour of India Speaking on the same lines, ECB Chairman Richard Thompson rejected this idea, saying the two-tier system is not the answer to improving Test cricket structure, further warning boards of its complications should the ICC introduce it. "There's a lot of options that we've got to look at - tiers would be one of them," Thompson said. "We wouldn't want, as England, we may go through a fallow period, and that means, what, we fall into Division Two and we don't play Australia and India? That couldn't happen. There has to be a sense that common sense needs to play out here." On the other hand, Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia’s (CA) CEO - another influential voice on this subject - feels the top-earning boards must do more than just a bit to support those struggling on and off the field. He urged the Big 3 to step up and help smaller nations' cricket grow, mainly by working on improving their first-class cricket. "The real challenge here is what role do we all play," Greenberg said in a chat on SEN Radio on Wednesday (Aug 6). “When I say we, those three countries that [are] putting resources and energy into Test cricket, what role do we have to help others make sure that they step up because it's in our interest to see a strong West Indies, a strong Pakistan, New Zealand, [and] South Africa. We want those countries being strong in this format of the game, but clearly they're going to need help. They can't do it alone. It's incumbent on all of cricket to help.” He, however, admitted being open to the idea of a two-tier Test system should it serve the bigger purpose and involve fewer complications. "My open mind is in reference to, if it helps grow the opportunities for those other countries to be stronger, and have better resources in Test match cricket, if it does that, then I'm open for it," he said. "But if it doesn't achieve that, and it actually affects the opposite, then I wouldn't be supportive."

To further improve WTC ahead of the next cycle, which begins in July 2027, the ICC formed a working group last month, led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, during its annual conference.

England fear two-tier Test system could compromise Ashes; Australia ‘open’ to exploring opportunities

two-tier-test-system

Two Tier Test System, News on Two Tier Test System, stories on Two Tier Test System, articles on Two Tier Test System, Two Tier Test System stories at Wion, Two Tier Test System news, Two Tier Test System latest news

two tier-test-system

Explained: Is this last India vs West Indies Test series before ICC introduces new system?

ECB fear two-tier Test system could compromise Ashes; CA ‘open’ to explore