As focus on Test cricket continues to diminish, the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) World Cricket Committee wants to mandate three matches minimum in a Test series. India vs South Africa and Australia vs West Indies ended with two Tests and that irked many fans and cricketers. With the International Cricket Council (ICC) not mandating the number of matches in a Test series, the cricket boards schedule bilateral Tests based on priority.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) prioritised SA20. And they cut down on the number of Test matches to only two in India vs South Africa series. And as West Indies have lost prominence in Tests, Australia played only two. However, a rookie pacer Shamar Joseph proved Australia wrong. He played with an injured toe to bag seven wickets. His performance powered West Indies to their first win in 27 years.
MCC Statement
“The meeting occurred in the immediate aftermath of two fantastic men’s Test matches played in Brisbane and Hyderabad. It excited supporters of the Test match format. Yet also left them ruing the absence of a possible third match decider in the Australia v West Indies two match series,” the MCC WCC said in a statement.
“In support of the thrilling Test cricket currently being played and the importance of sustaining the traditional format of the game, the WCC recommends men’s Test series be played across a minimum of three matches from the next ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) from 2028 onwards,” it added.
MCC Recommendations
The World Cricket Committee also recommended strategies to sustain Test cricket in the T20-dominant cricket world. It includes a new revenue-sharing model for touring teams.
Minimum 3 Tests: With the ICC Future Tours Programme set to last until 2027, the MCC WCC wants to ICC take the leadership role in changing Test cricket. From FTP 2028, WCC wants to have a minimum of three Tests in a series. There should not be any two-match Test series.
Revenue-sharing: The WCC wants the home teams to cover the cost of travelling for touring teams. Currently, the touring teams pay for the travelling arrangements while the home board bags the profits. Hence, the WCC wants an equitable distribution of the revenue share.
Strategic Funding for women’s cricket: The WCC also wants ICC to divert funds to develop grassroots in women’s cricket.
Shed dependence on India: Another factor that the WCC wants the ICC to work on is to find new markets. The current cricketing landscape is heavily dependent on India and BCCI. As a result, BCCI has a bigger stake in ICC’s revenue share and holds crucial posts in the global body. However, the WCC wants the ICC to look at USA and beyond for sustainable development of cricket.
MCC World Cricket Committee
- Mark Nicholas, MCC President
- Kumar Sangakkara – Chair
- Suzie Bates
- Clare Connor
- Kumar Dharmasena
- Sourav Ganguly
- Jhulan Goswami
- Heather Knight
- Justin Langer
- Eoin Morgan
- Ramiz Raja
- Ricky Skerritt
- Graeme Smith
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