Australian legend Steve Waugh has launched a passionate defense of Test cricket’s current structure, vehemently opposing a proposed two-tier system reportedly backed by Cricket Australia (CA) at recent International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings.
The former Australia captain, speaking to PTI, warned that dividing Test-playing nations into two groups would weaken lower-tier teams, widen the gap between cricket’s top and emerging Test sides, and undermine the competitive balance that has revitalized the longest format in recent years.
Waugh’s remarks come as the ICC considers restructuring the World Test Championship (WTC), with a plan aiming to prioritize matches among powerhouses like India, England, and Australia.
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The two-tier system would split the Test nations into an upper tier, likely featuring the Big Three of India, England, and Australia, and a lower tier for teams such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and others with a promotion-relegation mechanism.
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Steve Waugh Opposes Two-Tier Test Proposal
Waugh, an Aussie veteran with an experience of 168 Tests and architect of Australia’s dominant era in the late 1990s and early 2000s, argued that such a structure would starve second-tier teams of high-quality opposition, stunting their growth.
"I don’t like two-tier, it weakens whoever’s in the second tier, not playing in strong sides, they’re not going to be able to improve and get better. The top sides will keep getting better and stronger and it’ll just separate world cricket into teams that are top level and other teams that are okay and we want to develop the other teams right now. Test cricket is pretty strong actually, it’s probably seven or eight sides capable of beating each other and that hasn’t been the case for few years so I actually think Test cricket is going okay right now," Waugh said as quoted to PTI.
Waugh cited the example of the Champions Trophy 2025, where there was a huge uproar over India playing all of their matches in Dubai. He stated that people will always find reasons to complain.
"There’s always complaints. In Champions Trophy, India played a neutral ground in Dubai and people complained about that You have to do what you can to make things happen. It’s not a perfect situation. Some countries play a lot of Test matches, some don’t play many. South Africa probably didn’t play as many as other countries. They were pretty successful in what they did. I believe the two best Test-playing countries are lining up in the final," Waugh added.
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Waugh’s concerns resonate amid a resurgent Test cricket landscape, which he believes is healthier than it has been in years. Currently, the WTC finalists are decided based on percentage points. South Africa will face Australia in the final of the WTC 2023-25 final scheduled to begin on June 11 at Lord’s in London.
Also read: WTC Final 2025: Massive concern for South Africa as Temba Bavuma suffers elbow injury
