As per a report in The Telegraph, the World Test Championship could see major changes, including bonus points for dominant wins and extra rewards for away victories, as the ICC reviews its points system before the next cycle.
Here are some key takeaways.
1. What major changes to the World Test Championship are being considered?
- Introducing bonus points for dominant wins (e.g., winning by an innings).
- Awarding extra points for away wins to encourage competitive overseas performances.
- Adjusting points based on the strength of the opponent, meaning beating top-ranked teams would be more rewarding.
2. Why are bonus points being introduced?
- To keep matches engaging even when the result is inevitable.
- To reward teams for emphatic victories rather than treating all wins equally.
- Inspired by the Six Nations rugby model, where margin-based rewards add excitement.
3. What is the debate around a two-divisional Test Championship?
- Cricket Australia wants a two-tier system to guarantee more big-money series between Australia, England, and India.
- The ECB isn’t convinced, possibly due to concerns about competitiveness and fairness for smaller Test nations.
4. How do these reforms impact teams like England and South Africa?
- England could benefit from seeding-based points since they always play Australia and India.
- South Africa’s easy path to the 2025 final (without playing Australia or England) has sparked criticism, prompting calls for a more balanced system.
5. Will these changes make the World Test Championship more complicated?
- Some fear that adding more variables could make the standings harder to follow.
- However, the goal is to reward performances fairly and encourage better cricket across all teams.
- The reforms could be in place immediately for the 2025-27 cycle before further changes post-2027.