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Graeme Smith feels two-tier Test system would weaken countries like South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka.
CSA Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith. (Picture Credit: AFP)
South African administrator and former captain Graeme Smith has voiced his concerns over the reports of a ‘two-tier’ system of Test cricket which is reportedly in works at the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Age recently reported that the ICC wants the big three — India, Australia and England — to play each other more frequently by putting them in a separate division.
If implemented, this system would see India, Australia and England, which contribute most of the sport’s revenue, play each other twice every three years. That’s an increase from the current twice every four years and will take out space from the big three teams playing — and thus, helping the coffers of — smaller cricketing nations.
“My answer to that would be we (South Africa) are in the World Test Championship (WTC) final; we’ve got a chance to win the mace. I think that’s the key,” Smith said while talking to Sky Sports. “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, and South Africa have done that. I think over the last couple of years, their win percentages are actually pretty decent if you go and look over a period of time.”
Smith took an empathetic look at the ICC’s situation but said pushing more such games in the next Future Tours Programme (FTP) would further weaken nations with a rich history but less revenue like South Africa.
“I also do feel for the ICC. I was just looking at a note this morning at how much England and India are playing each other over the next period, and Australia and vice versa. It gets extremely hard for the other nations… India are probably the best because they are commercially so reliable for the other nations. But where do you find the top three nations playing each other all the time? And you can only imagine in the next FTP cycle how that’s been tied up in the background,” he said.
“How does the ICC create a structure that’s fair in the top three’s eyes? I think what world cricket needs is, it needs South Africa strong, needs the West Indies strong, needs Sri Lanka to get better. Otherwise, can you see a world where there are only three nations playing cricket in the future?” he asked in conclusion.
