Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has raised concerns about the awarding of Test status to associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), questioning the criteria behind the decision.
In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Chappell emphasized that there needs to be specific criteria considered before a country is granted Test status. He criticized the ICC for promoting teams to Test status without meeting what he believes to be “reasonable criteria.”
Chappell also discussed the possibility of a two-tier Test system, which has been widely debated to enhance the popularity and sustainability of the format. He pointed out that only a few teams are realistically capable of competing in Tests on a long-term basis and highlighted the potential benefits of introducing a two-tier system.
He questioned the ICC’s decision-making process, especially in relation to associate members such as Afghanistan and Ireland, both of which were awarded Test status in 2018. Chappell raised concerns about Afghanistan’s ability to host Test series amid its political instability, under Taliban rule, and questioned whether Ireland has enough Test-standard stadiums.
In his column, as quoted by Wisden, Chappell stated, “A system that includes promotion and relegation is feasible but there need to be certain criteria attached before a team attains Test status. Those should include: Do they have a viable first-class competition? Do they have legitimate grounds for holding five-day games? Do the grounds have adequate facilities? Are they financially stable?”
He continued, “If a team meets those criteria – and maintains a high standard of play over a number of years – then promotion to Test status would be legitimate. However, most of the recent Test-appointed nations do not come close to meeting any reasonable criteria. For instance, could Afghanistan hold a Test series in their strife-torn country? Does Ireland have a realistic number of Test-standard grounds?”
Chappell also expressed concerns about the ICC’s growing focus on T20 cricket, which he believes has led to disruptions in the international cricket schedule and resulted in players missing international commitments. He criticized the ICC for being “widely regarded as an events management company” and warned that the wealthiest full members, particularly India, England, and Australia, are the ones benefitting the most from bilateral agreements.
The legendary former Australian cricketer concluded by urging the ICC to implement a two-tier Test system, which he believes should have been introduced years ago. Chappell stated, “Cricket being run by a competent ICC is a pipe dream. Hence the growing T20 calendar and the current scheduling schemozzle that plagues the game.”