ICC plans to promote Test cricket with major changes in next WTC cycle

The ICC is planning huge changes to revive Test and ODI cricket, to make the formats more competitive and engaging for everyone as well. And, one of the major proposals is to make sure a minimum of three games in every World Test Championship (WTC), for non-dominant nations as well.

ICC to bring major changes 

However, ICC will see a leadership change as Jay Shah will take over as Chairman from December 1. Before his official signing, ICC has already started working towards the betterment of the Test format as well. The apex body formed a committee to look for ways to promote Test cricket more and as per Insidesports, the committee decided on three major suggestions.

The first is to ensure a minimum of three-match Test series take place in the next World Series Championship (WTC) cycle. Currently, some teams, like South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, often play two-match Test series, which the ICC believes affects the viewership of the longer format of the game as well. Only India, Australia, and England play longer series now as well.

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Rohit Sharma backs for three-match WTC final

Another key point is the encouragement of more Day/Night (D/N) Tests with the pink ball, as well as these matches, have seen better ticket sales. The ICC also feels that D/N Tests could help grow the format by attracting larger fans. India, for example, has not played a pink-ball Test in two years as well. In addition to it, the ICC is also thinking about bringing changes in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Moreover, a proposal to limit the use of two balls to only the first 25 overs of an ODI is under consideration too.

However, Team India lost two consecutive WTC finals and captain Rohit Sharma proposed changes to the format as well. Instead of a one-game face-off, he wants to play a best-of-three series for the result. He also believes that two years' worth of hard work ends in just one game which is mostly affected by adverse weather conditions. A three-match series would help both teams to play well and the result to be decided more accurately as well.