The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed its plans to start an official Test match world championship and One-day International (ODI) league, after years of speculation and prolonged discussions at its general meeting in Auckland.
After 2019 World cup, top-nine ranked Nine teams will play six series over the two-year Test championship, three each home and away with each series having a minimum of two Tests and a maximum of five. The top two teams will contest a play-off final to determine the Test champions in England in June 2021.
For the ODI league the ICC’s 12 full members and the winners of the current World Cricket League Championship will contest four home and four away series, each comprising three matches.
“Our priority was to develop a structure that gave context and meaning across international cricket and particularly in the Test arena,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said in a statement.
The ICC has argued for years that a Test championship is needed to boost the format’s popularity as crowds and TV viewers flock to the fast-paced, big-hitting Twenty20 version of the game.
The ICC also approved the trial of four-day Tests if both sides agree but all Test championship matches will be five-day contests.
