"When you don't have quality, that is when the ratings drop, there are fewer people in the crowd, it's meaningless cricket, which is the last thing the sport wants," Shastri said.
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Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, has advocated for a promotion-relegation system and a reduction in the number of Test-playing countries to six or seven in order to preserve the quality and interest of the traditional format, which has suffered from the emergence of T20 leagues and financial incentives.
During his speech at the World Cricket Connects, which was organized by the Marylebone Cricket Club at the Lord’s, Shastri emphasized that, in order to maintain Test cricket’s relevance and appeal, a substantial restructuring of the format is required.
“When you don’t have quality, that is when the ratings drop, there are fewer people in the crowd, it’s meaningless cricket, which is the last thing the sport wants,” Shastri said.
“You have 12 Test match teams. Bring it down to six or seven and have a promotion and relegation system.
“You can have two tiers, but let the top six keep playing to sustain the interest in Test cricket. You can spread the game in other formats, like T20.”
A large number of domestic franchise T20 leagues have also sprung up, forcing players to pick them over Test matches mostly because of the enormous cash rewards.
In line with Shastri’s views, Mark Nicholas, president of the MCC, stated that although Test cricket exists in a different league, the sport requires financial support to remain viable over the long term.
“T20 cricket is the behemoth that everybody wants. It is where the new market is, where the fans are and where the money is,” he said.
“In cricket, money is seen as a dirty word, but it shouldn’t be because it is the only way to sustain the game,” Nicholas remarked.
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