Bosses are set to discuss a revamp that would allow India, Australia and England to schedule series against each other more often. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has thrown his support a revamp of Test cricket that would introduce a two-tier system to the sport.
![[Michael Vaughan has backed the proposal]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/09/07/19/5e611f0eb61828e1332ed23e1f9c67aaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI1ODIwMTI1-2.77198574.jpg)
The report suggests that the nations are considering introducing a schedule that would allow the trio to schedule men’s series against one another more often, with The Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophy contested twice in every three years, rather than twice in every four as the current structure allows.
![[The Ashes could be contested more often under the plans]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/07/29/10/713665804e5654041126dc8be3ca3d3eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIyMzMwNzEz-2.72629202.jpg)
The 12 nations currently playing men’s Test cricket could be split into tiers of seven and five, with New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka joining the ‘Big Three’ in the top tier. That would leave the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in tier two.
The ICC’s current Future Tours Programme, which sets the schedule for nations, runs out in 2027. Talks are set to begin this year about its replacement as boards look to maximise television broadcast revenue and combat the threat of franchise T20 leagues.
And Vaughan feels that the proposals would be a welcome development. “Been saying this for years,” Vaughan, who was commentating on the Australia-India series, said on X. “It has to happen.”. Series featuring India, Australia and England generate significantly more revenue than against other nations, with bumper crowds enjoyed for the recent five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash Down Under.
