In the upcoming cycle beginning in 2027, a working group inside the ICC will submit a proposal to its Board of Directors proposing an increase in the number of nations participating in the World Test Championship from nine to twelve, including Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland.
One-off Test series are reportedly another idea put forth by the working committee led by former New Zealand Test batsman Roger Twose for the upcoming cycle.
“The working group will also recommend allowing one-off Tests to count towards the points accrued over the league’s two-year cycle,” according to a report in ESPN Cricinfo.
It makes sense that if one-off Test matches are crammed into the upcoming cycle with a potential expansion to 12 sides, India, the game’s commercial leaders, might be able to assist Zimbabwe or Ireland by playing one-off Test matches.
Currently, the WTC point cycle includes two-Test bilateral series. For instance, the outcome of India’s June one-off Test match against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, Punjab, will not affect the WTC points standings.
It’s unclear, though, if the Jay Shah-led ICC Board will decide to expand in light of the three formats’ strict schedules, the choc-a-bloc bilateral calendar, and the franchise league’s rapid global expansion.
It should be mentioned that Twose’s idea for a two-tier test structure was rejected by the ICC Board.
