Deep Dasgupta calls for two-tiered format in Tests after Zim, Pak series

Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta has called for a two-tiered format in Test cricket after Pakistan beat Zimbabwe, 2-0, in the recently-concluded Test series.

While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, the former cricketer said that the aforementioned approach would revive the longest format of the game, which is seeing far too many one-sided contests.

“It’s time for cricket to explore a 2-tier Test match structure. Well, we are aware that we need to, kind of, revive Test match cricket and one of the things that are ailing the format is the fact that there are too many inconsequential bilateral series and too many one-sided series. I mean, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, as well as Pakistan, played, we knew what the result was going to be right from the start,” said Dasgupta.

“So I think if you divide the 12 Test playing nations into two groups of six teams each, obviously there will be relegation and promotion involved in the 2 tiers, and you play 5 other teams home and away over 2.5-3 years. The idea is to make sure that every series is consequential, has some context to it and it’s competitive. I am not saying this is the only way of getting Test match cricket back on track but this could be one of the ways,” he added.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja recently also echoed similar views and stated that such one-sided matches are a joke and it will force fans to watch other sports, instead.

“Some people are of the opinion that when a weak team plays a strong one, you need to focus on what you learn from it rather than the outcome of the match. You learn from the stronger team’s process and the way it adapts to the changing situation of a game. But I don’t think Zimbabwe learned anything from this series because they were continuously dominated by Pakistan. Also, there was no difference in their performance in the second Test as compared to the first one,” said Raja on his official YouTube channel.

“Such mismatch series should not take place. Test cricket is already under pressure and very few people watch it. If you show them such one-sided matches, then they will switch to watching football or other sports. Three-day Test match is a joke,” he added.