12-Team World Test Championship Could Be Reality Soon, Says CA Chief
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg suggests the World Test Championship could expand to 12 teams, including Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan.
The landscape of elite red-ball cricket is on the verge of a major transformation. Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Todd Greenberg has hinted that the current nine-team 12-team World Test Championship could become a reality in the coming years, potentially reshaping how the world's best teams compete for the ultimate prize.
As the International Cricket Council (ICC) finalizes its next Future Tours Programme (FTP), discussions regarding the expansion of the championship are gaining momentum. The move could significantly alter the competitive structure of international cricket.
A Potential Expansion to 12 Teams
Since its inception in 2019, the World Test Championship has operated with nine teams. Under the current format, teams play six series—three at home and three away—over a two-year cycle to determine the finalists. However, a new model for the 2029-2031 cycle could open the doors for nations that currently play limited schedules.
Greenberg suggested that teams like Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan—who typically play only one-off or two-match Test series—could potentially join the championship. A final decision on this expansion is expected during the upcoming ICC meetings in Bali.
"I think that's what will happen for the next two years," Greenberg stated, indicating a strong belief in the expansion of the tournament format.
The Financial Reality of Test Cricket
While the expansion promises more competitive matches, Greenberg raised significant concerns regarding the economic sustainability of the format. He noted that the high cost of maintaining a Test cricket infrastructure is a growing burden for several member boards.
The High Cost of Red-Ball Cricket
Greenberg highlighted that the financial struggles of some boards might make it difficult to support a larger championship. He warned that the current model of bilateral Test cricket could be "sending some countries broke."
The CA chief executive pointed out that the issue isn't just the cost of hosting matches, but the ability to invest in a system that produces elite players. "You cannot just magically find 11 players to play Test cricket," he remarked, noting that the expensive nature of the format might lead to a decline in the number of nations playing Test cricket altogether.
He suggested that to keep the format alive, some nations might have to play more away Tests than home Tests to ensure financial viability, or face a future where they move away from the format entirely.
The Future of ODI and T20 Formats
Beyond the red-ball format, the discussions at the ICC are also looking at the evolution of limited-overs cricket. There is a growing push to provide more context to One Day Internationals (ODIs) through multi-nation tournaments, such as an Intercontinental competition.
Regarding the balance between ODIs and T20Is, Greenberg proposed a potential "up and down" system. This could involve a four-year cycle where the number of ODI matches fluctuates, perhaps increasing during a World Cup cycle and decreasing in the intervening years to accommodate the rising prominence of T20Is.
Despite these shifts, Greenberg emphasized that the ODI format remains crucial for player development and the commercial health of the global game, noting its fundamental importance to the talent pathway and the ICC's commercial outcomes.