BGT 2024-25: Clive Lloyd slams proposed two-tier Test system, calls it harmful for smaller nations
Xtra Time Web Desk: Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has voiced strong opposition to the proposed two-tier Test cricket system, which primarily benefits the "big three" nations—India, Australia, and England. Lloyd believes such a move would severely harm teams like the West Indies and other smaller nations that have strived hard to gain Test status.
Expressing concern over the sidelining of less prominent cricketing nations, Lloyd stated that this approach undermines the global spirit of the game and could hinder its growth. As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, ICC Chairman Jay Shah is scheduled to meet Cricket Australia Chair Mike Baird, England and Wales Cricket Board Chief Richard Thompson, and BCCI representatives later this month to deliberate on this matter.
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“I think it will be terrible for all those countries who work so hard to get to Test match status and now they’ll be playing among themselves in the lower section,” Lloyd told the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian.
The West Indies legend also reacted strongly to a controversial suggestion by former ICC chairman Greg Barclay to dismantle the West Indies team, proposing that they compete as separate nations. "We (West Indies) have a great history and now you're going to tell us because of a monetary situation, (we should be disbanded)," he remarked.
Highlighting the performance disparity between the top three teams and others, Lloyd attributed it to the unequal distribution of ICC funds. He argued that providing equitable financial support to all teams would help improve their facilities and systems, ultimately elevating the quality of cricket globally.
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The 80-year-old also criticized the structure of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, calling it poorly designed. Lloyd pointed out the exclusion of Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland from the WTC and noted that the remaining nine teams do not face each other evenly.
“They (ICC and cricket boards) should sit down and have a system where it’s not only T20 cricket. People still want to watch Test cricket, and until we get that right, we will all be in this system,” he said.
Lloyd’s concerns serve as a stark reminder of the need for inclusivity and fairness in the game’s longest format.
